Conservative Party of British Columbia: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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The '''Conservative Party of British Columbia''',{{efn|Formerly the '''British Columbia Conservative Party'''.}} commonly the '''BC Conservatives''' and colloquially known as the '''Tories''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=B.C. Tories call for top doctor’s job over continued vaccine mandates for health-care workers {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10082827/calls-fire-bonnie-henry-vaccine-mandate-bc/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> is a provincial [[political party]] in [[British Columbia]], Canada. In the early half of the 20th century, the Conservatives competed with the [[British Columbia Liberal Party]] for power in the province. However, the party has had only a minor presence in the legislature since the 1950s, and last ran a full slate in 1960.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Little |first1=Simon |title=Poll shows BC Conservatives making inroads among federal Conservative voters |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10395676/bc-conservatives-federal-voters/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Global News}}</ref> The current party leader is [[Nechako Lakes (provincial electoral district)|Nechako Lakes]] MLA [[John Rustad]], who was originally elected as a BC Liberal.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=MacLeod |first=Andrew |user=A_MacLeod_Tyee |number=1626296787081523200 |date=February 16, 2023 |title=The BC Conservative Party has announced MLA John Rustad has joined them. Rustad has sat as an independent since the BC Liberals booted him out in August. #bcpoli}}</ref>
The BC Conservatives have been variously described as [[racism|racist]], anti-[[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]], anti-[[LGBTQ rights in Canada|LGBTQ rights]], anti-[[Human rights in Canada|human rights]], and a "conspiracy party" under the leadership of [[John Rustad]], with many of the party's candidates espousing various [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], including comparing [[5G]] technology to "[[genocide]]" and a "[[weapon]]", claiming that children are being forced to eat bugs, expressing concerns about "[[Integrated circuit|microchips]]", believing that "[[Cell site|cellphone towers]] cause [[COVID-19]] and are [[genocide|genocidal]] [[weapon]]s", and alleging that [[Vaccination policy#Compulsory vaccination|vaccine mandate]]s were about "shaping opinion and control on the population"; espousing various [[Homophobia|homophobic]] and [[Transphobia|transphobic]] beliefs, including calling [[pride parade]] participants "[[wiktionary:degenerate|degenerates]]" and a political opponent a "[[woke]] [[lesbian]]", and comparing [[Education and the LGBT community|education about the LGBT community]] to [[Canadian Indian residential school system|residential schools]]; and espousing various anti-[[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]] and [[racism|racist]] views, including asserting that [[Indigenous peoples in Canada]] "commit more [[crime]]s like [[African Americans|Black people in the US]]" and that the efforts of the [[Government of British Columbia|provincial government of British Columbia]] to recognize [[Indigenous land claims in Canada]] are "a direct assault on [[private property]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/08/27/loopy-whacky-or-a-big-blue-tent-growing-pains-for-rustads-b-c-conservatives/|title=‘Loopy’, ‘whacky’ or a ‘big blue tent’? Growing pains for Rustad’s B.C. Conservatives|author=Dirk Meissner|website=[[PressProgress]]|date=September 24, 2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pressprogress.ca/bc-conservative-leader-john-rustad-warned-convoy-event-that-kids-will-be-forced-to-eat-bugs/|title=BC Conservative Leader John Rustad Warned Convoy Event That Kids Will Be Forced to ‘Eat Bugs’|author=Rumneek Johal|website=[[PressProgress]]|date=September 24, 2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-rustad-sept-30-tweet-1.6984159|title=B.C. Tory leader defends post that appeared to liken teaching of sexuality and gender to residential schools|author=Moira Wyton|website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=October 1, 2023|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10772329/bc-eletion-vaccine-politics/|title=Party leaders need to ‘quickly depoliticize’ vaccines, B.C. doctor says|author=Simon Little|website=[[Global News]]|date=September 24, 2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ubcic.bc.ca/john_rustad_s_interview_with_jordan_peterson_another_example_of_bc_conservatives_taking_aim_at_indigenous_rights_and_reconciliation|title=John Rustad’s Interview with Jordan Peterson Another Example of BC Conservatives Taking Aim at Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation|author=First Nations Leadership Council|website=[[Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs]]|date=September 5, 2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref>
Three BC Conservative leaders have served as [[premier of British Columbia]]: [[Richard McBride]], [[William John Bowser]], and [[Simon Fraser Tolmie]]. Two have served as [[Deputy Premier of British Columbia|deputy premier]], both during a [[coalition government]] in the 1940s: [[Royal Maitland]] and [[Herbert Anscomb]].
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| predecessor = Liberal-Conservative Party (1903–1926)<br>Conservative Party (1926–1942)</br>Progressive Conservative Party (1942–1991)
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| position = {{nowrap|[[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]]}} to {{nowrap|[[Right-wing politics|right-wing]]}}
| national = <!-- not affiliated with the federal Conservatives per https://globalnews.ca/news/10164091/bc-conservatives-2024-election/ -->
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| membership = {{increase}} ≈9,000<ref>{{cite web |title=B.C.'s unofficial election campaign is in full swing |url=https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7301557 |website=[[CanadianCBC Broadcasting CorporationNews]] |date=August 23, 2024 |access-date=August 23, 2024}}</ref>
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The '''Conservative Party of British Columbia''', commonly the '''BC Conservatives''' and colloquially known as the '''Tories''', is a provincial [[political party]] in [[British Columbia]], Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=B.C. Tories call for top doctor’s job over continued vaccine mandates for health-care workers {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10082827/calls-fire-bonnie-henry-vaccine-mandate-bc/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> In the first half of the twentieth century, the Conservatives competed with the [[British Columbia Liberal Party|BC Liberal Party]] for power in the province. However, the party's influence diminished in the second half of the century. The Tories had only a minor presence in the legislature after the 1950s, and last ran a full slate of candidates in 1960.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Little |first1=Simon |title=Poll shows BC Conservatives making inroads among federal Conservative voters |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10395676/bc-conservatives-federal-voters/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Global News}}</ref> The current party leader is [[Nechako Lakes (provincial electoral district)|Nechako Lakes]] [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|MLA]] [[John Rustad]], who was originally elected as a BC Liberal in 2005 before being expelled from the party in 2022.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=MacLeod |first=Andrew |user=A_MacLeod_Tyee |number=1626296787081523200 |date=February 16, 2023 |title=The BC Conservative Party has announced MLA John Rustad has joined them. Rustad has sat as an independent since the BC Liberals booted him out in August. #bcpoli}}</ref>
Three BC Conservative leaders have served as [[premier of British Columbia]]: [[Richard McBride]] (1903–1915), [[William John Bowser]] (1915–1916), and [[Simon Fraser Tolmie]] (1928–1933). [[Royal Maitland]] and [[Herbert Anscomb]] served as [[Deputy Premier of British Columbia|deputy premiers]], both during [[coalition government|coalition governments]] in the 1940s.
