John Rustad

Last updated

John Rustad
MLA
John Rustad 2016.jpg
Rustad in 2016
Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 12, 2024
Residence(s) Cluculz Lake, British Columbia, Canada

John Rustad MLA (born August 18, 1963) is a Canadian politician who has served as the leader of the Opposition in British Columbia since 2024 and as the leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia since 2023. He has served as the member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Nechako Lakes since 2009. [3] A former BC Liberal before his expulsion from caucus in 2022, he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2005, representing Prince George–Omineca. [4] He served in Premier Christy Clark's cabinet as Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

Contents

Early life

Rustad was born and raised in Prince George, British Columbia. His father worked in forestry, and his mother was a homemaker. He has two older brothers. [5] Prior to provincial politics, he had worked in the forest sector for two decades, founding a consulting firm named Western Geographic Information Systems Inc. in 1995. [6] Between 2002 and 2005, he served as a trustee with School District 57 Prince George. [6] [7]

Political career

BC Liberals

Rustad was first elected to the legislature in 2005 as a BC Liberal candidate, representing the riding of Prince George-Omineca. Following the riding's dissolution, he was re-elected in 2009 in the current Nechako Lakes riding. [3] In his first two terms, he served as Parliamentary Secretary for Forestry to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, and as a member of the Environment and Land Use Committee, Legislative Review Committee, Treasury Board, Select Standing Committee on Education, Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Select Standing Committee on Health. [8]

He retained his seat in the 2013 election and was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation by Premier Christy Clark. [8] He kept his cabinet post following his re-election in 2017, [9] and added the role of Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to his duties after Steve Thomson's election as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. [10] Rustad continued in both ministerial roles until that July, when the Liberal minority government was defeated in a non-confidence motion.

He was re-elected in 2020, and served as the Liberals' critic for Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. [6] After suggesting online that carbon dioxide emissions were not contributing to climate change, Rustad was removed from the Liberal caucus by leader Kevin Falcon on August 18, 2022; [11] he then sat in the legislature as an independent politician. [7] [12]

Leader of the BC Conservatives (2023–present)

On February 16, 2023, Rustad joined the BC Conservative Party, giving the party representation in the legislature. [12] Rustad cited "irreconcilable differences" with Falcon in explaining his party change. [13]

On March 23, 2023, Rustad announced that he was running to be the leader of the BC Conservatives. [14] He was acclaimed as the leader of the Conservatives on March 31, 2023, succeeding Trevor Bolin. [15]

On September 13, 2023, BC United MLA Bruce Banman crossed the floor to join the Conservatives. [16] This gave the Conservatives the two MLAs necessary for official party status. [17]

Rustad led his party into the 2024 British Columbia general election as the principal opposition party following BC United's decision to suspend its campaign and endorse Rustad's party. The Conservatives won 44 seats, the party's best showing in over 70 years; the party hadn't won more than two seats in an election since 1953.

Opinion polling

Rise in support for the BC Conservatives in the polls 43rd British Columbia General Election polling.png
Rise in support for the BC Conservatives in the polls

Since Rustad became leader, the BC Conservatives have overtaken BC United (formerly the BC Liberals until 2023) as the second most popular party in the province and are competing with the BC NDP for most popular. An Abacus Data poll in December 2023 put the Conservatives' popular vote share at 26 percent, ahead of BC United at 17 percent but behind the BC NDP at 44 percent. [18] Later in August 2024, two months before the provincial election, a Mainstreet Research poll placed the Conservatives' popular vote share at 39 percent, ahead of both BC United at 12 percent and the BC NDP at 36 percent. [19]

Political positions

Housing

In 2024, Rustad pledged to his supporters that he would scrap a housing reform implemented by BC NDP in 2023 that legalized up to four housing units on lots that previously only allowed single-family housing and six housing units on lots near rapid transit stations. [20] He described the reform as "a very authoritarian approach." [20]

Rustad has expressed concerns about rent control; however, in 2024, he said that his party did not intend to touch rent control. [20]

SOGI 123

Rustad proposes removing from schools a set of teaching materials known as SOGI 123 (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) which according to CBC is a collection of "guides and resources that aim to help teachers address discrimination and bullying, create supportive and inclusive environments for 2SLGBTQ+ students and acknowledge varying genders and sexual orientations". [21]

On September 30, 2023, Rustad shared a post on social media that appeared to compare the teaching of sexuality and gender to the residential school system. [22]

Land claims

Rustad's comments about Indigenous peoples in Canada include that the efforts of the provincial government of British Columbia to recognize Indigenous land claims in Canada are "a direct assault on private property". [23]

