The B.C. Conservative party says John Rustad is out as party leader, just hours after Rustad said he wouldn’t bow to mounting calls for him to step down.
The party said in a release early Wednesday afternoon that a majority of the caucus no longer has confidence in Rustad’s leadership and he has been removed as party leader.
It said the party’s board of directors passed a motion saying Rustad is “professionally incapacitated” and unable to continue in the role.
“The Conservative Party would like to extend its deepest gratitude to John Rustad, who led our party into its ascendance and made history. We wish him and his family all the best in their next chapter,” the statement said.
The statement said Surrey–White Rock MLA Trevor Halford was selected as interim leader in a caucus vote, and a leadership race will take place.
“We’re trying to figure out what that means,” said Halford Wednesday. “I’m going to respect this process going forward.” Halford said he’d have more to say soon on the matter.
However, Rustad told reporters following the announcement that he’ll remain on as leader, saying “nothing has changed.”
In a social media post, Rustad said he’s “not going anywhere.”
“A political party’s board can throw around whatever creative terminology they like, ‘professional incapacitation’? Give me a break. Let me be clear : That’s not a constitutional mechanism,” said the post from Rustad.
According to the party’s constitution, a leader can only be removed by resignation, death, incapacitation or a leadership review vote resulting in less than 50 per cent support from party members.
Rustad survived a leadership review over the summer with the support of more than 70 per cent of members who voted in ridings across the province.
The party statement came out just hours after the release of a letter by a lawyer representing more than half of Conservative caucus members, informing party President Aisha Estey they have lost confidence in Rustad as a leader.
The letter, signed by 20 unnamed MLAs, called for Rustad to step down and be replaced by an interim leader.
Some Conservative MLAs who spoke to reporters on their way into Question Period Wednesday said they still consider Rustad to be party leader.
Kelowna Centre’s Christina Loewen said it’s her understanding there was a vote among some caucus members, but not all participated.
Reann Gasper, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, said the move by her Conservative colleagues is “out of order” and called it disappointing.
Abbotsford West MLA Korky Neufeld and Langley-Willowbrook’s Jody Toor, who is also the Official Opposition Caucus Chair, both also threw their support behind Rustad.
MLA for Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar said Halford had been appointed as Opposition Leader, saying “we’ll move forward from there.”
Skeena MLA Claire Rattée said in a statement Wednesday afternoon she supported the vote of non-confidence in Rustad’s leadership.
“In recent months, it has become abundantly clear that John lost the confidence of caucus, donors, and many supporters in my riding,” says Rattée.
In October, the Rustad faced a call from the party management committee to step down.
The letter dated Oct. 21 and signed by the party’s president Aisha Estey and six other members of the management committee said the party has seen “an unprecedented level of turmoil” since the provincial election last October.
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