== History ==
{{Conservatism in Canada}}
=== Founding and early years ===
[[File:Richard McBride.jpg|thumb|[[Richard McBride]], the first Conservative Premier of British Columbia|304x304px]]
The Conservative Party of British Columbia was formed in 1900 as the [[Liberal-Conservative Party]]. The party selected [[Charles Wilson (British Columbia politician)|Charles Wilson]] as its first provincial leader.<ref name="leaders" /> Several opposition [[Political factions|faction]]s contested the [[1900 British Columbia general election|1900 general election]] against the non-partisan government, but these were generally loose groups.<ref name="leaders" /> In 1902, the Conservative Party convention passed a resolution to stand candidates in the next election.<ref name="leaders" />
The Conservative Party of British Columbia was formed in 1900 as the [[Liberal-Conservative Party]], before the province officially embraced partisan politics. The party selected [[Charles Wilson (British Columbia politician)|Charles Wilson]] as its first leader.<ref name="leaders">Legislative Library of British Columbia, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110220034808/http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/partyleaders.pdf Party Leaders in British Columbia 1900–]'', 2000, updated 2005</ref> Several opposition [[Political factions|faction]]s contested the [[1900 British Columbia general election|1900 general election]] against the non-partisan government, but these were generally loose affiliations.<ref name="leaders" /> In 1902, the Conservative Party convention passed a resolution to stand candidates in the next election.<ref name="leaders" />
Party government was introduced on June 1, 1903, by Premier [[Richard McBride]], when he announced the formation of an officially Conservative government.<ref name="leaders" /> McBride believed that the system of [[Non-partisan democracy|non-partisan government]] that the province had until that point was unstable and inhibiting development. His Conservatives won [[1903 British Columbia general election|the 1903 election]], the first fought on the [[party system]], earning a two-seat [[majority government|majority]] in the [[British Columbia Legislative Assembly]] over their rivals, the [[BC Liberals|Liberal Party]], as well as various [[Socialist Party of Canada|Socialist]] and [[Labour Party of Canada|Labour]] MLAs. The Conservatives generally implemented policies mirroring the priorities of the national [[Conservative Party of Canada (historical)|Conservative Party]], which at the time favoured government intervention to help develop industry and infrastructure.
The Conservatives under McBride and his successor, [[William John Bowser]], held power for thirteen years until they were defeated by the Liberals in the [[1916 British Columbia general election|1916 election]]. In November 1926, the Liberal-Conservative Party formally changed its name to the Conservative Party.<ref name="leaders" />
=== Tolmie government and crisis ===
The Tories returned to power in the [[1928 British Columbia general election|1928 election]] under the leadership of [[Simon Fraser Tolmie]], winning 35 of 48 seats in the Legislature. The Tolmie government was unable to dealconfronted with the [[Great Depression]], and was wracked by infighting and indecision. The party was in such disarray that, despite being in power, the Conservative provincial association decided not to run any candidates in the [[1933 British Columbia general election|1933 election]]. Instead, each local association was left to act on its own, endorsing some candidates who ran as Independents, some as Independent Conservatives, and so on. Those supporting Premier Tolmie ran under the 'Unionist' label, while others grouped around former premier [[William John Bowser]] and ran as part of the 'Non-Partisan Independent Group'. When Bowser died and the elections in Vancouver Centre and Victoria City were postponed, four Non-partisan and two Unionist candidates withdrew.
The Conservative Party rebounded under Frank Porter Patterson to run a near-full slate in the [[1937 British Columbia general election|election of 1937]], however they were only able to elect eight MLAs, just one more than the growing [[Co-operative Commonwealth Federation]] (CCF) caucus. In the [[1941 British Columbia general election|election of 1941]], the Conservatives were able to win 12 seats, compared to 21 for the Liberals and 14 for the CCF. Members of the province's business community, who feared the growing strength of the [[democratic socialist]] CCF, urged the Liberals and Conservatives to form a wartime [[coalition government]] to ensure stability. Then-Conservative leader [[Royal Maitland]] agreed, while then-Liberal Premier [[Thomas Dufferin Pattullo|T.D. Pattullo]] was opposed; however, Pattullo was forced to resign by his own party in late 1941. [[John Hart (Canadian politician)|John Hart]] replaced him as Liberal leader and premier on the promise to form a coalition, and did so, making Maitland Deputy Premier and [[Attorney General of British Columbia|Attorney General]] shortly thereafter.
=== Coalition years ===
In 1942, the BC Conservatives were rebranded as the "BC Progressive Conservative Party", following the lead of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|federal party's]] lead. Maitland and Hart served throughout the remainder of [[World War II]] and continued their partnership past, running a joint ticket in the [[1945 British Columbia general election|1945 election]], and winning a massive majority government together of 37 out of 48 seats. However, Maitland died suddenly in 1946 and was replaced by [[Herbert Anscomb]], who became Deputy Premier and Finance Minister in the coalition government.<ref name="con">Hans J. Michelmann, David E. Smith, Cristine De Clercy ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=d7iLYjWHvS8C&dq=herbert+anscomb+conservative&pg=PA184 Continuity And Change in Canadian Politics: Essays in Honour of David E. Smith]'', University of Toronto Press (2006), page 184</ref> When Premier Hart retired in 1947, the Conservatives pushed for Anscomb to succeed him as [[Premier of British Columbia|Premier]], but the Liberals, who had more members in the coalition caucus, insisted that the role remain with a Liberal. [[Boss Johnson|Byron Johnson]] was appointed Premier a short time later, but the conflict strained relations between the two parties and leaders going forward, and caused internal divisions to open up within the Tories.
The PCs were riven into three factions: one led by [[Okanagan]] MLA [[W.A.C. Bennett]], who called for the Liberals and Tories to fuse into a single party,; a second faction that supported the status-quo,; and a third that wanted Anscomb to simply lead the PCs out of the coalition. Meanwhile, the Liberals were beginning to doubt that they needed the fractious Tories to govern. The coalition was re-elected in the [[1949 British Columbia general election|1949 election]], winning 39 seats against nine for the CCF opposition, but despite this, growing divisions within the Conservative Party resulted in Anscomb's leadership being challenged at the 1950 party convention. W.A.C. Bennett, who had moved over to the anti-coalition faction, quit the party and [[crossed the floor]] to sit as a Social Credit League of British Columbia member, and eventually formedforming the [[British Columbia Social Credit Party|BC Social Credit Party]].<ref name="con" />
In January 1952, the Liberals decided to dissolve the coalition, with Johnson summarily dismissing his PC ministers, including Anscomb, and continued forward as a [[minority government]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Vancouver Sun, January 18, 1952 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ifIdVpG6JtcC&dat=19520118&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=The Vancouver Sun, January 18, 1952}}</ref> and continued forward as a [[minority government]]. The Conservatives properly refoundedre-founded their party and went into the [[1952 British Columbia general election|1952 election]] with the goal of unseating Premier Johnson.
=== Decline ===
Prior to the [[1952 British Columbia general election|1952 election]], the coalition government, whose entire reason for being had been to keep the CCF out of power, introduced an [[instant-runoff voting]] system. The ideaassumption behind the change was an assumption that the business-oriented majority of BC voters would keep the democratic socialist party out of power through their secondary choices, regardless of the newly formed split between the former coalition partnerpartners. However, the [[Social Credit Party of British Columbia|Social Credit League]], led by [[Albertan]] [[Ernest George Hansell]], won the most seats in the election, while the two former coalition partners fell far behind. The PCs won only four seats, not including Anscomb's [[Oak Bay (electoral district)|Oak Bay]] constituency. Two months later, former Tory W.A.C. Bennett would take control of the Socreds, dropping the party's [[social credit]] [[monetary reform]] policy in favour of traditional and populist platforms.
However, none of the three parties expected the result of the election. The [[Social Credit Party of British Columbia|Social Credit League]], led by [[Albertan]] [[Ernest George Hansell]], won the most seats, while the two former coalition partners fell far behind. The PCs won only 4 seats total, not including Anscomb's [[Oak Bay (electoral district)|Oak Bay]] constituency. Two months later, former Tory [[W.A.C. Bennett]] would take control of the Socreds, dropping the party's [[social credit]] [[monetary reform]] policy in favour of traditional and populist platforms.