Public health

In July 2024, Rustad has claimed that he regretted getting the COVID-19 vaccine due to a heart problem shortly afterward, and that COVID-19 vaccine mandates were about "shaping opinion and control on the population". He has said that flu and COVID-19 vaccines need to be available for "vulnerable people". [24] [25]

At the same online meeting hosted by anti-vaccine groups, Rustad said that he would be open to working with other jurisdictions for a "Nuremburg 2.0" event to look into prosecuting people responsible for the province's public health measures and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, referring to an idea popular in anti-vaccine groups inspired by both the Nuremberg trials and the Nuremberg Code. [25] After reporting on the comments surfaced in October 2024, Rustad apologized and said that it was wrong to compare public health measures and Nazi German crimes. [26]

Personal life

Rustad married his wife Kim in 1995. [27] Kim is a cervical cancer survivor; as a result, they did not have children. [5] They have lived in Cluculz Lake since 2009. [28]

Electoral record

2020 British Columbia general election : Nechako Lakes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Liberal John Rustad 4,61152.24−2.15$17,423.82
New Democratic Anne Marie Sam3,03134.34+4.53$9,236.20
Christian Heritage Dan Stuart4134.68–$991.53
Libertarian Jon Rempel4034.57+0.32$0.00
Independent Margo Maley3684.17–$1,280.76
Total valid votes/expense limit8,82699.38–$66,123.96
Total rejected ballots550.62–0.06
Turnout8,88149.91–9.15
Registered voters17,794
Liberal hold Swing –3.34
Source: Elections BC [29] [30]
2017 British Columbia general election : Nechako Lakes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Liberal John Rustad 5,30754.39+0.6$43,487
New Democratic Anne Marie Sam2,90929.81+2.16$14,578
Green Douglas Norman Gook8789.00+3.85$163
Libertarian Jon Rempel4384.49–$3,100
Independent Al Trampuh2262.31–
Total valid votes9,758100.00
Total rejected ballots670.68
Turnout9,82559.06
Registered voters16,636
Source: Elections BC [31]
2013 British Columbia general election : Nechako Lakes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Liberal John Rustad 5,32453.79–1.97$75,052
New Democratic Sussanne Skidmore-Hewlett2,73727.65–7.64$56,108
Conservative Dan Brooks1,25312.66–$52,518
Green Colin Hamm5105.15–1.15$1,599
AdvocationalBeverly Bird740.75–$3,009
Total valid votes9,898100.0  
Total rejected ballots420.42
Turnout9,94058.46
Liberal hold Swing +2.84
Source: Elections BC [32]
2009 British Columbia general election : Nechako Lakes
PartyCandidateVotes%Expenditures
Liberal John Rustad 4,94955.76$60,522
New Democratic Byron Goerz3,13335.29$7,480
Green Gerard Riley5596.30$350
Refederation Mike Summers2352.65$1,110
Total valid votes8,87699.25
Total rejected ballots670.75
Turnout8,94354.80
Source: Elections BC [33]
2005 British Columbia general election : Prince George–Omineca
PartyCandidateVotes%Expenditures
Liberal John Rustad8,62251.71$87,794
New Democratic Chuck Fraser6,18037.06$64,805
Green Andrej J. DeWolf1,3938.35$2,139
Democratic Reform Erle Martz4792.87$983
Total valid votes16,674 100
Total rejected ballots91 0.55
Turnout16,765 64.22

Related Research Articles

BC United (BCU), known from 1903 until 2023 as the British Columbia Liberal Party or BC Liberals, is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party has been described as conservative, neoliberal, and occupying a centre-right position on the left–right political spectrum. The party commonly describes itself as a "free enterprise coalition" and draws support from members of both the federal Liberal and Conservative parties. From the 1990s to 2024, BC United was the main centre-right opposition to the centre-left New Democratic Party (NDP). Once affiliated with the Liberal Party of Canada, the British Columbia Liberal Party became independent in 1987. The party changed its name to BC United on April 12, 2023.

The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party sits on the centre-left of the political spectrum and is one of the two major parties in British Columbia; since the 1990s, its rival was the centre-right BC United until the Conservative Party of British Columbia reconstituted itself for the 2024 British Columbia general election, with BC United withdrawing its candidates and endorsing the Conservatives. The party is formally affiliated with the federal New Democratic Party and serves as its provincial branch.

