BC Conservatives leader fighting for his job as party factions clash

As B.C. politicians return to Victoria for the fall session of the legislature, there is mounting speculation that BC Conservative leader John Rustad is in the fight of his political life.

After a chaotic summer for the opposition party that included a long, drawn-out leadership review shaped by a fake membership scandal, the firing of Elenore Sturko over allegations she was organizing against him, and mounting criticism of his leadership.

Stewart Prest, political science lecturer at UBC, says part of the problem is the coalition Rustad built before last year’s election.

“[These are] two different types of conservatives. They came close to winning the election, but they don’t work well together in practice,” he said.

“One has to wonder whether these two factions [will] start looking for ways to go their separate ways, and as long as we have a First Past The Post System, that is going to be difficult to do.”

Prest says we may even see parties on the right side of the political spectrum start advocating for electoral reform, something we haven’t seen in a generation.

Additionally, some longtime party members vocally and publicly criticized him for widening the net too much and making the Conservatives into a big-tent party.

Prest says at this point it is a question of when and not if Rustad steps down.

“I think it’s become increasingly the question of when and not if he leaves the leadership and perhaps has an opportunity to campaign for his own job once again.”

Prest says the pressure is mounting for Rustad.

“I think it’s very hard for him to hold on to his position at this point. I think when you see one MLA crossing the floor, standing up or leaving the party openly, there’s a strong implication that others are thinking along those lines as well.”

Meanwhile, Rustad is trying to rise above the internal chaos.

He says he is focused on serving British Columbians through the fall and getting the Conservatives ready for the next election.