It was clear to those who wanted to keep the CCF out of power that only the Socreds would be able to accomplish that task, and so business-oriented voters left the old parties behind. Having a [[majority government]] following 1953, the Social Credit government changed the electoral system back to [[first past the post]] in order to cement its base. Social Credit became, in effect, the new centre-right coalition party, and both the Liberals and the Tories became marginalized.
=== Wilderness years ===
Between the [[1956 British Columbia general election|1956]] and [[1972 British Columbia general election|1972]] elections, the Tories won no seats toin the Legislature, and slowly the party began to dwindle downward. [[Deane Finlayson]] served as leader from 1952 until 1961, eventually handing the reigns to federal [[Member of Parliament]] [[Davie Fulton]]. Fulton led the party to a brief surge of relevance in the [[1963 British Columbia general election|1963 election]], winning 11eleven percent support,of the vote but no seats, with even Fulton falling far behind his Socred opponent in the [[Kamloops (provincial electoral district)|Kamloops constituency]]. Fulton left soon after, returning to federal politics while the BC Tories collapsed into ruin. The Party ran only three candidates in the [[1966 British Columbia general election|1966 election]], and just one, then-party leader [[John de Wolf (politician)|John de Wolf]], in the [[1969 British Columbia general election|1969 election]].
In 1971, former Socred MLA [[George Scott Wallace|Scott Wallace]], who represented [[Oak Bay (provincial electoral district)|Oak Bay]], [[floor crossing|crossed the floor]] to join the PCs, becoming the party's first MLA in fifteen years. The PCs earned nearly thirteen percent of the vote in the [[1972 British Columbia general election|1972 election]] and two seats—Wallace's and [[Hugh Curtis]] in [[Saanich and the Islands]], both in the [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]] area. The election was won by the CCF's successor party, the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]] (NDP), who took advantage of the split between the Socreds, Tories, and resurgent Liberals to form a majority government.
The Party ran only three candidates in [[1966 British Columbia general election|1966]], and just one, then-party leader [[John de Wolf (politician)|John de Wolf]] in [[1969 British Columbia general election|1969]]. It was not until 1971, following de Wolf's ouster as leader by [[Derrill Thomas Warren]], that some hope returned.
Wallace was elected leader of the party in 1973, but in 1974 his caucus mate Curtis left to join the Social Credit caucus, answering a call by new leader [[Bill Bennett]] to reunite the 'pro-business' vote. Wallace was able to win his own seat in the [[1975 British Columbia general election|1975 election]], but resigned in 1977 and returned to his medical practice shortly after. Wallace's successor in [[Oak Bay (provincial electoral district)|Oak Bay]] and the party leadership was the last Tory MLA to be elected. [[Victor Stephens|Vic Stephens]] won the seat in a 1978 [[by-election]], but lost in the following year's general election campaign.
In 1971, former Socred MLA [[George Scott Wallace|Scott Wallace]], who represented [[Oak Bay (provincial electoral district)|Oak Bay]], [[floor crossing|crossed the floor]] to join the PCs, becoming its first MLA in 15 years. The attention translated into nearly 13 percent of the vote in the [[1972 British Columbia general election|1972 election]] and two seats – Wallace's and [[Hugh Curtis]] in [[Saanich and the Islands]], both in the [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]] area. Warren was unable to win his own seat. The election was won by the CCF's successor party, the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|New Democrats]] (or NDP), who took advantage of the split between the Socreds, Tories, and resurgent Liberals to form a majority government.
During this time, with most of their voters in BC supporting Social Credit, the federal [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] kept its distance in order to avoid alienating Social Credit Party supporters. When the [[1979 Canadian federal election|federal]] and [[1979 British Columbia general election|provincial]] election campaigns overlapped in 1979, federal leader [[Joe Clark]] made obvious efforts to avoid any contact with Stephens.<ref>Morley, J. Terence; Ruff, Norman J.; Swanson, Neil A.; Wilson, R. Jeremy; and Young, Walter D., ''The Reins of Power: Governing British Columbia'', p. 92, Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver, 1983</ref> The Tories returned to the political wilderness in the following years. For a brief stint in 1986, former NDP MLA [[Graham Lea]] crossed the floor to sit as a PC MLA, but quit politics altogether following the dissolution of the Legislature for the [[1986 British Columbia general election|1986 election]].
This glimpse at relevance did not last long, however. Wallace was elected leader of the party in 1973, but in the same year his caucus mate Curtis left to join the Social Credit caucus, answering a call by new leader [[Bill Bennett]] to reunite the 'pro-business' vote. Wallace was able to win his own seat in the [[1975 British Columbia general election|1975 election]], but resigned in 1977 and returned to his medical practice shortly after.
In 1991, the party changed its name back to the BC Conservative Party, but was unable to gain traction during the collapse of the Socred government in the [[1991 British Columbia general election|1991 election]] and the subsequent re-alignment of BC politics. The party ran only a handful of candidates between 1991 and 2005, as the pro-business voters of the province moved en masse to the [[BC Liberals]].
During this time, with most of their voters in BC supporting Social Credit, the federal [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative Party]] kept its distance in order to avoid alienating Social Credit Party supporters. When the [[1979 Canadian federal election|federal]] and [[1979 British Columbia general election|provincial]] election campaigns overlapped in 1979, federal leader [[Joe Clark]] made obvious efforts to avoid any contact with [[Victor Stephens|Vic Stephens]], leader of the provincial PCs.<ref>Morley, J. Terence; Ruff, Norman J.; Swanson, Neil A.; Wilson, R. Jeremy; and Young, Walter D., ''The Reins of Power: Governing British Columbia'', p. 92, Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver, 1983</ref>
=== Twenty first century revival efforts ===
Wallace's successor in [[Oak Bay (provincial electoral district)|Oak Bay]] and the party leadership was the last Tory MLA to be elected. [[Victor Stephens|Vic Stephens]] won the seat in a 1978 [[by-election]], but lost in the following year's general election campaign.
[[File:John-cummins-8313.jpg|thumb|Party leader John Cummins in 2011|299x299px]]
In 2005, former [[Reform Party of British Columbia|BC Reform Party]] and Christian conservative [[British Columbia Party]] leader [[Wilf Hanni]] was elected leader of the Conservatives. The party fielded twenty four candidates in the [[2009 British Columbia general election|2009 election]], its highest number since 1979, and earned 2.1% of the vote. In the aftermath of the election, Hanni resigned as party leader, along with eleven directors and party officials, citing infighting.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hui |first=Stephen |date=2009-06-30 |title=B.C. Conservative Party leader Wilf Hanni resigns over infighting |url=https://www.straight.com/article-238170/bc-conservative-party-leader-wilf-hanni-resigns-over-infighting |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704072730/https://www.straight.com/article-238170/bc-conservative-party-leader-wilf-hanni-resigns-over-infighting |archive-date=2009-07-04 |access-date=2024-10-05 |work=[[The Georgia Straight]]}}</ref>
By the end of 2010, with former [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] premier [[Brian Peckford]] acting as an advisor, the party had the support of eight percent of voters according to opinion polls, had approximately 2,000 members—up from 300 in June of that year—and had constituency associations established in 45 of the province's 85 ridings.<ref>{{cite web |last=Matas |first=Robert |date=2010-12-28 |title=Spurred by warhorses, B.C. Tories plot a comeback |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/spurred-by-warhorses-bc-tories-plot-a-comeback/article1321368/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105132445/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/spurred-by-warhorses-bc-tories-plot-a-comeback/article1321368/ |archive-date=2012-11-05 |access-date=2023-04-06 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> The party received another boost in 2011. After [[Christy Clark]] defeated [[Kevin Falcon]] for the BC Liberal leadership, a segment of Falcon's supporters defected to the Conservative ranks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fowlie |first=Jonathan |date=February 20, 2012 |title=A "handful" of Falcon backers flee to BC Conservatives |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/falcon-backers-flee-to-bc-conservatives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909182926/https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/falcon-backers-flee-to-bc-conservatives |archive-date=September 9, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=[[Vancouver Sun]]}}</ref> The Conservatives held their own leadership convention on May 28, 2011, where former [[Conservative Party of Canada]] Member of Parliament [[John Cummins (Canadian politician)|John Cummins]] was proclaimed leader.<ref>{{cite web |date=2011-05-28 |title=Cummins named leader of B.C. Conservatives |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cummins-named-leader-of-b-c-conservatives-1.1109520 |access-date=April 2, 2018 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> By late 2011, Conservative support had surged to eighteen percent.<ref name="Liberal decline">{{cite news |last=MacLeod |first=Andrew |date=November 3, 2011 |title=BC Liberal declines under Premier Clark benefit Conservatives, NDP |url=https://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/BC-Politics/2011/11/03/NovPoll/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112202606/https://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/BC-Politics/2011/11/03/NovPoll/ |archive-date=November 12, 2011 |access-date=December 9, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Tyee]]}}</ref>
[[File:Bccp-logo.png|right|thumb|BC Conservative Party logo, 1991 to 2005]]
The Tories returned to the wilderness in the following years, despite the amazing growth of the federal party during the 1980s. For a brief stint in 1986, former NDP MLA [[Graham Lea]] crossed the floor to sit as a PC MLA, but quit politics altogether following the dissolution of the Legislature for the [[1986 British Columbia general election|1986 election]].
