Buh-bye, so long, adios: John Rustad, “interim leader” of the Conservative Party of British Columbia
One year from today John Rustad will no longer lead the B.C. Conservative Party.
How to explain VanRamblings’ late 2025 B.C. Conservative leadership projection?
B.C. Conservative Party infighting. In his interview with This is Vancolour’s Mo Amir, former BC NDP Premier Glen Clark referred to 20 of the newly-elected B.C. Conservative Party MLAs as “whack jobs” — this adjudication arising from a series of racist, misogynist, homophobic QAnon conspiracy theorist comments made by these, now, sitting B.C. Conservative Party members of the B.C. Legislature.
From what VanRamblings’ sources tell us, these 20 newly-minted B.C. Conservative MLAs are far from happy with their leader, John Rustad, for having roundly denounced several of their number during the course of the recent provincial election campaign. VanRamblings is told there is a movement afoot to remove Rustad as leader, in favour of a member of the QAnon conspiracy theorist contingent who more rightly align with their “the whole system is rigged and oughta be brought down” far right, People’s Party of Canada, anti-vaxx, Freedom Convoy-loving “philosophy”.
Meanwhile, Premier Eby has drawn what he calls a “bright line”, stating that his NDP government will refuse to work with newly-elected B.C. Conservative MLAs who have expressed “offensive” views on racial and other matters.
“Bright-line test a proverbial line in the sand. It establishes a clearcut, easily recognizable boundary between the right and the wrong, the good and the bad, the pure and the tainted.”
Eby singled out Brent Chapman, newly-elected B.C. Conservative MLA for Surrey South, and author of some deeply offensive social media posts in past years.
“Brent Chapman (is) a hateful man promoting hate and racism in our province,” Eby told host Vijay Saini of CJCN radio last week. “We have a very bright line around that and it is a non-starter for us. We need to fight hate and racism every day. So there are definitely restrictions on our willingness to work with the Conservative party.”
The BC NDP leader has suggested that B.C. Democrats are preparing a list of Conservatives whose utterances have consigned them to the dark side of the line.
“I’ve seen them speaking out with concern on issues that I share concern about — open racism from Conservative candidates, open homophobia, anti-Muslim sentiment, anti-woman sentiment — and those are bright lines. That is non-negotiable for us.”
Premier Eby has created a ‘no win’ situation for B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad: defend his MLAs who have expressed intolerant and hateful views, or denounce them. Smart, divisiveNDP politics, set to create much trouble for Rustad.
Elenore Sturko celebrating her B.C. United Party by-election win in 2022, with Kevin Falcon.
Elenore Sturko. VanRamblings has been told by our B.C. Conservative Party sources that former B.C. United MLA for Surrey South, now the newly-minted B.C. Conservative MLA representing the riding of Surrey-Cloverdale has formed an exploratory committee to challenge John Rustad for leadership of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Elenore Sturko: thy name is ambition at all costs, the person in which such picayune considerations such as loyalty will never be vested. Just ask former B.C. United Party leader Kevin Falcon; he’s got a story or two to tell ya.
And, finally, why John Rustad won’t be the leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, and His Majesty’s loyal Opposition, twelve months from now.
The venerable and exclusive Vancouver Club, on West Hastings in Vancouver.
Powers that be who rule our province. The same group of folks who just weeks ago — billionaire developers, and their ilk — convinced, under threat, B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon to fold his and his B.C. United tent in favour of supporting John Rustad’s far right B.C. Conservative Party — never for a moment wanting to see the conspiracy theory amenable Rustad continue on as B.C. Conservative Party leader should he “lose” the election — even as you read this, are meeting behind closed doors deep within the inner sanctum of The Vancouver Club, developing plans to oust John Rustad as B.C. Conservative Party leader — as they did with then B.C. Liberal leader Gordon Wilson, in favour of their hand-picked choice and oh-so-amenable, Gordon Campbell — to be replaced by Ms. Sturko, or Brad West or another potential B.C. Conservative Party leader, who would be acquiescent to their entreaties, a leader not wedded to conspiracy theories, someone more acceptable to the general populace.