The Conservative Party of British Columbia, commonly known as the BC Conservatives and colloquially known as the Tories, is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. It is the main rival to the governing British Columbia New Democratic Party and forms the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. It is led by John Rustad, who was originally elected as a British Columbia Liberal Party MLA in 2005 before being expelled from the Liberal caucus in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legislative Assembly of British Columbia</span> Deliberative assembly of the Parliament of British Columbia

The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is the deliberative assembly of the Parliament of British Columbia, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The other component of Parliament is the lieutenant governor of British Columbia. The assembly has 93 elected members and meets in Victoria. Members are elected from provincial ridings and are referred to as members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Bills passed by the assembly are given royal assent by the lieutenant governor in the name of the King of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)</span> Position in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

The leader of the Opposition is the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia who leads the political party recognized as the Official Opposition. This position generally goes to the leader of the largest party in the Legislative Assembly that is not in government.

Kevin Falcon is a Canadian provincial politician who is the leader of BC United since 2022 and was the Leader of the Opposition from 2022 to 2024. He was the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Vancouver-Quilchena, from April 2022, when he won the seat in a by-election until the 2024 provincial election, for which he suspended his party's campaign and withdrew his candidacy for re-election. He formerly served as the MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale as a member of the then BC Liberals from 2001 to 2013. He served as both the 12th deputy premier of British Columbia, and the province's minister of Finance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nechako Lakes (provincial electoral district)</span> Provincial electoral district in British Columbia, Canada

Nechako Lakes is a provincial electoral district in British Columbia, Canada. It was established by the Electoral Districts Act, 2008, came into effect upon the dissolution of the British Columbia Legislature in April 2009, and was first contested in the 2009 election. The district includes the northern communities of Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Houston and surrounding areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonia Furstenau</span> Canadian politician (born 1970)

Sonia Furstenau is a Canadian politician who is currently the leader of the Green Party of British Columbia. Furstenau served as the MLA for Cowichan Valley from 2017 until 2024, when she unsuccessfully attempted to switch constituencies.

Ian Paton is a Canadian politician who was elected in the 2017 British Columbia general election to represent the electoral district of Delta South in the 41st Parliament of British Columbia. He is a member of the Conservative Party of British Columbia caucus, and was first elected as a member of the BC Liberals. Prior to his election to the legislature, Paton was a farmer and municipal councillor in Delta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Milobar</span> Canadian politician (born 1970)

Peter Gordon Milobar is a Canadian politician serving as an MLA from Kamloops. Milobar was elected in the 2017 provincial election as a member of the BC Liberal caucus, representing the electoral district of the Kamloops-North Thompson. He is the Official Opposition Critic for Finance. He previously served as the Official Opposition Critic for Environment and Climate Change and also for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 British Columbia general election</span> Canadian provincial election

The 2020 British Columbia general election was held on October 24, 2020, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly to serve in the 42nd parliament of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The incumbent New Democratic Party of British Columbia won a majority government, making John Horgan the first leader in the history of the BC NDP to win a second consecutive term as premier. The incoming Legislature marked the first time the NDP commanded an outright majority government in BC since the 1996 election, as well as the first province-wide popular vote win for the party since 1991.

A British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election was held on February 3, 2018, due to the resignation of Christy Clark as Liberal leader on August 4, 2017. Rich Coleman was elected interim leader announcing that he has no intention of running for leader, but would resign as interim leader if he changed his mind, adding that he did not anticipate changing his mind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">42nd Parliament of British Columbia</span> Canadian provincial legislature (2020–2024)

The 42nd Parliament of British Columbia was chosen in the 2020 British Columbia general election. All 87 seats were up for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Banman</span> Canadian politician

R. Bruce Banman is a Canadian politician in the province of British Columbia. He is the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Abbotsford South. First elected in the 2020 British Columbia general election as a BC Liberal, he crossed the floor to join the Conservative Party on September 13, 2023. Prior to his election to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, he was the mayor of Abbotsford, British Columbia from 2011 to 2014, and an Abbotsford city councillor from 2018 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 British Columbia general election</span> Canadian provincial election

The 2024 British Columbia general election was held on October 19, 2024, to elect 93 members (MLAs) of the Legislative Assembly to serve in the 43rd parliament of the Canadian province of British Columbia.

A British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election was held on February 5, 2022, to elect a new party leader, following the resignation of Andrew Wilkinson after the 2020 British Columbia general election. Kevin Falcon was declared the winner following the counting of the fifth ballot. This was the last leadership election under the name "BC Liberal Party", as the party changed its name to "BC United" in April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election</span> Political party leadership election in Canada

A Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election was held on March 31, 2023, to elect a new party leader, following the resignation of Trevor Bolin.

