B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad is under fire for his handling of the resignation of Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee. Boultbee becomes the fifth MLA to exit or be ousted from the Official Opposition in the past year. Rustad expressed concerns about Boultbee’s positions on various issues and referenced her well-being during a media briefing, triggering questions about her mental health.
He mentioned that staff had reported instances of Boultbee appearing confused and emotional, prompting discussions about her potentially taking a leave of absence. Boultbee later revealed that she had previously informed Rustad about seeking mental health assistance while dealing with a distressing child abuse case as the party’s critic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development. She criticized Rustad for allegedly using her personal struggles against her.
Rustad denied specifically mentioning Boultbee’s mental health, emphasizing that they were offering support and addressing concerns raised about her. Despite calls for an apology from Boultbee and others, Rustad stood his ground, stating he did not believe an apology was warranted. Former B.C. Conservatives leader Trevor Bolin expressed disappointment in Rustad’s actions and suggested that Rustad should step down due to the lack of confidence from party members.
The internal turmoil within the B.C. Conservatives coincides with a recent poll indicating stronger voter support for the NDP compared to the Conservatives. Amidst these challenges, Rustad remains confident in his party’s performance and even welcomes the idea of an early election. The Conservative party has seen a significant reduction in MLA numbers, with two forming a new party and others sitting as Independents after disputes within the caucus.