In the wake of a letter from party officials calling for the resignation of BC Conservative leader John Rustad, one of his Langley-area MLAs expressed confidence in his leadership.
“I think he’s doing a good job,” Langley-Walnut Grove MLA Misty Van Popta told the Langley Advance Times.
A Nov. 18 open letter from Corey Brooks, president of the BC Conservative party’s North Burnaby riding association, contained the name of 15 current and former riding association officials calling on caucus members to force Rustad to step down.
A total of 30 people have now signed version of the letter.
The Conservative caucus had 44 members after the October 2024 provincial elections, and came close to winning government. The caucus now has 39 members, after five have either quit or been expelled by Rustad.
Van Popta said the perception of a party revolt comes from outside sources, and said the people signing the letter only have a “loose affiliation” with the party.
According to the most recent letter, the 15 newest names include two riding association presidents, two who have resigned as presidents, a past president, three current or resigned riding association treasurers, and seven current or resigned board members.
Van Popta was quick to point out that many of the names on the letter are from ridings where the Conservatives did not win in the last election, although that is not true of all of them.
“None of those names [are people] I’ve ever talked to,” Van Popta said.
She said the caucus is united.
“Our caucus is actually really tight,” she said. “We’re hitting the government between the eyes every day.”
Asked about a recent incident in which Rustad has admitted checking cellphones of his caucus in the search for someone who was leaking information online, Van Popta said that many of the stories about the caucus and leadership are out of context.
“I personally didn’t have a problem,” she said.
The news about the issue is frustrating, Van Popta acknowledged.
She said she would rather be doing research on issues than be fielding calls on the subject from constituents.
“A general truth is most of what you’re hearing is framed incorrectly or out of context,” Van Popta concluded.