Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee has quit the B.C. Conservative caucus and called on the party’s leader to resign.
“I am leaving because John Rustad’s failed leadership needs to end,” Boultbee said during a press conference on the front steps of the legislature Monday morning. “I have witnessed the unravelling of John Rustad.”
“He has invited me to ‘get the F out’ if I don’t like it, and I’ve taken him up on that offer,” Boultbee said.
Boultbee called on Rustad to resign.
“As long as John Rustad remains the leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., he is handing the NDP a victory in the next election.”
Rustad accused Boultbee of leaking internal caucus information to the media.
“She was leaking everything to everyone and obviously those leaks cannot carry on,” said Rustad, speaking shortly after Boultbee’s press conference.
John Rustad requests MLAs hand over phones in search for Conservative party leaker
Last week, Rustad admitted he searched his MLAs’ phones, looking for the person who leaked private information from a caucus meeting. He initially said he didn’t find anything that caused him concern.
Speaking to CBC’s Radio West, Boultbee denied she leaked information, calling that “a bold-faced lie.” She said if Rustad keeps repeating it, she will take legal action.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Rustad brought up concerns about Boultbee’s stances on various issues, as well as what he described as her health.
“With regards to Amelia’s health, I mean, I see concerns when she’s in tears. Staff are telling me that she’s very confused,” Rustad said. “And so, I mean, I had some concerns. I mean, she’s had some issues in the past.”
Boultbee said she told Rustad a few months ago that she was struggling with her mental health as she dealt with a disturbing child abuse case as the party’s critic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Boultbee said the fact that Rustad would try to use that against her speaks to his character as a leader.
‘Misogyny is so deep’: Departing B.C. Conservative MLA takes shots at party leader
Conservative MLA Brennan Day slammed Rustad’s comments, writing on social media: “To weaponize or trivialize someone’s health condition, mental or otherwise, is harmful to those who already face stigma in silence.”
At the press conference Monday morning, Boultbee said she would return to the Conservative Party if it had a new leader.
She said Rustad has denied his MLAs the ability to have a say on his leadership.
Rustad survived a leadership review in September with nearly 71 per cent support.
That same day, Rustad ejected Sturko from his caucus, accusing her of undermining his leadership.
So what does it mean for the makeup of the legislature?
The Official Opposition B.C. Conservatives are down five MLAs from their seat count of 44 after election day.
MLA Elenore Sturko kicked out of B.C. Conservative caucus
Two MLAs — Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong — formed a new party called One B.C. earlier this year.
Brodie was kicked out of the Conservative caucus in March after Rustad accused her of mocking residential school survivors.
Jordan Kealy — who left in solidarity with Brodie — and Sturko sit as Independents.
Boultbee said she considers herself a centrist when it comes to her political leanings. But, she says, that’s not what pushed her out of the party.
“What’s happening right now isn’t actually about that spectrum because John has somehow managed to alienate people on the left and the right,” she said.
As for whether Boultbee will join Sturko to form a new centrist party, both say it’s too early to make that decision. Both said they will work together on issues that are important to them.
Sturko said Rustad’s lack of trust in his MLAs has caused the party to splinter.
“The fact that he’s searching cellphones, he’s accusing every Tom, Dick and Harry of leaking information, when the reality is that failure of leadership lies with him,” Sturko said.
“The right of centre is more splintered now than it was before I ever joined the Conservatives.”
Rustad initially said he believes in free speech and would not whip his MLAs into voting as a block.
But he broke that promise in the first week of the fall session, when he told his MLAs to abstain from voting on an NDP motion that condemned a Christian lobby group.
Rustad said Boultbee had been uncomfortable with the party’s position on “parental rights and the changes that are needed with SOGI.”
SOGI refers to sexual orientation and gender identity, which are teaching materials meant to make classrooms more inclusive.
Allie Blades, a political strategist with Framepoint Public Affairs, says the dysfunction in the party has distracted from its ability to hold the NDP to account.
“The MLAs are doing a fantastic job of holding the NDP accountable. The leader is distracting from that work for being in the headlines for these issues that may be avoidable,” Blades said.
Rustad insists the party has one direction and one direction only, and that’s bringing down Eby’s NDP.
