Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad would not comment on rumours he is mulling another run for the party’s top post, but he did not deny it either.
“At this point, I have no comment,” he told Black Press Media Thursday (Feb. 5). “However, I will make myself available next week in Victoria.”
The rumours stem from an X post by reporter Rob Shaw, who says Rustad recently requested a leadership application package from the party.
Conservative Party executive director Angelo Isidorou would not confirm whether or not Rustad had submitted the application.
“I cannot confirm any internal requests at this time,” Isidorou told Black Press Media via text.
Leadership hopefuls – Rustad would be the 11th entrant — would need to get 250 signatures from party members and submit an application package by the Feb. 15 nomination to be eligible for the race.
The contest is to be held in a leadership convention on May 30. Several deadlines for significant financial payments must be met along the way, with a total of $115,000 due from each candidate.
Rustad stepped down as party leader in December after being removed from the position by a vote of the party board and caucus. He had initially refused to step down, arguing the party’s constitution did not allow for him to be removed in this way. He eventually relented, saying he did not want to cause a “civil war” within the party.