Penticton-Summerland’s Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Amelia Boultbee, has resigned from the B.C. Conservative caucus and has urged the party’s leader to step down. Speaking at a press conference at the legislature, Boultbee cited John Rustad’s ineffective leadership as the reason for her departure, stating that she has observed Rustad’s leadership deteriorate.
During the press conference, Boultbee expressed that she is leaving due to Rustad’s leadership failures and highlighted that she had been told by Rustad to leave if she was dissatisfied, a suggestion she has now acted upon. She emphasized the need for Rustad to step down, stating that his continuation as the Conservative Party of B.C.’s leader would result in an advantage for the NDP in the upcoming election.
In response to Boultbee’s resignation, Rustad accused her of disclosing confidential caucus information to the media. Following Boultbee’s press conference, Rustad mentioned that the leaks had to be addressed and stopped to maintain internal confidentiality.
Last week, Rustad admitted to examining the phones of his MLAs to identify the individual responsible for leaking private information from a caucus meeting. Despite his efforts, he claimed not to have found any concerning information. Boultbee refuted the allegations of leaking information, labeling them as false and threatened legal action if Rustad persisted in making such claims.
Regarding concerns raised by Rustad about Boultbee’s positions on various issues and her well-being, Boultbee disclosed that she had previously informed Rustad about her mental health struggles, particularly following her involvement in a distressing child abuse case. She criticized Rustad for attempting to exploit her personal challenges against her.
Conservative MLA Brennan Day condemned Rustad’s remarks, emphasizing the negative impact of trivializing or weaponizing someone’s health condition. Boultbee stated that she would consider returning to the Conservative Party under new leadership, highlighting Rustad’s failure to allow MLAs to voice their opinions on his leadership.
Rustad survived a leadership review in September with substantial support, but tensions within the party have led to the departure of several MLAs, including Sturko, who was expelled by Rustad for allegedly undermining his leadership. The B.C. Conservative caucus has seen a decline in its MLA count since the last election, with two MLAs forming a new party earlier in the year.
Despite identifying as a centrist politically, Boultbee emphasized that her departure from the party was not solely due to ideological differences but rather Rustad’s alienation of individuals across the political spectrum. Boultbee and Sturko have not confirmed plans to establish a new centrist party but expressed a commitment to collaborating on important issues.
Sturko attributed the party’s fragmentation to Rustad’s lack of trust in his MLAs, criticizing his approach of suspicion and accusations regarding information leaks. Rustad’s actions, such as searching MLAs’ phones and interfering with voting decisions, have contributed to internal divisions within the party.
Rustad’s stance on issues such as parental rights and the SOGI curriculum has also caused internal strife. Despite the challenges within the party, Rustad maintains a focus on challenging the NDP government. Political analysts have noted that the party’s internal conflicts have overshadowed its accountability role towards the ruling party, affecting its effectiveness in opposition.
In conclusion, the B.C. Conservative Party is facing internal turmoil, with MLAs departing and forming new factions, while the party leader’s leadership style and decisions have come under scrutiny, impacting the party’s ability to function cohesively.