On March 26, 2012, [[Abbotsford South]] MLA [[John van Dongen]] announced that he was leaving the Liberals to join the Conservatives, providing the party with its first representative in the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|Legislative Assembly]] since 1986.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Bethany |date=March 26, 2012 |title=Van Dongen ditches BC Liberals, joins Conservatives |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/van-dongen-ditches-bc-liberals-joins-conservatives-1.787257 |access-date=April 2, 2018 |website=ctv.ca}}</ref> However, six months later van Dongen switched to Independent status after Cummins was re-elected party leader without van Dongen's support.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |last=Toth |first=Christina |date=2012-09-25 |title=Independence Day for van Dongen |url=http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/news/Independence+Dongen/7286917/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930032113/http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/news/Independence%2BDongen/7286917/story.html |archive-date=2012-09-30 |access-date=2012-09-26 |website=Abbotsford-Mission Times}}</ref> van Dongen stated that he lacked confidence in Cummins' leadership and cited differences about the party's direction as reasons for leaving.<ref name=":4" />
In 1991, the party changed its name back to the "BC Conservative Party", but was unable to gain traction during the collapse of the Socred government in the [[1991 British Columbia general election|1991 election]] and the subsequent re-alignment of BC politics. The party ran only a handful of candidates between 1991 and [[2005 British Columbia general election|2005]], as the pro-business voters of the province moved en masse to the [[BC Liberals]].
In the run-up to the [[2013 British Columbia general election|2013 election]], the party was able to field only 56 candidates. Nevertheless, Cummins was invited to join the leaders of the Liberals, NDP, and [[Green Party of British Columbia|Greens]] on-stage for the leaders' debates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/cpac-special/episodes/24271660 |title=BC Provincial Election Debate – April 29, 2013 |date=May 14, 2013 |website=www.cpac.ca |access-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref> The Conservatives ultimately received less than five percent of the vote and had no candidates elected. On July 18, 2013, Cummins resigned as party leader.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-conservative-leader-john-cummins-to-quit/article13309260/ |title=B.C. Conservative Leader John Cummins resigns |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=July 18, 2013 |access-date=August 10, 2013}}</ref> Dan Brooks was elected the new leader of the party on April 12, 2014. Brooks resigned at the party's annual general meeting on February 20, 2016.<ref name="brooksres">{{cite news |title=B.C. Conservative leader resigns |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-conservative-leader-resigns |access-date=April 6, 2023 |work=Vancouver Sun |agency=Canadian Press}}</ref> However, stating that outstanding issues that led to his resignations were resolved, Brooks was re-elected as leader at a leadership convention held on September 17, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dan-brooks-1.3767697 |title=B.C. Conservatives name Dan Brooks as new party leader |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] |date=September 17, 2016 |access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> On October 28, 2016, the party's executive board removed Brooks from the leadership after ruling that the meeting that approved his candidacy for the leadership convention lacked quorum. Brooks criticized the decision, stating that the executive were "like praying mantises, they eat their leaders".<ref name=":9">{{cite news |date=2016-10-28 |title=Newly re-elected leader Dan Brooks ousted as leader of the BC Conservative party |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/newly-re-elected-leader-dan-brooks-ousted-as-leader-of-the-bc-conservative-party/article32562580/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029112641/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/newly-re-elected-leader-dan-brooks-ousted-as-leader-of-the-bc-conservative-party/article32562580/ |archive-date=2016-10-29 |access-date=2018-04-02 |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref>
=== Revival efforts in the 2000s ===
[[File:Bcconservatives-logo.jpg|right|thumb|BC Conservative Party logo, 2005 to 2012]]
In 2005, former [[Reform Party of British Columbia|BC Reform Party]] and [[Christian Heritage Party of British Columbia|Christian Heritage Party]] leader [[Wilf Hanni]] was elected leader of the Conservatives. The party was able to field 24 candidates for the [[2009 British Columbia general election|2009 election]], its highest number since 1979, and earned 2.1% of the vote province-wide. The re-emergence of the party, despite not coming close to winning any seats, sparked renewed interest in the Conservatives, who began to poll between 5 and 10 percent in polls.
