John Rustad to run for B.C. Conservative Party leader
Posted March 24, 2023 4:28 pm.
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad announced Thursday that he would be running to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia.
Rustad says he wants to lead the party to become an alternative to the governing NDP and opposition BC Liberals.
“I’m running for leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia because this government refuses to listen to British Columbians, and the so-called official opposition refuses to oppose. Our province needs a new option with genuine, principled leadership,” an email from Rustad reads.
“I really don’t think of it as being, you know, more political, from a perspective of being left-wing politics or right-wing politics. I really think it’s a party that needs to be more about right and wrong.”
Rustad says he wants to turn the Conservatives into a more relatable party in the province.
Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon said he dumped Rustad from the party’s caucus last August for his public statements and social media posts suggesting climate change is not caused by carbon dioxide emissions.
He announced last month he was joining the Conservatives, who received less than two per cent of votes in the 2020 provincial election
A Conservative leadership vote is set for May 28, with former leader Trevor Bolin serving as interim leader until the vote.
