BC Conservative Leader John Rustad, May 27/24 (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

BC ELECTION 2024

‘They are dictating terms’; BC Conservative leader looking ahead after failed deal with BC United

May 27, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — John Rustad, the leader of the BC Conservative Party, was not happy that BC United’s Kevin Falcon was dictating terms on a non-compete agreement and that led him to shut down talks last week.

“And here we are today with the offer from them — once again they are dictating terms. They aren’t actually sitting down and having a conversation,” Rustad told CFJC News. “And all those conversations that we did have as well, were supposed to be in confidence. (Falcon) doesn’t seem to think that’s right. He just went out and released all that information publicly. That’s his prerogative to do, I suppose, but I guess that means we just can’t take him at his word.”

While Rustad didn’t completely rule out a future merger, he certainly hinted it will need to come under the BC Conservative banner.

“We are building really a grassroots movement around the province. One of the things that came out of Friday, we looked at from the offer perspective, it would mean that half the people in British Columbia would not be able to vote for a common sense alternative,” said Rustad. “And since 1991, it has been 33 years — 16 years of BC Liberal and 17 years of NDP. People are looking for change. They are looking for something different.”

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That leaves the distinct possibility of a vote split, especially in ridings with BC United incumbents like both Kamloops ridings. The Conservative leader, however, spoke to recent polling numbers giving his party a significant edge on the United.

“We do have the momentum. We do have the opportunity to be able to take on the NDP and form government. Clearly, it would be easier if we didn’t have part of that vote going toward the United party, but at the same time we need to ensure we are providing people in this province that clear common sense perspective,” said Rustad.

British Columbians are scheduled to head to the polls on October 19.

CFJC News will have more later this week from our sit down interview with Rustad, including his and Falcon’s thoughts on key policy differences between the two centre-right parties.