The party did not select a new leader before the start of the [[2017 British Columbia general election|2017 election]] campaign. As such, the Conservatives entered the election campaign without a leader and nominated only ten candidates, none of whom were elected.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-election-winner/article34942628/ |title=BC Liberals cut to minority with Greens holding balance of power |date=May 10, 2017 |website=theglobeandmail.com |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref> In September 2017, following the party's annual general meeting, Scott Anderson, a [[Vernon, British Columbia|Vernon]] city councillor, was appointed interim leader by a unanimous vote of the newly elected board. Anderson oversaw the reformation of several defunct riding associations and an increase in membership, and took the party through the [[Kelowna West]] and [[Nanaimo (provincial electoral district)|Nanaimo]] by-elections. [[Fort St. John, British Columbia|Fort St. John]] city councillor [[Trevor Bolin]] became the party's new permanent leader on April 8, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/fort-st-john-councillor-named-b-c-conservative-leader/|title=Fort St. John councillor named B.C. Conservative leader|date=April 8, 2019|website=Victoria News|language=en-US|access-date=April 7, 2020}}</ref>
===Lead up to the 2013 election===
[[File:John-cummins-8313.jpg|thumb|Conservative leader John Cummins (2011–2013)]]
At its [[annual general meeting]] on September 26, 2009, the party elected a new executive and re-elected Wayne McGrath as president. In 2010, the party formed an advisory committee that included, chairman [[Randy White (Canadian politician)|Randy White]], [[Brian Peckford]], [[Rita Johnston]], [[Jim Hart (British Columbia politician)|Jim Hart]] and [[John Cummins (Canadian politician)|John Cummins]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bcconservative.ca/2010/04/bc-conservatives-appoint-former-commons-house-leader-to-chair-political-strategy/ |title=Bc Conservatives Appoint Former Commons House Leader To Chair Political Strategy | The Bc Conservative Party |publisher=Bcconservative.ca |date=April 20, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812065528/http://bcconservative.ca/2010/04/bc-conservatives-appoint-former-commons-house-leader-to-chair-political-strategy/ |archive-date=August 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bcconservative.ca/2010/09/former-premier-brian-peckford-joins-conservative-advisors/ |title=Former Premier Brian Peckford Joins Conservative Advisors | The Bc Conservative Party |publisher=Bcconservative.ca |date=September 5, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812065653/http://bcconservative.ca/2010/09/former-premier-brian-peckford-joins-conservative-advisors/ |archive-date=August 12, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bcconservative.ca/2010/09/former-premier-rita-johnston-joins-conservative-advisors/ |title=Former Premier Rita Johnston Joins Conservative Advisors | The Bc Conservative Party |publisher=Bcconservative.ca |date=September 16, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812065658/http://bcconservative.ca/2010/09/former-premier-rita-johnston-joins-conservative-advisors/ |archive-date=August 12, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bcconservative.ca/2010/09/international-governance-and-democracy-expert-joins-bc-conservative-advisors/ |title=International Governance And Democracy Expert Joins Bc Conservative Advisors | The Bc Conservative Party |publisher=Bcconservative.ca |date=September 24, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812065729/http://bcconservative.ca/2010/09/international-governance-and-democracy-expert-joins-bc-conservative-advisors/ |archive-date=August 12, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bcconservative.ca/2010/09/mp-cummins-joins-bc-conservative-advisory-group/ |title=Mp Cummins Joins Bc Conservative Advisory Group | The BC Conservative Party |publisher=Bcconservative.ca |date=September 30, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812065831/http://bcconservative.ca/2010/09/mp-cummins-joins-bc-conservative-advisory-group/ |archive-date=August 12, 2011 }}</ref>
The party altered its name to the Conservative Party of British Columbia prior to the [[2020 British Columbia general election|2020 general election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Registered Political Parties – Information |url=https://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/Registered-Political-Parties-Information.pdf |publisher=Elections BC |access-date=September 27, 2020}}</ref>
At the end of 2010, the party had the support of 8 percent of votes according to opinion polls, had approximately 2,000 members, up from 300 in June of that year, and had constituency associations established in 45 of the province's 85 ridings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/spurred-by-warhorses-bc-tories-plot-a-comeback/article1321368/|title=Spurred by warhorses, B.C. Tories plot a comeback|work=The Globe and Mail|date=December 28, 2010|access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>
During the [[2022 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election|BC Liberal leadership race]] in 2022, conservative commentator Aaron Gunn was disqualified by the party, which described his views as "inconsistent" with Liberal values including "diversity and acceptance of all British Columbians".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grochowski |first=Sarah |date=2021-10-22 |title=Aaron Gunn tossed from B.C. Liberal leadership race over 'diversity concerns' |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/bc-news/aaron-gunn-tossed-from-bc-liberal-leadership-race-over-diversity-concerns-4692945 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112181036/https://www.timescolonist.com/bc-news/aaron-gunn-tossed-from-bc-liberal-leadership-race-over-diversity-concerns-4692945 |archive-date=2021-11-12 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=[[Times Colonist]] |language=en}}</ref> Following his disqualification, Gunn founded Common Sense BC, an advocacy group to study the viability of a right-wing alternative to the BC Liberals. Common Sense endorsed a slate of candidates who stood for election to the Conservative Party board at the May 2022 annual general meeting, effectively launching a takeover of the party. The endorsed candidates, including [[People's Party of Canada]] founding member Angelo Isidorou, were elected, and right-wing activists took control of the party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2022 |title=Young Tories take aim at BC Liberals |url=https://northernbeat.ca/opinion/young-tories-take-aim-at-bc-liberals/ |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=Northern Beat |language=en-US}}</ref> In August 2022, the party revealed a new logo, alongside a new website and platform.
Several months after the election of [[Christy Clark]] as leader of the Liberal Party, and her subsequent swearing in as Premier, the Conservatives' support rose again at the expense of the Liberals.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Gary |title=Will Christy Clark buy time before trip to polls? |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/will-christy-clark-buy-time-before-trip-to-polls/article4260046/ |access-date=April 6, 2023 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=July 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Why Christy Clark's Election Decision Is So Tough |url=https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2011/08/17/Christy-Clark-Election-Decision/ |access-date=December 9, 2011 |newspaper=The Tyee |date=August 17, 2011}}</ref> According to [[Kevin Falcon]], runner-up in the Liberal leadership convention, "a number of my supporters that may have done that and I'm not entirely surprised."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/falcon-backers-flee-to-bc-conservatives |title=A "handful" of Falcon backers flee to BC Conservatives |date=February 21, 2012 |website=vancouversun.com |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>
=== John Rustad leadership (2023–present) ===
The party held a leadership convention on May 28, 2011, and former [[Conservative Party of Canada]] Member of Parliament John Cummins was proclaimed leader.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hui |first=Stephen |url=https://www.straight.com/article-367653/vancouver/bc-conservative-party-sets-leadership-convention-may-28 |title=B.C. Conservative Party sets leadership convention for May 28 |publisher=Straight.com |date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=May 19, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cummins-named-leader-of-b-c-conservatives-1.1109520 |title=Cummins named leader of B.C. Conservatives |website=cbc.ca |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref> After dropping into single digits after Liberal premier Gordon Campbell's resignation in March 2011, the Conservatives consistently [[2013 British Columbia general election#Opinion polls|polled]] above 10 percent in the last half of 2011, reaching as high as 23 percent.<ref name="Liberal decline">{{cite news |title=BC Liberal declines under Premier Clark benefit Conservatives, NDP |url=https://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/BC-Politics/2011/11/03/NovPoll/ |access-date=December 9, 2011 |newspaper=The Tyee |date=November 3, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:John Rustad 2016.jpg|thumb|[[John Rustad]] became party leader in 2023 after [[crossing the floor]] from the BC Liberals|234x234px]]
