B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad rejects calls to resign amid party turmoil

B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad says he intends to stay on as party leader despite growing internal pressure from the party’s executive to step down. Members of the party’s management committee have sent Rustad a letter calling for his resignation, citing what they describe as “chaos” and a loss of cohesion under his leadership.

The letter, signed by seven committee members including party president Aisha Estey, accuses Rustad of failing to unite the party behind a shared vision and claims his leadership has “ceased to serve that purpose.” The group urged him to immediately resign so that a new leadership contest could be held.

The internal rift follows the departure of MLA Amelia Boultbee from the B.C. Conservative caucus earlier this week — the fifth legislator to leave since last year’s provincial election, which saw the party emerge as a major opposition force.

Rustad, who received 70.6 per cent support in a leadership review last month, has faced ongoing criticism over the party’s internal governance and the integrity of that review process.