So there you have it.
In the face of the chaos that will be wrought in the United States with the (re) election of Donald Trump as President, in British Columbia some degree of sanity will prevail, with the Nuremberg 2.0-compliant John Rustad set to be removed as B.C. Conservative Party leader, in favour of someone more balanced and palatable to a broad swath of the British Columbia electorate. With David Eby at the helm of a progressive British Columbia New Democratic Party, we can look forward to enjoying a government committed to empowering women, empowering members of our Indigenous community, and building the economy, an oasis of political sanity in this crazy old world of ours where stability, in British Columbia, is our friend.
David Eby: chastened, humbled, reflective, willing to listen, refocusing his government’s priorities.
Barely scraping by with the slimmest of majority governments, Premier David Eby has emerged from the bruising 2024 British Columbia election campaign a humbled and chastened man, a provincial leader prepared to change his government’s legislative priorities, to listen more, to be more collaborative in his approach, and to refocus on the priorities identified by the British Columbia electorate.
In the two years since assuming power in the Premier’s office, David Eby proved to be the provincial equivalent of the energizer bunny, going off in 10,000 different directions at once, unfocused, taking on far too much with little prospect of changing anything at all, Eby’s imperious, autocratic, top down approach alienating broad swaths of British Columbia’s citizenry, at odds with municipal administrations across the province, all the while racking up debt and ill will, and a cry to please just slow the merry-go-round down a bit, the change David Eby sought to achieve dizzying and disquietening in the breadth and depth of its unachievable scope.
British Columbia’s 31st (BC NDP) Premier, Glen Clark, pictured above in 2024, at 66 years of age.
During the course of the election, broadcaster Mo Amir conducted an extensive, thoughtful and engaging interview on his This is Vancolour podcast with British Columbia’s 31st Premier, the original B.C. political energizer bunny, the British Columbia New Democrat’s Glen Clark, now a senior citizen at the ripe old age of 66 (soon to be 67, given that his birthday is coming up on November 22nd).
This is the advice that the older, and now wiser, Mr. Clark has for David Eby …
“David tried to accomplish too much in his two-year term as Premier, with little in the way of definable outcomes that people could see and feel. In the coming term, my advice to the Premier would be to refocus his government on four or five achievable goals: fulfill the government’s promise of $10-a-day child care; when it comes to health care, make a firm commitment that by 2026 the Interior region of the province will no longer experience emergency room closures, all while committing to reducing wait times and ensuring every B.C. citizen has a family physician.
Focus his government’s priority on achieving public safety, while ensuring that the indigent population are well-housed; and build social housing, high quality co-operative housing constructed on Crown land, a commitment to opening the doors on 10,000 units of housing for families, by 2027, in every region across our province.”
In the 2017 British Columbia election campaign, the BC NDP committed to building 100,000 units of affordable housing by 2025. In point of fact, the government has achieved only 20% of that goal. British Columbia’s NDP government has got to stop making promises that they have no real and palpable intention of fulfilling.
Throughout the course of the recent 28-day election campaign, David Eby championed his government’s near fulfilled commitment to achieving $10-a-day child care for families who live in every region across B.C., when in point of fact his government is a very long way from achieving that goal. Most irritating to VanRamblings was the Premier’s championing of how his government had cut child care fees in half during their term of government (note: not $10-a-day child care), when David Eby’s government had no role to play in halving child care fees: doing so was entirely a federally funded initiative of the Trudeau government.
The key to a successful, full-term David Eby-led British Columbia New Democratic Party government is, as we write above, collaboration, consultation, respect for the municipal partners in the change movement to build the much needed housing the public has demanded, an ability to listen and to act, and be seen to act, on the input that will be provided by the stakeholders in the movement for change (read: citizens), who desire change as much as David Eby wants change, but change reflected in the wants and needs of the populace, rather than the autocratic imposition of a “I know best what you need” British Columbia provincial government.