On February 16, 2023, [[John Rustad]], MLA for [[Nechako Lakes (provincial electoral district)|Nechako Lakes]], joined the Conservative Party, giving the party representation in the Legislature for the first time since 2012. Rustad had been elected as a Liberal but was removed from the party's caucus in August 2022 after he refused to undo his [[retweet]] of a comment casting doubt on the scientific consensus that [[climate change]] is caused by carbon dioxide emissions; after the removal, Rustad sat as an Independent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zussman |first=Richard |date=2022-08-18 |title=BC Liberals boot MLA John Rustad from caucus after questioning climate change science |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9069963/bc-liberals-boot-mla-john-rustad-from-caucus-after-questioning-climate-change-science/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819001426/https://globalnews.ca/news/9069963/bc-liberals-boot-mla-john-rustad-from-caucus-after-questioning-climate-change-science/ |archive-date=2022-08-19 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[Global News]]}}</ref> Rustad cited "irreconcilable differences" with Liberal leader Kevin Falcon in explaining his decision to join the Conservatives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeRosa |first=Katie |date=2023-02-16 |title=Ousted B.C. Liberal MLA John Rustad joins B.C. Conservatives |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ousted-bc-liberal-mla-john-rustad-joins-conservatives |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321171657/https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ousted-bc-liberal-mla-john-rustad-joins-conservatives |archive-date=2023-03-21 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=[[Vancouver Sun]] |language=en-CA}}</ref>
Bolin announced on March 3, 2023, that he was stepping down as party leader, and that a [[2023 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election|party leadership race]] would be held in the near future.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Preprost |first=Matt |date=March 3, 2023 |title=Bolin to step down as B.C. Conservative leader |url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/bolin-to-step-down-as-bc-conservative-leader-6643139 |work=[[Vancouver is Awesome]] |access-date=March 7, 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Depner |first=Wolf |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Rustad for B.C. conservative leader? Speculation becomes more probable as Bolin steps down |url=https://www.burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com/news/rustad-for-b-c-conservative-leader-speculation-becomes-more-probable-as-bolin-steps-down |work=Burns Lake Lakes District News |access-date=March 7, 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Three weeks later, Rustad announced that he was running for the party's leadership.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Petersen |first=Hanna |date=March 23, 2023 |title=MLA John Rustad running for BC Conservative Party leadership |url=https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/mla-john-rustad-running-for-bc-conservative-party-leadership-6747584 |work=[[Prince George Citizen]] |access-date=March 23, 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref> On March 31, 2023, Rustad was acclaimed as the new leader as the only candidate in the race.<ref>{{cite web |last=Meissner |first=Dirk |date=2023-03-31 |title=Former B.C. Liberal minister John Rustad acclaimed leader of B.C. Conservatives |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-rustad-leader-bc-conservative-party-1.6797879 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331235912/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-rustad-leader-bc-conservative-party-1.6797879 |archive-date=2023-03-31 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[CBC News]] |publisher=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref>
On March 26, 2012, [[Abbotsford South]] MLA [[John van Dongen]] announced that he was leaving the [[British Columbia Liberal Party|BC Liberals]] to join the BC Conservatives,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/van-dongen-ditches-bc-liberals-joins-conservatives-1.787257 |title=Van Dongen ditches BC Liberals, joins Conservatives |first=Bethany |last=Lindsay |date=March 26, 2012 |website=ctv.ca |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref> providing the party with its first representative in the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|Legislative Assembly]] since 1986. In September 2012, John van Dongen switched to independent status after the re-election of [[John Cummins (Canadian politician)|John Cummins]] as leader of the BC Conservative Party.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=JVDAbby |first=John |last=van Dongen |number=249620957927464960 |date=September 22, 2012 |title=I'm handing in my BC Cons. Party membership today and will continue to sit as an Independent, representing #Abbotsford-South riding. #BCpoli}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/news/Independence+Dongen/7286917/story.html |title=Independence Day for van Dongen |access-date=September 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930032113/http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/news/Independence%2BDongen/7286917/story.html |archive-date=September 30, 2012 }}</ref>
In the June 2023 [[2023 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant provincial by-election|Vancouver-Mount Pleasant]] and [[2023 Langford-Juan de Fuca provincial by-election|Langford-Juan de Fuca]] by-elections, the Conservative candidates placed fourth and second, with 4.88 percent and 19.86 percent of the vote, respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carey |first=Charlie |date=2023-06-24 |title=Clean sweep for NDP in B.C. byelections |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/06/24/bc-byelection-results-vancouver-langford/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627062601/https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/06/24/bc-byelection-results-vancouver-langford/ |archive-date=2023-06-27 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[CityNews]]}}</ref> The second place finish in Langford-Juan de Fuca, ahead of the centre-right [[BC United]] (formerly the BC Liberals), indicated a surge in support for the Conservatives, which was seen to echo that of the federal [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]], which by 2023 was surging in national polls.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Meissner |first=Dirk |date=2023-12-12 |title=B.C. Conservatives awaken from decades in dormancy ahead of 2024 vote |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-bc-conservatives-awaken-from-decades-in-dormancy-ahead-of-2024-vote/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503043031/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-bc-conservatives-awaken-from-decades-in-dormancy-ahead-of-2024-vote/ |archive-date=2024-05-03 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref>[[File:43rd British Columbia General Election polling.png|thumb|Polling ahead of the [[2020 BC general election|2024 BC general election]] showing increased support for the party]]On September 13, 2023, BC United MLA [[Bruce Banman]] crossed the floor to join the Conservatives.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-13 |title=BC United MLA Bruce Banman defects to provincial Conservatives |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/bc-united-mla-bruce-banman-defects-to-provincial-conservatives-1.6559712 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914122634/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/bc-united-mla-bruce-banman-defects-to-provincial-conservatives-1.6559712 |archive-date=2023-09-14 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=[[CTV News]] |language=en-CA |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> This gave the Conservatives the two MLAs necessary for official party status, and Banman was named party house leader.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Depner |first1=Wolf |title=Conservative Party of BC gains seat and official status in legislature |url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/conservative-party-of-bc-gains-seat-and-official-status-in-legislature-3770842 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Victoria News |date=13 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> As a result of the party gaining official status, the Legislative Assembly Management Committee approved $214,000 in funding for the Conservative caucus, equivalent to the two-MLA Green caucus.<ref> https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-legislature-makes-it-official-as-conservatives-get-money-to-go-with-new-found-party-status</ref>
In the run-up to the [[2013 British Columbia general election|2013 election]], Cummins had repeatedly stated his hope to run a full slate of candidates, but the party was only able to field 56 candidates out of a total possible 85. Nevertheless, with high polling and the capability to form a major caucus within the Legislature if elected, Cummins was invited to join the leaders of the Liberals, NDP, and [[Green Party of British Columbia|Greens]] on-stage for the provincial debates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/cpac-special/episodes/24271660 |title=BC Provincial Election Debate – April 29, 2013 |date=May 14, 2013 |website=www.cpac.ca |access-date=April 13, 2019}}</ref>
On May 31, 2024, BC United MLA and caucus chair [[Lorne Doerkson]] crossed the floor to the Conservatives.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 31, 2024|title=B.C. United caucus chair Lorne Doerkson defects to Conservatives|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lorne-doerkson-b-c-united-defects-conservatives-1.7221392|access-date=May 31, 2024|website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|language=en-CA|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> Doerkson was followed by BC United's MLA for [[Surrey South]], [[Elenore Sturko]] on June 3—she also announced her intention to run in Surrey-Cloverdale for the upcoming election— and BC United MLA for [[Richmond North Centre]] and former Minister of Trade [[Teresa Wat]] on July 29.<ref>{{cite news |title=Teresa Wat, 4th B.C. United MLA defects to B.C. Conservatives |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mla-teresa-wat-defects-bc-conservatives-1.7279501 |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=CBC News |date=30 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Charlie |date=2024-06-03 |title=Surrey MLA Elenore Sturko defects, joins BC Conservatives |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/06/03/surrey-mla-elenore-sturko-joins-bc-conservatives/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=CityNews Vancouver}}</ref>
Despite high hopes, the Conservatives received only 4.76 percent of the vote and were unable to elect a MLA during the election. The party's strongest result was in [[Peace River South]], where their candidate Kurt Peats came in second place with 27.2 percent of the vote; all other candidates came in third place or worse. Cummins, previously a federal MP in the area for nearly two decades, was only able to earn 11.9 percent support in the [[Langley (provincial electoral district)|Langley]] constituency.
