Conservative Party Leader Rustad issues apology following accusation of spreading false claim regarding female B.C. Conservative member
In the lead-up to the final voting in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley for the Conservative Party leadership, a series of controversies have emerged, casting a shadow over the proceedings.
The Canadian Press has obtained screenshots of an estimated 2,100 fake memberships in the B.C. Conservative Party. Each fake membership bears a phone number that reads either 1111111111 or 2222222222 and uses the same email address. The party claims that these improper sign-ups were identified by an internal audit and were promptly cancelled. However, the party lacks information about claims that at least two of the fake memberships involved people who were already dead.
The leadership race has also been associated with allegations of improper membership sign-ups. John Rustad, the B.C. Conservative Leader, has apologised to his caucus for discussing a party member's alleged romantic relationship at a meeting with legislators last week. Rustad regrets repeating a rumour that caused embarrassment and harm to the woman, whose identity The Canadian Press is not disclosing.
The review of Rustad's leadership started in June and is being conducted on a riding-by-riding basis. Peter Milobar, the Opposition finance critic, has described the process as "clunky." He authenticated the apology email from John Rustad.
In June, John Rustad wondered whether he should have used the word "blackmail" when discussing alleged attempts by former B.C. Conservatives to take over the party. Rustad did not respond to requests for comment regarding the apology or the ongoing review of his leadership.
The final voting results and the outcome of the leadership vote will be announced on Monday. A statement from the party representative indicates that the results of the review will be released by news release on Monday.
This is not the first time John Rustad has regretted his choice of words to his colleagues. In a previous instance, he did not regret writing a letter that resulted in an RCMP investigation. The search results do not provide information about which person discovered the falsifications of party memberships in the B.C. Conservative Party.
The apology comes amid pressure on Rustad's Opposition leadership, which is currently undergoing a months-long voting process. The leadership contest has been a tumultuous one, with various controversies arising throughout. As the final voting day approaches, the party and its leadership will be under close scrutiny.
This report was first published on Sept. 19, 2025, by Wolfgang Depner of The Canadian Press.
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