B.C. voters face a once-unthinkable election choice, after stunning rise of Rustad
VANCOUVER — The choice facing British Columbians in the provincial election today would have been unthinkable just a few months ago.
The B.C. Conservatives, whose party won less than two per cent of the vote last election, stand on the brink of forming government or, at least, becoming the official Opposition, with Leader John Rustad challenging New Democrat incumbent David Eby to be premier.
Rustad’s unlikely rise came after he was thrown out of the Opposition BC United party, joined the Conservatives as leader, then steered the party to a level of popularity that led to the collapse of the BC United — formerly known as the BC Liberals — all in less than two years.
Mike McDonald, co-host of the Hotel Pacifico podcast on B.C. politics and a former chief of staff for then-premier Christy Clark, said he was expecting a “very close, nail-biter” election.