Now for the good news — good news, that is, if you’re a fan of Premier David Eby (as is the case with VanRamblings) and the B.C. New Democratic Party government he leads with vision, and an unwavering commitment to the public good.
If Premier Eby can hold onto government for the next three years — for which the prospects are good, given that negotiations between Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau and David Eby, to work collaboratively, are moving ahead well for both concerned parties — a number of salutary events will unfold for the BC NDP …
The Broadway Millennium Line Skytrain extension to Arbutus Street will open in late 2027, along with the 13-storey social housing seniors facility at 7th and Arbutus. Governments that get things done always wears well with the public;
The new Pattullo Bridge, connecting New Westminster to Surrey, will also open, as yet another feather in the cap of the B.C. New Democratic Party government;
And, best of all, a far-right, chaos driven, extremely unpopular Pierre Poilevre government will have been in power for two years come late 2027, which will have a number of salutary impacts: the re-birth of a renewed B.C. Liberal Party, a very unpopular B.C. Conservative opposition following on the coattails of a hated Pierre Poilievre, a Trumpian nightmare of a Prime Minister — you wonder why Nova Scotia Conservative Premier Tim Houston is going to the polls early, as will soon be the case with Ontario Conservative Premier, Doug Ford … cuz they know, even if you don’t, that Pierre Poilievre will be held in such disrepute that their respective chances for re-election would be fatally wounded with Poilievre in power. And what does this have to do with the cost of tea in China, and the prospects of David Eby being re-elected to a second full term, with a much increased majority, in 2027-2028? An upstart B.C. Liberal Party garnering 23% of the vote, a B.C. Conservative Party also registering at 23% in the polls, and our beloved David Eby-led British Columbia New Democratic Party government coming up the middle in 2027-2028, in a B.C. provincial election that will give them a comfortable majority in the British Columbia legislature.
And, yes, we’re aware that we’re driving you nuts with our criticism of the BC NDP, while touting their majority government re-election, three or four years hence.
All part of the invaluable service we provide to you, most days, at VanRamblings!
A troubled British Columbia Premier David Eby wondering how his government will hold power.
Save the judicial count of ballots in the ridings of Kelowna Centre — where a mere 38 votes separate BC Conservative candidate Kristina Loewen from her NDP challenger, Loyal Wooldridge — and Surrey-Guildford, where incumbent NDPMLA Garry Begg staged a tentative come-from-behind victory once the mail-in ballots had been counted, at present and before the judicial recount takes place this upcoming weekend, finds himself leading by a gargantuan 27 votes — judicial recounts rarely change the outcome — the 43rd British Columbia provincial election may well be considered to be all but over, with a bare majority of 47 seats in the 93-seat BC Legislature having been won by British Columbia New Democrats, the surprisingly robust, upstart BC Conservatives almost prevailing on election night, currently holding 44 seats in the house, with two Green MLAs rounding out the contingent of electeds who will sit in the BC Legislature through the next election.
While the BC NDP have prevailed, and will now form government for a record third consecutive time for an incumbent BC New Democratic Party — no mean feat that, given the strong desire expressed by the electorate for change — there’s no getting away from the fact that the 47th British Columbia election campaign run by the BC New Democrats was a botch job from beginning to end, despite the bare win, the most mundane, lacklustre, lethargic, utterly enervating, tone deaf, and uninspiring campaign the BC New Democratic Party has waged in its glorious 91-year history.
Everyone must watch all 8 minutes and 24 seconds of this speech by Michelle Obama.
It might be the finest I’ve ever heard on the topic of abortion rights, as well as the stakes in this election for American women…and the men who love them.
What good speech-making sounds like in the midst of a campaign. David Eby has to up his game.
And, who’da thunk that David Eby would prove to be such a terrible campaigner, or as former Chief of Staff to Premier John Horgan, Geoff Meggs, boldly stated on the Hotel Pacifico podcast during the course of the election campaign …
“During the campaign, David Eby was reasoned and lawyerly, when what was required was an impassioned and inspiring provincial political leader fighting for the social good,” said Geoff Meggs, “David Eby and the BC NDP waging a battle to represent all British Columbians, against a ne’er-do-well crew of bunko squad racist, misogynist, homophobic QAnon conspiracy theorists. How did the BC NDP not consign them to the dustbin of history?”
