Image Credit: The Canadian Press

By Doug Collins

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Are the B.C. Conservatives digging their own graves?

Dec 15, 2024 | 6:00 AM

THE PHRASE ‘THE PERFECT STORM’ is most often used to describe an atmospheric incident where major systems come together to create the conditions leading to a possible devastating event. More loosely used, it refers to a series of events which come together to create a situation that could have the same effect.

Such a perfect storm is developing in the B.C. Conservative Party. A short history in my own words, pieced together from several media reports.

Former Vancouver Police Board member Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba recently made some controversial comments about diversity and inclusion in classrooms. The reaction was such that she resigned from the board. Elenore Sturko, a Surrey MLA, felt the comments were offensive, and said Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba should have resigned, and I agree. The comments about getting back to Canadian values were inappropriate.

Then Conservative leader John Rustad stuck his nose in, went for dinner with Sakoma-Fadugba, both of them talked about their shared Christian values and Rustad then said he thought Sturko should meet with Sakoma-Fadugba — I would assume to apologize or at least clear the air. At the same time, 13 Conservative MLAs had a brain fart and wrote a letter saying Sturko should say she’s sorry, referring to protecting their Christian values. Sturko told them all to stuff it and said she was standing by her principles. And good for her.

I have a litany of things to say, in no particular order. While some may hint at prejudice, racism, transgender issues etc., there is no proof of most of it. That’s why it’s a perfect storm. I’m leaving it up to you to think about this and form your opinion.

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Are the B.C. Conservatives digging their own graves?

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1. The MLAs have no business talking about Christian values. They should talk about religious freedoms. It is a smack in the face to ignore other religious beliefs.
2. John Rustad made a horrible mistake in meeting with Sakoma-Fadugba while throwing Sturko under the bus.
3. The MLAs who wrote the letter to Rustad have put a divide in the party that will be hard to heal.
4. Sturko was one of the very first B.C. United MLAs to align with Rustad when Kevin Falcon boarded the lifeboat, leaving the rest of his party members to fend for themselves. Apparently Rustad didn’t appreciate the gesture.
5. Sturko is one of the strongest of the Conservative MLAs, and if, for any reason she leaves, it will be up to Peter Milobar and three or four others to share the load.

It’s quite a conundrum. For sure, Elenore Sturko should stand her ground. But where all this leads is why it’s a perfect storm.

To quote one of our province’s leading journalists, Keith Baldrey, who tweeted on X this week, “The Official Opposition in BC is on the verge of imploding before any members even take their seats. Wild stuff.”

I’m Doug Collins and that’s One Man’s Opinion.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.