Leading up to the [[2024 British Columbia general election|2024 provincial election]], polls showed the Conservatives displacing BC United as the main challenger to the incumbent BC NDP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazenby |first=Alec |date=July 30, 2024 |title=B.C. Election 2024: Battle between Conservatives and NDP narrows as Teresa Wat defects from B.C. United |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/bc-election-2024-teresa-wat-defects |website=Vancouver Sun}}</ref> On August 28, 2024, BC United leader Falcon announced that his party, lagging in the polls, was suspending its campaign after negotiations with Rustad, and that he was putting his support behind Rustad and the Conservatives.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Larsen |first=Karin |date=2024-08-28 |title=Falcon ends B.C. United campaign, throws support to Conservatives |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/falcon-ends-b-c-united-campaign-throws-support-to-conservatives-1.7307302 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240830061004/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/falcon-ends-b-c-united-campaign-throws-support-to-conservatives-1.7307302 |archive-date=2024-08-30 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> In addition, it was announced that some candidates from the BC United roster could run as Conservatives for the election.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kevin Falcon attempting to suspend BC United’s campaign in fall election {{!}} Watch News Videos Online |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/10719730/kevin-falcon-to-fold-bc-united-party-suspend-campaign/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> Popular support for the Conservatives surged after the announcement, with the party in a statistical tie in opinion polling with the NDP by mid-September.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weichel |first=Andrew |date=2024-09-17 |title=B.C. NDP, Conservatives statistically tied after United party capitulation, survey finds |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-ndp-conservatives-statistically-tied-after-united-party-capitulation-survey-finds-1.7041112 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918012623/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-ndp-conservatives-statistically-tied-after-united-party-capitulation-survey-finds-1.7041112 |archive-date=2024-09-18 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[CTV News]]}}</ref>
=== 2013–2022 ===
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="80" caption="Selection of past party logos">
[[File:BCCP Logo.jpg|thumb|Conservative Party of British Columbia logo from 2015 to 2020]]
File:Bccp-logo.png|1991–2005
[[File:British Columbia Conservative Party logo.png|thumb|Conservative Party of British Columbia logo from 2020 to 2022]]
File:Bcconservatives-logo.jpg|2005–2012
On July 18, 2013, [[John Cummins (Canadian politician)|John Cummins]] resigned from the position of party leader.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-conservative-leader-john-cummins-to-quit/article13309260/ |title=B.C. Conservative Leader John Cummins resigns |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=July 18, 2013 |access-date=August 10, 2013}}</ref> Dan Brooks was elected the new leader of the party on April 12, 2014, then resigned at the party's Annual General Meeting on February 20, 2016.<ref name="brooksres">{{cite news |title=B.C. Conservative leader resigns |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-conservative-leader-resigns |access-date=April 6, 2023 |work=Vancouver Sun |agency=Canadian Press}}</ref> Brooks was re-elected as leader at a leadership convention held on September 17, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dan-brooks-1.3767697 |title=B.C. Conservatives name Dan Brooks as new party leader |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] |date=September 17, 2016 |access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref> However, on October 28, 2016, the party's executive board removed him from the leadership after ruling that the meeting that approved his candidacy for the leadership convention lacked quorum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nanaimonewsnow.com/article/513874/newly-re-elected-leader-dan-brooks-ousted-leader-bc-conservative-party |title=Newly re-elected leader Dan Brooks ousted as leader of the BC Conservative party |date=October 28, 2016 |website=nanaimonewsnow.com |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/newly-re-elected-leader-dan-brooks-ousted-as-leader-of-the-bc-conservative-party/article32562580/ |title=Newly re-elected leader Dan Brooks ousted as leader of the BC Conservative party |access-date=April 2, 2018 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=October 28, 2016 }}</ref>
File:BCCP Logo.jpg|2015–2020
File:British Columbia Conservative Party logo.png|2020–2022
The party was not able to select a new leader before the start of the [[2017 British Columbia general election|2017 election]] campaign. After nominating 56 candidates in [[2013 British Columbia general election|2013]] and earning almost 5 percent of the vote, the Conservatives entered the campaign for the [[2017 British Columbia general election|2017 provincial election]] without a leader. It nominated ten candidates, none of whom was elected.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-election-winner/article34942628/ |title=BC Liberals cut to minority with Greens holding balance of power |date=May 10, 2017 |website=theglobeandmail.com |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref> Even without a leader, the party still managed an average of more than a thousand votes per riding contested, with no candidate receiving less than 2 percent of the vote. Leah Catherine McCulloch received the highest vote share of all the Conservative candidates, at 7.55 percent in the riding of Courtenay-Comox.
</gallery>
In September 2017, following the party's AGM, Scott Anderson, a [[Vernon, British Columbia|Vernon]] city councillor, was appointed interim leader by a unanimous vote of the newly elected board. Anderson oversaw the reformation of several defunct riding associations and an increase in membership, and took the party through the [[Kelowna West]] and [[Nanaimo (provincial electoral district)|Nanaimo]] by-elections.
[[Fort St. John, British Columbia|Fort St. John]] city councillor [[Trevor Bolin]] became the party's permanent leader on April 8, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/fort-st-john-councillor-named-b-c-conservative-leader/|title=Fort St. John councillor named B.C. Conservative leader|date=April 8, 2019|website=Victoria News|language=en-US|access-date=April 7, 2020}}</ref>
The party changed its name to the "Conservative Party of British Columbia" prior to the [[2020 British Columbia general election|2020 general election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Registered Political Parties – Information |url=https://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/Registered-Political-Parties-Information.pdf |publisher=Elections BC |access-date=September 27, 2020}}</ref>
=== Rustad leadership (2023–present)===
[[File:John Rustad 2016.jpg|thumb|upright|[[John Rustad]] became party leader in 2023 after [[crossing the floor]] from the BC Liberals.]]
[[File:43rd British Columbia General Election polling.png|thumb|Rise in support for the BC Conservatives in the polls]]
During the [[2022 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election|BC Liberal leadership race]] in 2022, conservative commentator Aaron Gunn entered the race, hoping to represent the party's right-wing. However, the BC Liberal Party disqualified Gunn, describing his views as "inconsistent" with the party's values.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2021 |title=Aaron Gunn tossed from B.C. Liberal leadership race over 'diversity concerns' |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/bc-news/aaron-gunn-tossed-from-bc-liberal-leadership-race-over-diversity-concerns-4692945 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}}</ref>
Following his disqualification, Gunn founded Common Sense BC, an advocacy group that would study the viability of a right-wing alternative to the BC Liberals. Gunn's group endorsed a slate of candidates who stood for election to the Conservative board at the party's May 2022 AGM, launching a takeover of the party. The endorsed candidates were elected, and young right-wing advocates took control of the party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2022 |title=Young Tories take aim at BC Liberals |url=https://northernbeat.ca/opinion/young-tories-take-aim-at-bc-liberals/ |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=Northern Beat |language=en-US}}</ref>
In August 2022, the party revealed a new logo, alongside a new website and platform.