NEW: The Kamala Harris campaign just released its final ad & I’m reduced to tears. Kamala Harris is the leader we need. Working for her has been an honor of the lifetime & we are going to fight like never before these next 3 days to get her elected as president. Watch & share. pic.twitter.com/zuDat4BOL8
What a decent ad, a moving ad can do to motivate people. There are lessons to be learned BC NDP.
The BC NDP campaign for office was further harmed by the worst conceived voiceover campaign ads VanRamblings has seen in a generation, devoid of compassion, with no human faces ever shown, with no focus whatsoever on key issues — like the BC Conservative plan to scrap rent caps, which would detrimentally affect 600,000 households who rent, across the expanse of our province — with negative and utterly irrelevant backward focused campaign ads, rather than a forward focused campaign for government that would state “this is what we stand for, this is what we’re going to do for you, we’re the change you seek, we’re on your side.”
Had BC Conservative leader John Rustad had his wits about him — yes, a tall order we know — rather than choosing to run a troubled Bryan Breguet in Vancouver-Langara, when the popular former BC United candidate, Jamie Stein, would have won the riding in a walk; or had Rustad allowed popular Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton to run in the riding of Vernon-Lumby, rather than parachuting his Kamloops friend Dennis Geiesbrecht in as the BC Conservativecandidate in Vernon-Lumby, the BC Conservatives rather than the BC NDP would have won a majority government, a majority which would have been further enhanced by allowing former BC United Richmond candidate Jackie Lee to run in Richmond-Steveston.
Is VanRamblings unhappy that our beloved British Columbia New Democratic Party — and leader / Premier David Eby, who we love with all of our heart — eked out an undeserved win in the 2024 British Columbia provincial election? Nope, despite our kvetching, we’re kind of over-the-moon. We believe the BC New Democratic Party to be comprised of kind and passionate human beings, as well as very bright, forward thinking Members of the Legislature who, universally, mean well for our province. We continue to believe that David Eby is a once-in-a-generation visionary leader who means much good for our province. So, colour us very happy, indeed.
In tomorrow’s column, we’ll focus on where the BC New Democratic Party government goes from here, and what the party and its elected members must do to remain in government — which we believe will be a much much easier task for the BC NDP to achieve than most political pundits currently believe may be the case.
Note. Humility, collaboration and consultation must carry the day going forward.
NDPer David Eby wins but loses, Green Sonia Furstenau loses, Con John Rustad sort of wins, for now
The 2024 British Columbia provincial election has set the stage for an extended period of uncertainty and ongoing and troubling political tension.
B.C. NDP supporter reacts as election night results come in (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
With the BC NDP securing 46 seats, pending a hand count of the ballots in at least two ridings where the vote was close , and the BC Conservatives close behind with 45, the situation is too close to call definitively until the final results, including mail-in ballots, are released on October 28, seven excruciating days from today.
The dynamics are further complicated by the two ridings where Green Party members were elected, and the Saturday night defeat of leader Sonia Furstenau.
David Eby’s path to once again becoming Premier and forming a government hinges on a confidence and supply agreement with the two elected Green MLAs, echoing the 2017 arrangement that brought the BC NDP to power. Eby’s focus on health care reform, particularly the establishment of community clinics, could be a key part of negotiations with the Greens, as Furstenau has made this a priority.
John Rustad and the BC Conservatives’ success, especially in rural areas, positions them as a formidable opposition. Rustad’s call for a new election highlights his confidence in gaining a majority, especially if he manages to unify some of the former BC United candidates who could have tipped the balance in his favour.
The inclusion of controversial conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers among the new BC Conservative MLAs introduces a wildcard element to the Legislature, potentially influencing policy debates and public discourse in unpredictable ways. BC’s political landscape is entering a period of heightened polarization, with urban-rural divides and deep ideological differences set to dominate in the coming months.
