B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad spoke to a crowd of supporters at a town hall in Cranbrook on February 6, delivering a campaign-style address with local MLAs by his side. The event, held at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort, drew roughly 100 people interested in hearing the party’s positions on key provincial issues.
Rustad covered a wide range of topics, including healthcare, proposed changes to the Land Act, the fentanyl crisis, trade with the United States, and what he described as “irregularities” in the recent provincial election. Kootenay-Rockies MLA Pete Davis introduced Rustad, while Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis provided closing remarks.
He criticized government bureaucracy, especially in healthcare and environmental permitting for mining and natural resource projects. Rustad argued that red tape slows economic growth and prevents critical projects from moving forward.
The leader also addressed the growing threat of fentanyl in B.C., citing both its increased toxicity and its illegal distribution. Rustad condemned programs that supply fentanyl through prescriptions when those drugs end up trafficked by organized crime. He emphasized that tackling the crisis is essential for public safety, independent of U.S. trade pressures.
Rustad tied the fentanyl issue to potential trade disputes with the United States. He discussed former President Donald Trump’s brief threat of tariffs on B.C. imports, including oil and gas, which were paused for 30 days after a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Rustad said the pause offers a warning to Canada about the consequences of strained trade relations.
He called for removing inter-provincial trade barriers and ensuring natural resources reach tidewater ports for export, reducing reliance on the U.S. Rustad also warned that Trump’s demands could shift quickly, noting, “I’m fully expecting them to change. That’s how Donald Trump negotiates.”
Rustad stressed that border security and port management are crucial beyond trade disputes. “Dealing with fentanyl at our borders should be something we want to do for British Columbians and Canadians,” he said. “More than 16,000 people have died from overdoses since 2016. Why aren’t we taking this seriously?”
He suggested that Trudeau and B.C. Premier David Eby may be encouraging trade tensions to frame Trump as an adversary. Rustad argued that blaming the U.S. distracts from domestic issues, including government budgeting and economic management.
During the town hall, Rustad highlighted the B.C. Conservatives’ 10-point plan to counter trade threats. Proposals include negotiating a Canada-wide free trade agreement, advancing phase two of LNG Canada’s Kitimat project, expediting 17 ready-to-go mines, and eliminating the carbon tax. He contrasted these initiatives with the NDP’s recent announcement to fast-track 10 energy, critical minerals, and clean energy projects.
Rustad also addressed the provincial election, where the B.C. NDP holds a slim majority with 47 seats. The B.C. Conservatives have 44 seats, and the Greens hold two. He called for a new election, citing irregularities in close races such as Surrey-Guildford, which was decided by 22 votes, and urged an independent review of election results and Elections BC procedures.
During a question-and-answer session, Rustad addressed concerns about Indigenous land-use control in the proposed Land Act, supporting federal Conservatives in Ottawa, and government intervention in a West Kootenay farm required to cull ostriches due to avian flu. Other questions focused on pushing back against what attendees described as a “globalist agenda.”
Rustad concluded by reaffirming his commitment to advancing Conservative policies, improving public safety, and promoting economic growth across British Columbia.