Dallas Brodie is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) since the 2024 general election. A member of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, she was elected to represent the riding of Vancouver-Quilchena.

References

  1. ↑ Rustad, John. "Caption: Today is my birthday & one year ago today, I was kicked out of the BC Liberal Party for standing up for farmers & ranchers in my riding. #bcpoli". Twitter. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  2. ↑ John Rustad to run in Nechako Lakes riding Anonymous. The Caledonia Courier [Fort St. James, B.C] 09 Apr 2008: 3.
  3. 1 2 John Rustad Official Website
  4. ↑ Rustad making another effort to sit as school board trustee: [Final Edition] Prince George Citizen [Prince George, B.C] 27 Sep 2002: 3.
  5. 1 2 Jordan B Peterson (September 2, 2024). Stopping the Socialist Trainwreck in British Columbia | John Rustad | EP 477 . Retrieved September 2, 2024– via YouTube.
  6. 1 2 3 "MLA: John Rustad". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia . Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Clarke, Ted (February 16, 2023). "Northern B.C. MLA John Rustad joins Conservative Party of B.C." Alaska Highway News . Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "John Rustad sworn in as new Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation". Government of British Columbia. June 13, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ "B.C. Premier Christy Clark and cabinet sworn in". CBC News. June 12, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Christy Clark Cabinet: 2011-2017" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. January 24, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  11. ↑ "B.C. Liberal leader boots John Rustad from caucus over climate change denial". Vancouver Sun . Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Clarke, Ted (February 16, 2023). "John Rustad jumps to Conservative Party of B.C." Prince George Citizen . Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Ousted B.C. Liberal MLA John Rustad joins B.C. Conservatives". Vancouver Sun . Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ Petersen, Hanna (March 23, 2023). "MLA John Rustad running for BC Conservative Party leadership". Prince George Citizen . Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ Depner, Wolf (March 31, 2023). "New BC Conservative leader John Rustad says nobody will 'outwork' him - Prince Rupert Northern View". The Northern View. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  16. ↑ "BC United MLA Bruce Banman defects to provincial Conservatives". CTV News . The Canadian Press. September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  17. ↑ DeRosa, Katie (September 13, 2023). "B.C. Conservatives gain official party status with defection of B.C. United MLA Bruce Banman". Vancouver Sun . Postmedia Network . Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  18. ↑ "BC Conservatives pull past BC United in latest poll; premier cautions voters". CityNews Vancouver. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  19. ↑ "New poll puts B.C. Conservatives ahead of NDP as election looms". Vancouver Sun. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  20. 1 2 3 "Rustad Would Scrap Zoning Reforms, Keep Rent Control". The Tyee. 2024.
  21. ↑ Pawson, Chad (September 26, 2024). "How turfing SOGI and banning books became part of B.C.'s election".
  22. ↑ Wyton, Moira (October 2, 2023). "B.C. Tory leader defends post that appeared to liken teaching of sexuality and gender to residential schools".
  23. ↑ Feinberg, Jennifer (September 6, 2024). "B.C. Indigenous chiefs slam Conservative leader's take on reconciliation". Langley Advance Times. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  24. ↑ Simon Little (September 24, 2024). "Party leaders need to 'quickly depoliticize' vaccines, B.C. doctor says". Global News . Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  25. 1 2 LeBrun, Luke (October 6, 2024). "BC Conservative Leader John Rustad Suggests Province Would Participate in 'Nuremberg'-Style COVID-19 Trials". PressProgress . Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  26. ↑ Larsen, Karin (October 7, 2024). "John Rustad recants, apologizes for 'Nuremberg 2.0' comments". CBC News . Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  27. ↑ "John Rustad". Conservative Party of BC. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  28. ↑ Reconciliation, Indigenous Relations and (June 13, 2013). "John Rustad sworn in as new Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation | BC Gov News". news.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  29. ↑ Boegman, Anton (July 27, 2021). "42nd Election Report and Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. pp. 6, 216–218. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Statement of Votes – 41st Provincial General Election – May 9, 2017" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Nechako Lakes - 2009 Voting results by voting area" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved June 16, 2017.

https://www.todayinbc.com/news/stop-fear-mongering-around-indigenous-rights-first-nations-executive-7522437?utm_source=second-street&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todayinbc-september6%2c2024&emailmd5=28e991186c9ba74acb733d56b3892569&emailsha1=47186154240421191377132108122154196199198118256223108&emailsha256=2115f81504352475f7ede266667b69c456a81ec5a744826bb6e2b2d3ee47b299

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.