For Premier David Eby, the 2024 election marks both a personal victory and a daunting political challenge. His BC NDP narrowly held onto power in key urban ridings, particularly in Vancouver, where they won 11 of 12 seats. This urban dominance, especially in Vancouver, helped stave off what could have been a catastrophic defeat for the British Columbia New Democrats, given the rising popularity of the BC Conservatives. However, the BC NDP fell short of the majority needed to govern outright in the 93-seat legislature, placing Eby in a precarious position where his political future hinges on complex negotiations and compromises.
The Rise of the BC Conservatives and John Rustad’s Ambitions
While the BC NDP barely held their ground, the BC Conservatives, led by John Rustad, surged to unprecedented heights, winning 45 seats and dominating much of the rural and interior regions of the province. This represents a dramatic shift in BC’s political landscape, as the Conservatives capitalized on widespread discontent in regions such as the Fraser Valley, the Okanagan, and the North. These areas, which have traditionally felt underrepresented in provincial politics, rallied around Rustad’s message of rural empowerment, deregulation, and resistance to what many see as overreach by the urban-centric NDP.
Rustad’s success is particularly striking given the collapse of BC United, the former centre-right party that was once a dominant force in provincial politics.
Many former BC United voters shifted their support to the BC Conservatives, and Rustad has positioned himself as the new leader of the province’s right-wing movement. Rustad has been vocal in calling for a new election, believing that with just a few more seats, he could secure a majority government. Indeed, had Rustad allowed key figures like Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton and Josh Stein in Vancouver-Langara to run as BC Conservative candidates rather than Independents, he might very well have been in a position to become Premier, and govern British Columbia.
As BC citizens await the final results, the province stands at a political crossroads.
Juan de Fuca-Malahat: 23 votes separate NDPer Dana Lajeunesse & Conservative Marina Sapozhnikov.
Note should be made that, at present, there are 49,000 outstanding mail-in votes that are yet to be counted. The count of the mail-in ballots and the hand count in two ridings could very well alter the outcome of the British Columbia election.
The B.C. Conservatives were leading in Surrey-Guildford by a margin of 0.6 per cent late on election night. That party’s candidate, Honveer Singh Randhawa, was ahead of NDP incumbent Garry Begg by 102 votes;
The rookie candidates for both parties in Kelowna-Centre were separated by only 0.6 per cent. Conservative, realtor Kristina Loewen was leading the City Councillor, the NDP’s Loyal Woodridge by only 148 votes;
Meanwhile, the difference in the race in Courtenay-Comox, between NDP incumbent Ronna-Rae Leonard and the Conservatives’ Brennan Day was 0.7 per cent, with the Conservatives ahead by 232 votes, in that traditionally swing riding.
When the results of the hand count, and the inclusion of the mail-in ballots are announced on October 28th, we’ll know the true outcome of Election 2024.
Surrey City Centre. 96 votes separate the BC NDP’s Amna Shaw and the Conservatives’ Zeeshan Wahla.
The urban-rural divide has deepened, and the ideological gap between the BC NDP and the BC Conservatives will lead to polarization and a contentious Legislature. In the coming months, the province’s political leaders will need to navigate these divisions carefully, as the future of British Columbia hangs in the balance.
How Do Other Political Observers Feel About Saturday’s Election Results?
Business in Vancouver Legislative reporter Rob Shaw: David Eby lost the election.
Despite running with all the advantages of government right up until the writ drop on September 21 — in the form of near-infinite money — resources and power, the Eby administration managed to squander the massive majority and record popularity left to it by predecessor John Horgan.
The NDP was brought to its knees by a BC Conservative party it argued was full of racist, homophobic, science-denying whackos, unfit to even run for public office, let alone hold it. Turns out, not everyone sees the world through the lens of moral superiority that New Democrats do.
Rob Shaw is must reading, with the best post-election political analysis you’ll read anywhere, as he tags Eby for the bare win, but actual loss.
John Rustad and wife Kim at the Conservative after-election event. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG.
