Electing Rustad as Premier will lead to division, intolerance, and chaos for BC
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The Conservative Party of BC has been surging in the polls ever since former BC United leader Kevin Falcon vaporized his party in August.
The BC Conservatives have their roots in the Prince George area, and all British Columbians need to be aware that these roots are rotten to the core.
My first encounter with BC Conservative leader John Rustad came in 2003 when he was an elected member of the Prince George School Board. Many local politicians use this as a stepping stone to higher office. It was clear to many that Rustad had no interest in serving the students and parents of our community; he wanted to draw attention to himself by creating unnecessary controversy. Does this sound familiar?
As a School Board member, Rustad set his sights on closing Duchess Park Secondary, an inner-city school that not only serves the downtown area but draws French Immersion and Francophone students from all over the city. The result is a vibrant, heterogeneous community where young people learn to honour themselves and their neighbours. In many ways, Duchess Park Secondary is a microcosm of British Columbia, and John Rustad tried to destroy it.
 John Rustad |
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Fortunately, the Duchess Park community mobilized and presented its case in a public forum larger than I have ever seen in Prince George. The other members of the school board recognized the gem that Duchess Park is in our school district, and after the meeting I watched John Rustad slink away.
But Rustad got what he wanted by creating this turmoil. His name became well known in northern BC, and by 2005, he was the BC-Liberal MLA for Prince George-Omineca. We hoped he would do less damage in Victoria, but Rustad has only perfected his strategy.
It should be no surprise to British Columbians that Rustad split away from BC United, became the leader of the dysfunctional Conservative Party of BC, and convinced BC United leader Kevin Falcon to dissolve his party right before a provincial election. Falcon’s action surprised not only voters, but also members of his party. This is the type of chaos British Columbians can expect if John Rustad becomes their premier.
With an unpopular NDP government in power, what choice do conservative British Columbians have other than to vote for the Conservative Party of BC? First of all, we need to recognize that Rustad’s party is not really conservative; many would label it a far-right party. Before they dissolved, BC United prepared a 200-page document outlining controversial – even sexist and racist – statements made by Rustad’s candidates. Rustad himself has made many outlandish comments, saying, for example, that “they” are trying to feed bugs to our children.
Human rights groups have also expressed tremendous concern over Rustad’s effort to define antisemitism. Left-wing Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver points out that it “targets Palestinian solidarity activists and downplays real antisemitism.” Indigenous leaders warn that Rustad’s platform will undo much of the work that has been done toward reconciliation. LGBTQ2S advocates have also expressed serious concerns regarding the intolerance promoted by the Conservative Party of BC.
There is a silver lining for British Columbians in this election, however. Instead of two parties dueling for control of our legislature we now effectively have four. In addition to the NDP and Rustad’s “conservatives,” many BC United incumbents – a group of actual conservatives – are running as independents. BC also has a strong left-wing Green Party with a dynamic leader in Sonia Furstenau and a very solid platform. A minority government where our elected officials are forced to work together could be of tremendous benefit to all British Columbians.
I remember the foreboding I felt when John Rustad tried to destroy a wonderful school in 2003. I also remember how community members came together and stopped him from doing so. Politicians like Rustad often come into power due to voter indifference. British Columbians, therefore, need to get out and vote en masse on October 19. In a democracy, this is how citizens protect what they hold dear.
Gerry Chidiac specializes in languages and genocide studies and works with at-risk students. He received an award from the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre for excellence in teaching about the Holocaust.
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If Chidiac had chosen to critique Rustad’s election platform (see https://www.conservativebc.ca/ideas) instead of attacking his character, his assessment might be taken seriously.
Character is important, too! I am opposed to a number of views that Rustad has expressed since the election was called!
If Chidiac had chosen to critique Rustad’s election platform (see https://www.conservativebc.ca/ideas) instead of attacking his character, his assessment might be taken seriously.