BREAKING: John Rustad rejoins BC Conservative caucus

Former BC Conservative leader John Rustad has rejoined caucus just days after being removed by now-former leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

Rustad is the second MLA to return following Findlay's resignation. The first, Scott McInnis, had left on September 2 after losing faith that his goal of helping form government could be achieved under her leadership.

"Last week was a hard week," Rustad wrote in a statement. "Caucus spoke frankly, as a caucus should. Kerry-Lynne Findlay then made a difficult decision. That decision was hers. I respect it. I am not going back over the rest."

He went on to explain that Interim Leader Lorne Doerkson asked him to come back to caucus, and that he had "accepted."

"I am returning to do the work, not to run the next chapter from the outside," Rustad declared. "If the new leadership wants my help, they will have it. I will not force my old vision onto them."

He urged the "older generation of politicians" such as Christy Clark and Gordon Campbell to "step aside," arguing that "their time at the centre is over."

Rustad said talks of merging CentreBC's eight-member caucus with the BC Conservatives "should succeed," warning that "this province cannot afford two opposition parties while David Eby measures the timing of an election."

Speaking at the legislature Monday, Rustad said Findlay "did the right thing" by resigning, and first revealed that Doerkson had invited him back into caucus.

Lorne Doerkson appointed interim leader of BC Conservatives

He is the fourth person to helm the party since the 2024 election.

Sitka MediaJarryd Jäger

Findlay's resignation marked the culmination of a week of turmoil within the party. She said Sunday that too much of the party’s time and attention had been consumed by internal conflict and acknowledged there were decisions she would make differently in hindsight.

During the aforementioned press conference, Rustad outlined the circumstances surrounding his removal from caucus, saying Findlay fired him, reinstated him and then fired him again by text over Thursday and Friday.

Rustad was among three MLAs — alongside Claire Rattée and Trevor Halford — who were removed from the BC Conservative caucus late last week. Their departures came amid growing internal divisions within the party.

Rustad also went after Premier David Eby and the NDP, calling Eby “a liar” and accusing the government of spreading lies and misinformation that have hurt the province.

The BC Conservatives have faced weeks of upheaval, with a series of MLAs leaving caucus and Findlay facing growing criticism of her leadership. Findlay had maintained as recently as Thursday that she was “not going anywhere” and that the party could restore its reputation ahead of a potential snap election.

More to come...