MLA John Rustad ousted from BC Liberals after climate change spat
An MLA from northern British Columbia has been booted from the BC Liberals, one day after he was publicly criticized by the party’s leader for denying the role of carbon dioxide in climate change.
Opposition leader Kevin Falcon announced John Rustad's ouster Thursday – on the Nechako Lakes representative's birthday, according to his Facebook page – citing the need for elected officials to "work co-operatively on the important issues facing our province."
"Like any team, our caucus operates on a foundation of mutual respect and trust. While a diversity of perspectives are encouraged and a source of strength, they cannot exist without that important foundation in place," Falcon wrote.
"Following a pattern of behaviour that was not supportive of our caucus team and the principles of mutual respect and trust, I have removed MLA John Rustad from the BC Liberal Caucus effective immediately."
Speaking to CTV News over Zoom, Rustad said he believes climate change is real, despite disagreeing the crisis should be addressed by limiting carbon dioxide emissions, an approach that’s been adopted by governments around the world.
"The BC Liberal Party doesn't seem to be as inclusive as it was, and that to me was a challenge," the now-Independent MLA said. "We need to see a party that represents all of British Columbia and that accepts those views, and be able to have vigorous debate."
Rustad noted that he has "no ill feelings" toward either Falcon or his former party.
The backlash he faced this week came from a Facebook post he shared that cited Patrick Moore, a vocal critic of the environmental movement who is often labelled a climate change denier.
The post read, in part, that "the case for CO2 being the control knob of global temperature gets weaker every day," and ended with the hashtag #CelebrateCO2.
Falcon responded to the post Wednesday with a message stressing that Rustad “does not speak on behalf of caucus on this issue,” and that the BC Liberals support “substantive climate action.”
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, emissions of greenhouse gases – including carbon dioxide – are driving the global crisis, leading to more wildfires, more frequent extreme weather events and other costly catastrophes.
Rustad was first elected as a BC Liberal MLA in 2005, and was appointed the party's opposition critic on forests, lands and natural resource operations in 2017.
He has previously come under fire over his stance on climate change. Last April, Rustad took umbrage when carbon dioxide was referred to as pollution in the provincial legislature.
"Now, I’m sorry. I get what the language and the rhetoric is. Carbon dioxide is an essential component of life on this planet. It is not a pollution. That sort of misinformation out there is just ridiculous," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.