Former British Columbia Conservative leader John Rustad says he has been invited to rejoin the party’s caucus, just days after he was removed from the group during a period of significant internal turmoil.
Rustad said Monday that Lorne Doerkson, who was appointed interim leader of the Opposition following Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s resignation, contacted him by text message and asked him to return to the B.C. Conservative caucus. Rustad did not confirm whether he had formally accepted the invitation.
The development comes after Findlay resigned as B.C. Conservative leader on Sunday following weeks of caucus upheaval, defections and disputes over the party’s direction. Doerkson has since taken over as interim leader of the Opposition.
Rustad was among three MLAs — alongside Trevor Halford and Claire Rattée — whom Findlay removed from the Conservative caucus on September 18. The decision followed growing disagreements within the party, with several MLAs leaving the caucus in recent weeks.
Rustad said he had asked Findlay to step down at a caucus meeting before his removal. According to his account, Findlay initially removed him from the caucus, briefly rescinded the decision and then confirmed his expulsion the following day.
With Findlay now out as party leader, Rustad said he would be willing to support Doerkson if the interim leader chose to guide the party into a potential election campaign. Doerkson is restricted by the B.C. Conservative constitution from seeking the permanent leadership position.
The leadership change comes as speculation about an early B.C. provincial election increases. The governing NDP caucus met Sunday to discuss the political situation following Findlay’s resignation, while Premier David Eby has previously told his MLAs to be prepared for an election.
The possibility of an early election has added urgency to efforts to stabilize the Opposition. The B.C. Conservatives have experienced a series of caucus departures, while a new political organization, CentreBC, has also emerged after former Conservative MLAs left the party.
Rustad also addressed speculation about the future of the B.C. Conservative movement, saying experienced former premiers such as Christy Clark and Gordon Campbell should step aside from provincial politics. He included himself in that discussion, saying he was not certain whether his own political generation should continue leading the party.
The current situation leaves the B.C. Conservatives facing questions about caucus unity, leadership and the party’s organization ahead of a possible provincial election. Rustad’s potential return could add another development to the rapidly changing political landscape, although he has not confirmed that he will rejoin the caucus.
Meanwhile, Findlay remains the B.C. Conservative candidate in the Abbotsford-Mission byelection, despite stepping down as party leader. The byelection is scheduled for September 26, adding another significant political event to an already unsettled period in British Columbia politics.
For now, Rustad’s return to the caucus remains an invitation rather than a confirmed decision. His next move, along with the Conservatives’ approach under interim leader Doerkson, could become an important part of the province’s political developments as parties prepare for the possibility of an early election.
Swifteradio.com
