VICTORIA — Twenty members of B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad’s caucus say they’ve lost confidence in him and want him out, but he says he isn’t going anywhere.
A letter from lawyer Bruce Hallsor to Aisha Estey, the president of the Conservative Party of B.C., says the MLAs who represent a majority of the 39-member caucus are calling for his removal and the appointment of an interim leader.
The letter says Hallsor has 20 “individually executed” statements which all say the member has lost confidence in Rustad’s leadership.
Rustad says he’s not planning to step aside “at this point” and the constitution of the party does not allow MLAs to vote him out.
The letter, which has been authenticated by Estey, says Hallsor has been asked for the moment to keep the identity of the 20 members confidential.
The caucus revolt comes after the party’s board members and riding executives also urged Rustad to leave.
Estey along with six other members of the party’s management committee called for Rustad to resign in September, saying turmoil under his leadership has undermined the party’s credibility.
The executives said in a letter it was Rustad’s responsibility to unite the party behind a common vision.
“As evidenced by sagging poll numbers, memberships, fundraising, shrinking caucus and staff, philosophically inconsistent policy, low morale and perhaps more importantly, a lack of enthusiasm and tepid endorsement from our membership, your leadership has ceased to serve that purpose,” the letter said.
The party has been hit by a series of defections since coming within three seats of a majority in last year’s provincial election, with Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong forming the OneBC and three others sitting as Independents.
Rustad has repeatedly said he won’t quit, citing the results of a leadership review in September where he earned 70.6 per cent support among members who voted, and the party’s constitution says the leader can only be removed by resignation, death, incapacitation or a leadership review.
Hallsor is a King’s counsel and managing partner at Victoria law firm Crease Harman LLP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2025.
Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
