B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has survived a review into his leadership, with just over 70 per cent support. Rustad won the vote in 78 out of 93 ridings in B.C., the party said in a press release. He lost in 10 ridings, tied in three, and no votes were cast in two ridings. “I would like to thank our members for coming out to use their democratic right and voicing their opinion on the direction of our party and movement,” Rustad said in a statement. “This process has localized democracy and allowed all members to not only vote in this crucial review, but share their concerns with me directly.””I believe the members have given me a mandate to lead and I believe British Columbians are hungry for an unapologetic common sense Conservative government. We will make it happen.” A total of 1,268 B.C. Conservative party members had their say on Rustad’s leadership. That’s out of the 8,000 total party members. Under the party’s constitution, Rustad needed more than 50 per cent support to remain as leader. Since June, Rustad had been undergoing a leadership review from his party’s members — which saw members cast their votes on a riding-by-riding basis, as opposed to voting at a large convention.WATCH | Allegations emerge amid leadership review: John Rustad’s B.C. Conservative party leadership questionedA review of John Rustad’s leadership of the B.C. Conservative party has led to allegations of fake membership sign ups and ballot stuffing. As CBC’s Katie DeRosa reports, it’s caused more infighting within the Official Opposition. The leadership review is mandated under the party’s constitution because Rustad lost the October election. The review, however, had been marred by allegations of voter fraud. Each of those new members provided the same email domain and fake phone numbers and their membership fees were all purchased using three credit cards, according to two party sources, whom CBC News has agreed not to name because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. The party disqualified those memberships and insisted that votes would be cast by members in good standing. The sources also told CBC News that three people connected to the irregular memberships resigned from their roles within the party and had their party memberships revoked.LISTEN | Banman backs Rustad amid voter fraud controversy: The Early EditionB.C. Conservative Party Whip speaks about allegations of fake sign-ups during leadership reviewMembers of the B.C. Conservatives are having their say in the leadership review of John Rustad. The process has been marred by allegations of ballot stuffing and fake memberships. The party says more than 2,000 sign-ups were cancelled over concerns they were fraudulent. Voting on Rustad’s leadership will be complete by Saturday.To look ahead to that, we’re joined by the B.C. Conservative Party Whip, Bruce Banman. Rustad faced an organized opposition campaign from a group based in the Okanagan, who sent messages to B.C. Conservative supporters encouraging people to vote against him. CBC News obtained one of the text messages, which reads: “There are 2 questions on the ballot about John Rustad’s leadership and we’re encouraging members to vote NO on both.”WATCH | B.C. Conservative leader to face scheduled leadership review amid infighting B.C. Conservative leader to face scheduled leadership review amid infightingThe B.C. Conservative party has launched a leadership review into John Rustad. It comes as Rustad struggles to control infighting within the conservative movement. Our Katie DeRosa has been looking into this. The fraud allegations have deepened existing divisions within the party, which is a coalition of B.C. Conservatives and former B.C. United MLAs. During an unrelated press conference in Victoria before the results were released, Anna Kindy, the Conservative MLA for North Island, said she has confidence in Rustad’s leadership. MLAs will gather for a caucus meeting in Victoria Monday night to discuss the vote results. Several sources tell CBC News that regardless of the results, some MLAs and B.C. Conservative members are readying leadership bids.
John Rustad survives B.C. Conservative leadership review with 70% support
