BREAKING: BC Conservative tri-cities leaders ask caucus to oust Rustad

In an open letter addressed to the BC Conservative caucus, a coalition of grassroots leaders call for the immediate replacement of party leader John Rustad

REAL THE FULL LETTER AT BOTTOM

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In a blistering open letter addressed to the BC Conservative caucus, a coalition of grassroots leaders representing tri-cities riding associations has called for the immediate replacement of party leader John Rustad, accusing him of steering the party toward certain electoral oblivion.

The November 7 letter sent to caucus and constituency offices paints a dire picture of a party in free fall under Rustad’s watch.

Signed by over a dozen riding association presidents, board members, and candidates of record including figures like the presidents of Burnaby North and Coquitlam-Burke Mountain—the letter lambasts Rustad’s leadership as “failing to galvanize public opposition” to Premier David Eby’s NDP government.

Officials from Burnaby North, Burnaby East, Coquitlam–Burke Mountain, Coquitlam–Maillardville, and New Westminster–Coquitlam all signed their names to the letter.

“Only new leadership can put our party back on a winning path,” the letter states, describing the situation as urgent and warning that grassroots morale has “plunged.”

The group cites several concerns, including declining public support, lagging fundraising, shrinking membership, and what it calls “shockingly poor personal favourability” for the party leader — reportedly measured at minus 40 per cent in recent Leger polling.

As of press time, Conservative Party of British Columbia caucus had not responded to requests for comment.

The signatories also point to internal rifts between caucus members and the party’s elected board, and say the Conservatives have strayed from their traditional focus on defending the interests of British Columbians.

“The letter was correct to emphasize the tepid and declining morale of the grassroots who are feeling alienated by the passive approach chosen by the Leadership team, which appears to be more concerned with placating left-wing activists than with mounting effective attacks on the NDP,” wrote the grassroots leaders.

The new document signals that unrest within the BC Conservatives has spread beyond the party’s provincial board to its grassroots network.

Despite a letter from the board calling on the leader to step down, Rustad has made clear he has no plans to resign.

“I do not plan to step down,” he told CTV reporter Robert Buffalo last month.

They specifically criticize what they describe as “delayed, confused, and weak messaging” from the leader on Indigenous rights legislation and the recent Cowichan Tribes title decision, which they argue pose a “clear and immediate threat to property rights.”

“If an election was held today, we would almost certainly lose by an embarrassing and unacceptable margin to David Eby’s NDP,” the letter reads.

It concludes by calling on caucus members to “take action to restore effective leadership” before the next election.

While the grassroots leaders thanked Rustad for helping build the Conservatives into the province’s largest official opposition in history, they made clear that gratitude does not translate into continued confidence. “It’s now time for a next chapter,” they wrote, urging caucus to appoint an interim leader and call a new leadership contest.