Vaughn Palmer: New Tory Rustad stakes out populist right-wing position

VICTORIA — Former B.C. Liberal MLA John Rustad launched a bid for the leadership of the rival B.C. Conservatives this week, staking out sharply different territory from the party he represented in the legislature through five elections and 17 years.

“We’ve got an opposition party, quite frankly, that’s trying to be NDP lite,” said Rustad, who mocked the Liberals with a reference to “whatever they’re calling themselves these days” over their delayed name change.

“We need a party that’s going to stand up and fight for family values and for the people of this province.”

Rustad likewise blasted Opposition leader Kevin Falcon, who last summer forced him to leave the Liberal caucus for wavering in the fight against climate change.

“He’s trying to follow this ‘woke’ ideology and I just don’t believe it’s going to resonate with people in this province,” Rustad told Andrew MacLeod of the Tyee. “I just think quite frankly the Liberal party has run its course.”