BC Conservative Party gains increased attention as former BC Liberal John Rustad crosses floor to sit as party's only member

A bit of a shift in the make up of the British Columbia Legislature today, as Nehcako MLA John Rustad made the short walk across the floor of the Chamber to take up a seat as a member of the BC Conservative Party.

Mr. Rustad who had been exorcised out of the BC Liberal camp last summer had been sitting as an Independent MLA for the Nechako region.  

His departure came in August of 2022, when BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon dispatched him out of the party after the MLA's comments on climate change themes made for some extensive discussion and controversy for the new leader. 

The BC Conservatives who have launched a fairly active membership recruitment campaign of late, noted of the new designation for the Nechako MLA just before the Thursday morning Question Period in the Chamber today.

As part of the announcement of this morning, Mr Rustad spoke towards his shift in political allegiance.

“As British Columbians, we need to fight for a stronger, freer — and, this is key — more compassionate province. A province that understands the importance of fighting for personal freedoms, good jobs for working people, and lower costs of living for families. There is only one party that is offering genuine opposition to our NDP government and that's the Conservative Party of British Columbia"

Party leader Trevor Bolin welcomed his newest member aboard in an official announcement this morning.

"As the leader, former candidate and proud member of the Conservative Party of BC, I gladly welcome John Rustad to our team. I have watched John both on a local level, in his own riding, as well as a provincial level and know how much he holds his constituents and the great folks of BC in the forefront of his passion. I look forward to working with John, and I’m excited for what the future holds,"

The full announcement with more observations from the Nechako MLA can be reviewed here.

The first questions for the new Conservative member in the Legislature focused on Health care today, with Rustad speaking towards a topic that has gained him some controversy of late, that of health mandates and his call for the removal of them for health care workers.

The MLA had presented a petition last week towards that theme.

" We do have a labour problem in this province. The challenge we have, quite frankly, is that our health care system is in a crisis, and there are literally hundreds of workers that are needed right across this province, professionals that are needed in our emergency rooms and providing services in our hospitals. 

A simple question to the Health Minister: when will this government do the right thing and hire back B.C.'s health care heroes, providers who were fired or who quit because of mandates and disrespect?

The exchange with Health Minister Adrian Dix can be reviewed here.

To this point Mr. Rustad makes for the only BC Conservative Party member in the Chamber, however should the party make inroads by way of a by-election, the next BC election or another floor crosser,  they would gain official party status in the Legislature.

The BC Conservatives were quick to update their home page today to reflect to new affiliation for their newest member.

More notes on themes from Victoria can be reviewed from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.