Overview
- A lawyer’s letter authenticated by party president Aisha Estey says 20 of 39 Conservative MLAs signed statements declaring they have lost confidence in John Rustad.
- The party board declared Rustad “professionally incapacitated,” appointed Surrey–White Rock MLA Trevor Halford as interim leader, and signaled preparations for a leadership race.
- Rustad rejected the move, insisted the party constitution bars MLAs from removing him, and pointed to his 70.6% leadership-review result in September.
- Confusion spilled into the legislature as some MLAs backed Rustad, others Halford, and Speaker Raj Chouhan said he would take at least a day before ruling on recognition.
- The showdown follows months of defections, weak fundraising and internal discipline disputes, and it could affect speaking rights, staffing and procedural standing for the Official Opposition.