Rustad Quits as Conservative Leader After Day of Chaos

After 24 hours of chaos, John Rustad resigned as BC Conservative leader this morning and said he will remain as the MLA for Nechako Lakes.

On Wednesday Rustad insisted he was still the leader even after a majority of the party’s MLAs said they had lost confidence in him and the party announced the appointment of Trevor Halford as interim leader.

"I’m planning to stay on as the Conservative Party of British Columbia leader," Rustad said. "I’m not planning to step aside at this point. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done and we’re going to carry on with that work."

Earlier Wednesday morning, Victoria lawyer Bruce Hallsor had sent a letter on law firm Crease Harman letterhead to Conservative Party of BC president Aisha Estey.

"I have been asked by a majority of the caucus to advise you that I am in receipt of 20 statements, individually executed, which all advise that the member has lost confidence in the leadership of John Rustad, and calls for his removal as leader and the appointment of an interim leader," Hallsor wrote. "I have been asked for the moment to keep the identity of the 20 members confidential."

Long active in conservative politics both provincially and federally, Hallsor chaired the party’s annual general meeting earlier this year.

Around noon the party issued a press release on the social media platform X saying it had received the notice that a majority of the caucus had lost confidence in Rustad.

"As such, he has been removed as Leader of the Official Opposition," it said. "Per a caucus vote, Trevor Halford was selected as Interim Leader."

It said the board had passed a motion saying Rustad is "professionally incapacitated and unable to continue as Party Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia" and that it was beginning the process to pick a new leader.

Rustad has in the past pointed reporters to the party’s constitution, which sets out the limited ways to remove a leader.

It reads, in part, "The Leader can only be removed from office by resignation, death, incapacitation, or the leadership review vote resulting in less than 50 per cent... support of the Party Members in good standing who vote in a universal secret paper ballot."

In a leadership review conducted over the summer, but marred by allegations of fraudulent memberships, Rustad received 71 per cent support. There were 1,268 votes cast. The party reportedly has 8,000 to 9,000 members.

Halford, MLA for Surrey-White Rock and a former BC Liberal, acknowledged the uncertainty. "It’s a pretty fluid process right now," he said. "I’ve been asked to take on the job of interim leader for the party and I’ve accepted that and we’ll see how things go."

Halford said he’s been calling for stability in the caucus and the party while the transition plays out. "I will have more to say very shortly once I kind of figure out what this process is and I will make myself available at the earliest opportunity."

The day’s events sowed confusion in the Conservative caucus, with members lining up either for or against Rustad and disagreeing on who they believe is the leader.

Some said there had been a vote on leadership within caucus that morning, while others said no such vote had taken place.

Harman Bhangu, the MLA for Langley-Abbotsford, said that while he has tremendous respect for Rustad, change is needed. "I feel caucus has made its mind, it’s time for a little bit of change, and I feel Trevor Halford will be a great interim leader."

Asked who the leader is, Abbotsford-Mission MLA Reann Gasper said, "John Rustad."

"There is an order to the process and this is out of order," Gasper said. "I am disappointed in my colleagues. I’m disappointed in the way that this has taken shape. John is the leader. He will continue to be our leader and he will be the next premier of B.C."

"I haven’t for quite some time had confidence in John Rustad, no," said Brennan Day, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. "I think it’s pretty apparent to British Columbians we’re not on a steady course and we absolutely need to steady the ship in B.C."

Bulkley Valley-Stikine MLA Sharon Hartwell said she supports Rustad. "Absolutely he’s still the leader and he will continue to be the leader." Asked about Halford, she said, "He is not my leader. John Rustad is my leader."

"Trevor Halford’s been appointed as the Opposition leader so we’ll move forward from there," said Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre.

"We’ll have to see what happens,” said Korky Neufeld, Abbotsford West MLA. “I’ve always stood with John, from the beginning to the end."

“We’re going through a process right now,” said Scott McInnis, the MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke. "I have no more comment."

Á’a:líya Warbus, the Conservative house leader and MLA for Chilliwack-Cultus Lake, said there would be a press release coming Wednesday afternoon that would clarify matters.

Rustad said it was news to him that another statement might be coming. "Nothing’s changed."

Earlier in the day Rustad said there will need to be a discussion in caucus and some MLAs may decide to quit the party.

"There are obviously some loud voices that are part of that group, they have been for some time," he said. "We as the Conservative party are going to be focused on the issues that are facing people on a day-to-day basis here in this province."