THE B.C. Conservative Party announced in a press release on Wednesday that a majority of the B.C. Conservative caucus “has informed the party’s legal counsel that they no longer have confidence in the Leader of the Official Opposition, John Rustad” and “as such, he has been removed” from that post. The party said that “per a caucus vote, Trevor Halford was selected as Interim Leader.”

“Having received this notice, the Board of Directors passed a motion certifying that Rustad is, per section 11.02, professionally incapacitated and unable to continue as Party Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Furthermore, the Board passed a motion appointing Trevor Halford as Interim Leader. The Conservative Party of British Columbia respects the democratic will of the majority of the Caucus,” the party said.

“Per the Constitution of the Conservative Party of BC, the Board of Directors will now begin the process of a Leadership Race. The Party will provide further updates to this process once it is fully developed,” it added.

Rustad fired back in a post on X, saying: “I have not resigned, I have not been removed, and I am not going anywhere. A political party’s board can throw around whatever creative terminology they like, ‘professional incapacitation’? Give me a break Let me be clear : That’s not a constitutional mechanism.”