“Never lacking confidence in himself,” Palmer writes, “Eby vowed to govern until the scheduled election date and show results people could see, feel, touch and experience.
“How’s that working out?” One imagines more than a few New Democrats saying that as they saw their party once again thrown into the arms of the Greens to preserve its hold on power.
The second thing that some might question is Eby’s take-no-prisoners personal attacks on Rustad and the Conservatives.
Eby never seemed to allow that voters might have greater concerns — crime, the drug crisis, housing prices, overcrowded emergency rooms — than a seven-year-old social media posting, however appalling.
Had he toned down the moral superiority, he might have done better with voters who were wanting change.
Yet after presiding over a campaign dominated by vicious, personal attacks, on Saturday night he proclaimed himself “a Premier to bring us together, not drive us apart.’”
Can Eby, having done so badly, survive as leader of an NDP that has done in leaders that disappointed it in the past?”
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad poses for an election night photo. Ethan Cairns | Canadian Press.
Veteran Globe and Mail columnist Gary Mason sticks to the facts, and how David Eby must move forward to retain power in the Legislative assembly in Victoria.
“Barring a change from the current results, the NDP holds a one-seat advantage over the Conservatives,” writes Mason.
“To form a majority it needed 47 seats, so the party will need the help of the two B.C. Green Party MLAs to make a legislative agenda work. The NDP would almost assuredly have to sacrifice one MLA to the position of Speaker, which would make its hold on power even more tenuous.
It’s hard to imagine the Greens ever agreeing to work with Mr. Rustad to give his party a shot at governing, given the Conservatives’ views on climate change and environmental matters more generally.
Mr. Rustad is a proud climate denier. While that seems astonishing in this day and age, I’m certain his skepticism around the science of climate change and COVID vaccines helped boost his popularity. There are many people in B.C., especially in rural parts of the province, that cheered Mr. Rustad on around these issues.
There are others who aren’t likely thrilled over those stands, or even cringe when they think of possibly being governed by a man who is stuck in the dark ages when it comes to climate change, but were willing to set those feelings aside to vote for change.
There was definitely an anti-David Eby sentiment that was pervasive in this election.
Regardless of what happens in the near future, Mr. Eby will need to take a hard look at his progressive agenda over the past two years and ask: Was it too much, too fast?”
For instance, Tara Armstrong (Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream), who claimed a medical doctor who was encouraging the public to get vaccinated was “bought and paid for by big pharma” and a “total fraud.”
Suffice to say, we live in troubling times.
Let all those who cast themselves as progressives hope that David Eby can get his act together, and the BC NDP — when the next election rolls around — runs a more energetic and inspiring campaign, rather than the lacklustre, lethargic, utterly enervating, tone deaf, and uninspiring campaign the party chose to run in 2024.
For those of you who can’t get enough of democracy, and the elections which decide the nature of governance, you will be heartened to know that the 2024 New Brunswick general election is being held today, Monday, October 21st, 2024, where 49 members will be elected to the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly. The election was called at the dissolution of the 60th Assembly, September 19, 2024.
The incumbent Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick (PC) government — which has proved to be hardly that, progressive we mean — led by Premier Blaine Higgs since 2018, is seeking a third consecutive term in office.
Higgs’ government has been mired in controversy over the past couple of years, with one high profile Minister after enough resigning from Higgs’ Cabinet in disgust, arising from Higgs’ intolerant decision to jettison New Brunswick’s version of the SOGI 123 programme that, you know, actually treats gender variant / LGBTQ+ children as if they matter — looks to be headed for defeat tonight.
Even if BC voters don’t have their heads screwed on straight — Higgs = Rustad — at least New Brunswickers of conscience do. Yay, is all we can say.
The PCs’ primary opponent is the New Brunswick Liberal Association led by Susan Holt, who is looking tonight to become the province’s 61st Premier.
VanRamblings will take a much needed break, through until late on October 28th.
Elenore Sturko celebrating her B.C. United Party by-election win in 2022, with Kevin Falcon.
The venerable and exclusive Vancouver Club, on West Hastings in Vancouver.
