Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

John Rustad shares his B.C. Conservative origin story, in postelection message

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Oct, 2024 09:36 AM
  • John Rustad shares his B.C. Conservative origin story, in postelection message

John Rustad has taken to social media to describe his origin story as leader of British Columbia's Conservative Party, which he took from obscurity to the brink of power in Saturday's provincial election.

The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind Premier David Eby's New Democrats.

Rustad has shared a photo on social media platform X showing himself sharing a pint with staffer Azim Jiwani and the Conservatives' executive director, Angelo Isidorou, at a pub in Vancouver. 

He says the trio gathered two years ago, after the B.C. Liberal Party kicked him out on his birthday in August 2022 over his support for a climate change skeptic.

He says he considered retiring, but his wife, Kim, convinced him to stay in politics and his friend Jiwani suggested a meeting with Isidorou.

Rustad says they "shared a pint of Guinness" and discussed breathing life into a new party that would give "grassroots voters a new option for genuine change."

The result of the election won't be known until at least next week, with manual recounts taking place in two ridings where the NDP holds a narrow lead, and with 49,000 absentee and mail-in ballots yet to be counted.

The counting that Elections BC says will take place from Oct. 26 to 28 will also help determine what role the two elected Greens will play, with their support essential for any minority government. 

Rustad says the party's "work is just getting started," and his post thanks more than 800,000 people who voted Conservative.

The Nechako Lakes MLA sat briefly as an Independent after being ejected by the Liberals, then joined the B.C. Conservatives and was acclaimed leader in March 2023.

MORE National ARTICLES

Robbery at a BC liquor store

Robbery at a BC liquor store
Prince George R-C-M-P say a man has been taken into custody after robbing a liquor store.  R-C-M-P say officers received two reports about a man who seemed to be carrying a firearm showed up on Weisbrod Road close to the Hart Highway and the second report came in suggesting the man robbed a nearby liquor store. 

Robbery at a BC liquor store

B.C. court declares mistrial in shooting deaths of teenager bystander and gangster

B.C. court declares mistrial in shooting deaths of teenager bystander and gangster
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has declared a mistrial in the case of Kane Carter, who was accused of murdering a gang member and an innocent teenager who was passing by in his parents' vehicle. The jury came back Tuesday saying it was deadlocked after five days of deliberations in Carter's trial.

B.C. court declares mistrial in shooting deaths of teenager bystander and gangster

Police watchdog recommends charges against Vancouver police officer in fatal shooting

Police watchdog recommends charges against Vancouver police officer in fatal shooting
B.C.'s police watchdog says an officer from the Vancouver Police Department might face charges in a shooting that killed a man two years ago.  A statement from the Independent Investigations Office says officers from the Vancouver Police Department responded to a call from the Patricia Hotel on May 5, 2022.

Police watchdog recommends charges against Vancouver police officer in fatal shooting

Elderly woman assaulted in Cobble Hill

Elderly woman assaulted in Cobble Hill
R-C-M-P are looking for more information as they investigate the sexual assault of an elderly woman that happened in Cobble Hill in July. Mounties say an unknown man entered the elderly women's home in the area of Carlton Drive and assaulted her.

Elderly woman assaulted in Cobble Hill

Witnesses sought in collision

Witnesses sought in collision
Vancouver Police are looking for witnesses following a collision between a cyclist and pedestrian on the afternoon of September 1st. Officers say a 62-year-old was riding a rental bike on Comox Street between Broughton and Nicola just before 1 p.m., when the cyclist collided with a driver who was exiting her parked car. 

Witnesses sought in collision

B.C. collaborates with federal government to fight against cyberattacks

B.C. collaborates with federal government to fight against cyberattacks
The British Columbia government says it’s collaborating with the federal government to protect its information systems from cyber attacks. The Ministry of Citizens' Services says in a statement that the new agreement provides the province with access to cyber defence services, which will improve its ability to defend, detect, and respond to cyber threats.

B.C. collaborates with federal government to fight against cyberattacks