B.C. Opposition Leader John Rustad accuses former Conservative MLAs of blackmail
VICTORIA – British Columbia Conservative Leader John Rustad is accusing a group of legislators who split from the party of blackmailing its members and staff in a bid to take over and divide the Opposition.
Rustad has confirmed the authenticity of a letter obtained by The Canadian Press in which he tells the Conservative caucus that their former colleagues and staff are threatening to release 'blackmail materials,' including secret phone recordings and text messages.
Rustad's letter says the targets are being blackmailed to get them to take jobs or contracts with the former Conservatives, or to 'do or say certain things' if they want to prevent the materials being leaked.
The letter says one unnamed staffer with the former Conservatives called 'multiple individuals in order to explicitly blackmail them,' and Rustad says in an interview that they're still deciding whether to contact the RCMP.
Rustad doesn't name the former Conservatives, but Dallas Brodie, who was ejected from the caucus in January, says the letter consists of 'wild lies' and 'baseless, false, and defamatory' accusations about her new One BC party.
One BC member Tara Armstrong says she won't comment beyond the statement that Brodie issued, while former Conservative Jordan Kealy, who didn't join One BC, says he has no involvement in the alleged blackmail.
Brodie and Armstrong launched One BC last week.
Brodie's departure from the B.C. Conservative caucus came over her controversial remarks about residential schools, prompting Kealy and Armstrong to quit the party in sympathy.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
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The Province
3 hours ago
- The Province
John Rustad accuses former B.C. Conservative MLAs of blackmail
In a letter, Rustad tells the Conservative caucus that their former colleagues and staff are threatening to release 'blackmail materials,' including secret phone recordings and text messages Published Jun 16, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 3 minute read B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad says the targets are being blackmailed to get them to take jobs or contracts with the former Conservatives. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad is accusing a group of legislators who split from the party of blackmailing his MLAs and staff in a bid to take over and divide the Opposition. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. 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Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Rustad has confirmed the authenticity of a letter obtained by The Canadian Press in which he tells the Conservative caucus that their former colleagues and staff are threatening to release 'blackmail materials,' including secretly recorded phone conversations and text messages. 'We will not allow ourselves to be lowered by manipulative, dishonest, and malicious actions of people who see fit to, potentially criminally, blackmail others,' Rustad says in the letter. 'This is sociopathic behaviour.' He said in an interview on Monday that the letter was authentic and the party was considering whether to call in the RCMP. The letter says the targets are being blackmailed to get them to take jobs or contracts with the former Conservatives, or to 'do or say certain things' if they want to prevent the materials being leaked. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'From what I have been told, the threat is framed as something like: we will pay you handsomely to join with us, we will damage you if you refuse,' Rustad says in the letter. Rustad doesn't name the former Conservatives, but Dallas Brodie, who was ejected from the caucus in March, said in a statement on Monday that the letter consists of 'wild lies' and 'baseless, false, and defamatory' accusations about the new OneBC party, which she launched with fellow former Conservative Tara Armstrong last week. She said Rustad and his team 'rigged' the Conservatives' March annual general meeting that endorsed his 'Team Rustad' slate of executive candidates, alleging the meeting was stacked stacking the meeting with people paid 'to vote the way Mr. Rustad wanted.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Dallas Brodie (centre) was ejected from the B.C. Conservative caucus in January, and Jordan Kealy (left) and Tara Armstrong quit in solidarity. Photo by Alec Lazenby Rustad's letter denied any that. He said in the letter that some in the party were surprised at a large number of South Asian party members at the AGM, and that 'individuals' had paid for the whole group's transport to the Nanaimo meeting. He said he understood why 'people who have not participated in organized political parties before may be surprised by this.' But he said 'group-based political organizing occurs quite often in politics and is not unique to the South Asian community.' 'I have been advised by our legal counsel and experts, who were present to scrutinize the voting process that our AGM was 100 per cent in line with this party's 2024-25 constitution,' he said. Rustad said in the interview that he could not offer any details about what kinds of jobs were allegedly being offered to the targeted Conservatives. 'I wasn't party to those conversations, so I would be saying it third hand,' he said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The letter says one former Conservative staffer, whom it did not identify, called 'multiple individuals in order to explicitly blackmail them.' Rustad said in the letter that the former colleagues were 'trying to sink our party, sour our caucus, and break apart the powerful movement' that Conservatives have built. Asked about his characterization of their alleged behaviour as sociopathic, Rustad said 'certainly, it is not normal.' Brodie was thrown out of the party over remarks about residential schools, prompting Armstrong and Jordan Kealy to quit the party in sympathy. Armstrong said she won't comment beyond the statement Brodie issued, while Kealy, who still sits as an Independent, said he had no involvement in the alleged blackmail. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Brodie's statement said that there was a 'mountain of evidence' demonstrating the rigging of the annual general meeting, 'including photographs, emails, audio recordings, detailed written statements and public statements and interviews from various AGM attendees' and 'a personal confession by a senior Rustad staff member.' Brodie, Armstrong and Kealy came forward with claims about vote-rigging on May 28. Armstrong said at the time that an unnamed senior member of Rustad's team told her the party paid about $100,000, using that member's personal credit card, to transport more than 100 men to Nanaimo to 'rig the election' in favour of Rustad. She did not name the person or offer any other evidence. Rustad's letter suggested there was nothing unusual about Conservative riding association funds being used to sponsor delegates to attend the meeting. 'Hundreds of people, the vast majority of whom were Caucasian (not that it should matter), were ultimately sponsored by our caucus members via funds from your riding associations — at your specific direction as MLAs,' he told the caucus. Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks National Sports NHL
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