After leading the B.C. Conservatives to their biggest breakthrough, John Rustad is leaving the race

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 24, 2026

Photo Courtesy: CBC News

CANADA – For nearly two decades, John Rustad’s name has been tied to provincial politics in northern British Columbia.

Now, as the province heads into another election, Rustad is stepping away from the ballot.

The former B.C. Conservative leader will not seek re-election in Nechako Lakes in the Oct. 24 provincial election, ending his run as the riding’s representative after first being elected in 2005. His departure comes just days after the Conservatives went through another leadership change and installed Lorne Doerkson as interim leader.

Rustad’s political career has also been closely linked to the Conservatives’ transformation in B.C. Under his leadership, the party won 44 seats in the 2024 election, becoming the official Opposition and coming within three seats of the NDP’s total.

But the period since that election has been marked by internal changes. Rustad was removed as party leader in December 2025, while subsequent defections, expulsions and leadership turmoil reduced the Conservative caucus. Several former members later returned as the party attempted to rebuild ahead of the snap election.

Rustad briefly returned to the Conservative caucus earlier this week as part of those efforts to reunite the party. But the party confirmed Wednesday that he would not be among its candidates this time.

His departure comes as the Conservatives enter an election campaign under Doerkson, whose status as interim leader has itself become an issue. The party’s board has said it would pursue changes to its rules to allow Doerkson to remain leader if he becomes premier following the election.

For Rustad, the decision closes one chapter of a political career that has spanned more than 20 years in the B.C. legislature. For the Conservatives, his absence adds another layer of change as the party prepares to campaign under a new leader, a reshaped caucus and a different political landscape than the one it faced in 2024.