John Rustad (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

BC CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP

Rustad stops in Kamloops during final week of party leadership review

Sep 16, 2025 | 2:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — British Columbia’s MLAs are set to return to the legislature in early October for the fall session. It will be the first official sitting since late May, and only the second session of the latest edition of the legislature. Before they all return however, the BC Conservatives are wrapping up a leadership review of John Rustad, with members across the province voting on the future direction of the party.

In many senses the BC Conservative Party is still in its infancy, rising from relative obscurity to official opposition in short order. Now the man who helped revive the party is facing a leadership review.

“Everywhere I’ve gone, the results have been very positive. I don’t know, of course, what the vote results are. We will see what looks like in another week or so,” said Rustad during a visit to Kamloops on Tuesday (Sept. 16). “But the response from the members has been very, very positive. It’s actually been very good engagements through every corner of the province — and good turnouts, too.”

The Conservatives are considered a ‘big tent’ party, bring together elements of the former BC Liberals, with more conservative-minded politicians. For Rustad, that presents an almost impossible scenario in finding a middle ground.

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“You are going to have varying views across (the board) as to how things are going,” admitted Rustad. “And also, we are in the unique situation where we are 2-to-5 points up in the polls on the NDP, as a government in waiting. There are people out there looking at it, saying, ‘Hey, there might be an opportunity to step into what’s been built and become the next premier of the province of British Columbia.’ I get that. That is politics. What we are trying to do is make sure we are true to who we are, the values, the things we need to be fighting for.”

The leadership review vote concludes next week. The message being sent by Rustad to membership is not about himself but his vision for the party’s future and B.C.’s future as a place the younger generations want stay.

“That is what we need to do and that is what I’m dedicated to doing,” added Rustad. “People say, ‘Are you going to carry on with the job? Maybe do you want to step aside?’ Look, we built this thing. It’s only been a short period of time. I’m here to finish the job. I’m here to make sure this province gets turned around and we can be proud once again of what this province can give for the people in British Columbia.”

Question period returns to Victoria on October 6. Whether it will be Rustad or somebody else who rises first to question the premier will soon become clear.