John Rustad addressed rumours that he plans to run in the B.C. Conservative leadership race by simply saying in a social media post, “no comment.”
The remark came after reporter Rob Shaw said on X that Rustad recently requested and received a leadership application package from the party.
The B.C. Conservative Party’s executive director, Angelo Isidorou, said in an email to Vista News, “I cannot confirm or deny any specific application details as that is private within the organization.”
Rustad formally resigned as leader on Dec. 4, 2025, a day after the party’s board said a majority of the caucus no longer had confidence in his leadership and deemed him “professionally incapacitated” and unable to continue.
His resignation followed months of internal party strife and mounting calls for him to step aside. Five MLAs have either left voluntarily or been removed from the party in 2025.
Rustad said staying on as party leader would have meant creating “civil war” within the party. He said he would remain MLA for Nechako-Lakes but was not planning to run in the next election.
Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford took over as interim leader, pledging to keep the B.C. Conservatives united and moving forward.
The party’s nomination deadline for candidates is Feb. 15, and candidates must collect 250 signatures and pay a total of $115,000 to appear on the ballot.
A new leader is to be announced on May 30.
Ten candidates have confirmed they’re running to lead the B.C. Conservatives:
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- Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman
- Former B.C. Liberal labour minister Iain Black
- Prince George-North Cariboo MLA Sheldon Clare
- Political commentator and former BC United vice-president Caroline Elliott
- Former federal Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay
- Entrepreneur and Capilano University chancellor Yuri Fulmer
- Rossland contractor Warren Hamm
- Former grocery executive Darrell Jones
- Richmond-Queensborough MLA Steve Kooner
- Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar
