Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee has resigned from the B.C. Conservative caucus and has urged the party’s leader to step down, citing what she perceives as failed leadership under John Rustad. Boultbee made these statements at a press conference held on the steps of the legislature on Monday morning, expressing her dissatisfaction with Rustad’s leadership style.
During the press conference, Boultbee highlighted her decision to leave the caucus, emphasizing that she believes Rustad’s leadership is detrimental to the party’s future success. She asserted that as long as Rustad remains at the helm of the Conservative Party of B.C., it could potentially lead to a victory for the NDP in the upcoming election.
In response, Rustad accused Boultbee of leaking confidential information from internal caucus meetings to the media. He mentioned that such leaks were unacceptable and needed to be addressed promptly. Rustad also raised concerns about Boultbee’s positions on various issues and referenced her well-being, suggesting that there were worries about her mental health.
Boultbee refuted the accusations of leaking information and condemned Rustad for using her personal struggles against her. She disclosed that she had informed Rustad about her mental health challenges several months ago, particularly regarding a distressing child abuse case she was handling as the party’s critic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Following Boultbee’s departure, Conservative MLA Brennan Day criticized Rustad’s remarks, stating that exploiting or downplaying someone’s health issues could be harmful to those facing such challenges. Boultbee indicated that she would consider rejoining the party under new leadership, highlighting her concerns about the lack of input given to MLAs regarding Rustad’s leadership.
Rustad recently underwent a leadership review in which he received nearly 71% support, indicating a level of backing within the party. However, the party has experienced a series of departures, resulting in a reduced number of MLAs compared to the post-election count. The formation of a new party by two former Conservative MLAs further illustrates the internal divisions within the party.
Both Boultbee and Sturko, another former Conservative MLA, have hinted at the possibility of collaborating on future initiatives, although they have not made any definitive decisions yet. The ongoing turmoil within the Conservative Party has overshadowed its legislative responsibilities, according to political strategist Allie Blades, who noted that the focus should be on holding the NDP accountable.
Rustad has reiterated the party’s primary objective of challenging the ruling NDP government and emphasized the need for unity within the party to achieve this goal.