By Promod Puri

The BC Conservative Party is in turmoil as its leader, John Rustad, is facing increasing calls for his immediate resignation.

The BC Conservative Party’s management committee, in a strongly worded letter, told Rustad, “as the leader, it is your responsibility to unite the party around a common vision and to lead us forward with purpose and clarity.”

“As evidenced by sagging poll numbers, memberships, fundraising, a shrinking caucus and staff, philosophically inconsistent policy, low morale, and perhaps most importantly, a lack of enthusiasm and tepid endorsement from our membership, your leadership has ceased to serve that purpose.”

This comes two days after Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee announced she was quitting the BC Conservative Party to sit as an independent. 

Rustad shot back by saying Boultbee was dealing with mental health issues which didn’t help matters as the party seems to be on the brink of a complete meltdown.

The BC Conservative caucus has experienced significant internal drama since the provincial election.

Rustad kicked out two of his MLAs, Dallas Brodie after her racist anti-indigenous rant and Elenore Sturko, while two others, Tara Armstrong and Jordan Kealy, quit the party.

B.C. Conservatives are down five MLAs from their seat count of 44 after election day.

Rustad survived a leadership review in September with nearly 71 per cent support. Despite that, the party is facing serious internal cracks that seem to be widening more than being patched.

And this meltdown of the BC Conservatives, a party made up of extreme right, rightwing and centre Liberals could lead to a new moderate right of centre party similar to the old BC Liberals.

Promod Puri is a veteran journalist, author and former founder-publisher-editor of the South Asian LINK Newspaper.