Conflict among B.C. Conservatives comes to a head in caucus meeting

A steady stream of B.C. Conservative MLAs made their way past members of the press gallery Tuesday on their way to a caucus meeting. All of them declined to answer questions, with most responding with some form of “no comment.”

The gauntlet came after 13 MLAs sent a letter to party leader John Rustad, asking him to ask colleague Elenor Sturko to apologize to Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba – a former vice-chair of the Vancouver Police Board who recently resigned from the position over controversial online posts, including one expressing concern that Christianity is being erased from schools.

Sturko had expressed support for the police board’s decision to accept her resignation and called the posts offensive. Some of the B.C. Conservatives believe 'cancel culture' is at play in the situation involving Sakoma-Fadugba's resignation.

Sturko says she won’t apologize or meet with Sakoma-Fadugba, calling caucus disagreements common. “If we have a disagreement, which I’m sure that we will as all caucuses do, that’s what caucus meetings are for – having these discussions even when they’re difficult.”

Rustad met with the ousted vice-chair and suggested Sturko offer an olive branch, but also is adamant she doesn’t have to.

“Look at any family in the province, there's issues that crop up,” he told CTV News. “And we are just a large family.”

Rustad says he wants both sides to find room to agree to disagree under his newly minted big tent party.

“Free speech means people have the right to say things that other people may disagree with and it’s OK to have differences,” said Rustad, emphasizing that his party members will not be forced to toe party lines.

Hamish Telford, a political scientist at the University of the Fraser Valley, calls the situation a challenge for Rustad and his party.

W"e’re seeing this sort of ideological battle play out: Rustad has promised sort of openness and free votes, but clearly this baker's dozen wants ideological purity, not pluralism,” said Telford Tuesday.

Telford says it will be a tough tight rope for Rustad to walk, managing the divergent views of conservsative and progressive members of his caucus, as demonstrated by this early flare up.

“I think it’s bigger than what appears to be on the surface," Telford said. "My best guess is John Rustad is not going to be the leader in the next election for the B.C. Conservatives.”

On Tuesday, Sturko was resolute in her support for the party and its leader, and smiled when asked if she expected the caucus meeting to get feisty.

"Caucus meetings are always feisty and I look forward to it,” she said.

She did however, acknowledge the party was undergoing some growing pains.

“Do we have our growing pains right now? Yes. But I absolutely am having a good time, working with people who are absolutely new to this realm.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the group filed out of the caucus meeting for a family photo on the back steps of the legislature – with any caucus tensions left behind closed doors.