John Rustad, leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., speaks at Elks Hall in Vernon July 7. (submitted photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Vernon stop

Rustad and BC Conservatives giving voters a right-wing option

Jul 9, 2023 | 9:00 AM

The new leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. (CPBC) is looking to give voters a new choice on the right side of the political spectrum.

John Rustad made a stop in Vernon Friday, July 7 for a meet and greet at the Elks Lodge Hall.

“As we go around, we see there is a lot of people that were part of other parties that are now giving us a look,” Rustad told Vernon Matters in an interview. “We did very well in the byelection on the Island (second in Langford-Juan de Fuca) but we intend to fight for all 93 ridings around the province. We want to make sure that people have an option.”

B.C.’s next provincial election is scheduled for October 2024.

John Rustad, leader of Conservative Party of B.C. (submitted photo)

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Rustad, a five-term MLA and former B.C. Liberal from the riding of Nechako Lakes in North-Central B.C., believes the BC United, Greens and NDP are all left-of-centre parties.

“We’re the only party that can offer a centre-right alternative for the people,” he said.

Rustad said candidates are starting to come forward, wanting to run for the CPBC.

“It’s too early to give you some names in terms of people who may be interested in running in the Vernon area, but our hope is to have a third or more of our candidates in place by December.”

Rustad was not sure of his party’s support in the Vernon-Monashee riding, which had been a Liberal stronghold until Harwinder Sandhu won it for the NDP in 2020.

“What we’ve seen over time, is that political parties tend to get somewhat arrogant and there needs to be renewal.”

The veteran MLA, who was acclaimed as the party leader in March 2023, said one of their policies that seems to be gaining steam is to get education refocused on academics.

“Leave the social issues for families, making sure that we support parent’s choice and family values. But that’s a big thing that we hear time and time again across the province.”

Rustad was removed from the B.C. Liberal caucus by leader Kevin Falcon in August 2022 over controversial tweets suggesting climate change is not caused by carbon dioxide emissions.

Vernon Matters asked him if he is a climate change denier.

“I get called that all the time and I think people like to be able to label and be divisive,” Rustad remarked. “The reality is very simple: our climate is changing. There is no question and I’ve never denied that. I always say that. But when I look at the approach governments are taking, [such as] increasing energy costs and putting people into poverty, that’s not going to solve any issues that we have with climate.” (John Rustad)

Rustad says eliminating nitrogen-based fertilizer also won’t change the climate, but will lead to food shortages and lead to starvation in the world.

Rustad also believes in having MLAs with an independent voice for their riding.

“Too often we’re seeing with the United and NDP parties that they want their candidates just to parrot their positions. They don’t want candidates to be able to have a voice and I don’t think that is the way democracy should be. I think people should be elected to represent their ridings first, and then be able to work in a party to move things forward.”

The new leader said his party is seeing a “growth phase” despite not electing a MLA since the 1970’s.

“We’re taking this party from something that’s basically new and we’re growing it, and what we have seen dramatically the last three months, and after the byelection result, is a tremendous uptick in interest.”

Rustad will be in Kelowna Sunday, July 9, for a meet and greet at the Best Western Plus on Highway 97 North from 7-9 p.m.