On February 16, 2023, [[John Rustad]], MLA for [[Nechako Lakes (provincial electoral district)|Nechako Lakes]], joined the Conservative Party, giving the party representation in the Legislature. Rustad was elected as a Liberal but was removed from party caucus in August 2022, after he refused to undo his retweet of a comment casting doubt that climate change is caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Rustad cited "irreconcilable differences" with Liberal leader [[Kevin Falcon]] in explaining his party change.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ousted B.C. Liberal MLA John Rustad joins B.C. Conservatives |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ousted-bc-liberal-mla-john-rustad-joins-conservatives |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=vancouversun |language=en-CA}}</ref>
Bolin announced on March 3, 2023, that he was stepping down as party leader, and a [[2023 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election|party leadership race]] would be held in the near future.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Preprost |first=Matt |date=March 3, 2023 |title=Bolin to step down as B.C. Conservative leader |url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/bolin-to-step-down-as-bc-conservative-leader-6643139 |work=[[Vancouver is Awesome]] |access-date=March 7, 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Depner |first=Wolf |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Rustad for B.C. conservative leader? Speculation becomes more probable as Bolin steps down |url=https://www.burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com/news/rustad-for-b-c-conservative-leader-speculation-becomes-more-probable-as-bolin-steps-down |work=Burns Lake Lakes District News |access-date=March 7, 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref> A few weeks later, Rustad announced that he was running to be the party's leader.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Petersen |first=Hanna |date=March 23, 2023 |title=MLA John Rustad running for BC Conservative Party leadership |url=https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/mla-john-rustad-running-for-bc-conservative-party-leadership-6747584 |work=[[Prince George Citizen]] |access-date=March 23, 2023 |language=en-CA}}</ref> On March 31, 2023, Rustad was acclaimed as the new leader as the only candidate in the race.<ref>{{cite web |title=Former B.C. Liberal minister John Rustad acclaimed leader of B.C. Conservatives |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-rustad-leader-bc-conservative-party-1.6797879 |website=CBC |publisher=The Canadian Press |date=March 31, 2023 |access-date=March 31, 2023}}</ref>
In the 2023 [[2023 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant provincial by-election|Vancouver-Mount Pleasant]] and [[2023 Langford-Juan de Fuca provincial by-election|Langford-Juan de Fuca]] by-elections, the Conservative candidates placed fourth and second, with 4.88 percent and 19.86 percent of the vote, respectively. In Langford-Juan de Fuca, the Conservatives unexpectedly overtook the centre-right [[BC United]] (formerly the BC Liberal Party), which typically took second place in the riding.<ref name="Meissner">{{cite news |last1=Meissner |first1=Dirk |title=B.C. Conservatives awaken from decades in dormancy ahead of 2024 vote |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10164091/bc-conservatives-2024-election/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Global News |date=12 December 2023}}</ref>
On September 13, 2023, BC United MLA [[Bruce Banman]] [[crossed the floor]] to join the Conservatives.<ref name="McElroy" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2023 |title=BC United MLA Bruce Banman defects to provincial Conservatives |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/bc-united-mla-bruce-banman-defects-to-provincial-conservatives-1.6559712 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=[[CTV News]] |language=en-CA |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> This gave the Conservatives the two MLAs necessary for official party status, and Banman became the party's house leader.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Depner |first1=Wolf |title=Conservative Party of BC gains seat and official status in legislature |url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/conservative-party-of-bc-gains-seat-and-official-status-in-legislature-3770842 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Victoria News |date=13 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> On Sept. 23, 2023 the Legislative Assembly Management Committee approved $214,000 in funding for the office of B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad and his caucus, equivalent to the Green caucus, who also had two MLAs. <ref> https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-legislature-makes-it-official-as-conservatives-get-money-to-go-with-new-found-party-status</ref>
On May 31, 2024, BC United MLA and BC United caucus chair [[Lorne Doerkson]] crossed the floor to the Conservatives.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 31, 2024|title=B.C. United caucus chair Lorne Doerkson defects to Conservatives|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lorne-doerkson-b-c-united-defects-conservatives-1.7221392|access-date=May 31, 2024|website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|language=en-CA|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref> On June 3, BC United's MLA for [[Surrey South]], [[Elenore Sturko]], crossed the floor to the Conservatives, and announced her intention to run in Surrey-Cloverdale for the upcoming election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Charlie |date=2024-06-03 |title=Surrey MLA Elenore Sturko defects, joins BC Conservatives |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/06/03/surrey-mla-elenore-sturko-joins-bc-conservatives/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=CityNews Vancouver}}</ref> On July 29, BC United MLA for [[Richmond North Centre]] and former Minister of Trade [[Teresa Wat]] crossed the floor to the Conservatives.<ref>{{cite news |title=Teresa Wat, 4th B.C. United MLA defects to B.C. Conservatives |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mla-teresa-wat-defects-bc-conservatives-1.7279501 |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=CBC News |date=30 July 2024}}</ref>
The party under Rustad has seen a revival in support. Leading up to the [[2024 British Columbia general election|2024 provincial election]], polls have shown them displacing BC United as the main competitor to the incumbent BC NDP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazenby |first=Alec |date=July 30, 2024 |title=B.C. Election 2024: Battle between Conservatives and NDP narrows as Teresa Wat defects from B.C. United |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/bc-election-2024-teresa-wat-defects |website=Vancouver Sun}}</ref> On August 28, 2024, BC United suspended its campaign for the upcoming election after negotiations between Rustad and [[Kevin Falcon]]; it was announced that some candidates from BC United's roster would run as Conservatives during the next provincial election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kevin Falcon attempting to suspend BC United’s campaign in fall election {{!}} Watch News Videos Online |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/10719730/kevin-falcon-to-fold-bc-united-party-suspend-campaign/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Ideology and political positions ==
{{Conservatism in Canada}}
In 2017, under the previous leadership, party communications director John Twigg compared his party's populist and anti-establishment rhetoric with that of the [[Brexit]] movement and supporters of [[Presidency of Donald Trump|Donald Trump's presidency]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pablo |first1=Carlito |title=B.C. Conservative Party compares its populist movement to Brexit and Trump election |url=https://www.straight.com/news/880601/bc-conservative-party-compares-its-populist-movement-brexit-and-trump-election |access-date=June 12, 2020 |work=The Georgia Straight |date=March 13, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Under the Rustad leadership, the party has attempted to portray itself as more mainstream and "common sense" in order to appeal to more voters; in 2023 and 2024, Rustad described his party as a "centre-right alternative" to BC United, the BC NDP, and the BC Greens, and focused his rhetoric on lowering taxes.<ref name="McElroy">{{cite news |last1=McElroy |first1=Justin |title=Why the rise of the B.C. Conservative Party could change the province's political dynamic |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-conservative-party-banman-jump-united-1.6966211 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CBC News |date=September 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McIntyre |first1=Pete |title=Rustad and BC Conservatives giving voters a right-wing option |url=https://vernonmatters.ca/2023/07/09/rustad-and-bc-conservatives-giving-voters-a-right-wing-option/ |work=Vernon Matters |date=July 9, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey-Kanaan |first1=Aastha |title=BC Conservatives gaining support ahead of election: poll |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/03/31/bc-conservatives-more-votes/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CityNews}}</ref>
For much of its history, the BC Conservative Party subscribed to a free enterprise ideology, although one that was often overshadowed by centre-right coalitions like those of the BC Social Credit and BC Liberal parties.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Crawford |first=Kilian |date=2024-04-19 |title=How the BC Conservatives Fell. And Are Rising Again |url=https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/04/19/How-BC-Conservatives-Fell-Rising-Again/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422072006/https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2024/04/19/How-BC-Conservatives-Fell-Rising-Again/ |archive-date=2024-04-22 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[The Tyee]]}}</ref> However, the Conservatives, especially in the twenty-first century, sought to over a right-wing alternative, and with the breakdown of formerly successful centre-right coalitions have enjoyed renewed popularity.<ref name="McElroy">{{cite news |last1=McElroy |first1=Justin |date=September 14, 2023 |title=Why the rise of the B.C. Conservative Party could change the province's political dynamic |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-conservative-party-banman-jump-united-1.6966211 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CBC News}}</ref> In 2017, party communications director John Twigg compared the party's populist and anti-establishment rhetoric with that of the [[Brexit]] movement and that of supporters of [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pablo |first1=Carlito |date=2017-03-13 |title=B.C. Conservative Party compares its populist movement to Brexit and Trump election |url=https://www.straight.com/news/880601/bc-conservative-party-compares-its-populist-movement-brexit-and-trump-election |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609123512/https://www.straight.com/news/880601/bc-conservative-party-compares-its-populist-movement-brexit-and-trump-election |archive-date=2017-06-09 |access-date=2020-06-12 |work=[[The Georgia Straight]] |language=en}}</ref> Under John Rustad's leadership, the party has attempted to portray itself as more mainstream and "common sense" in order to appeal to more voters. In 2023 and 2024, Rustad described his party as a "centre-right alternative" to BC United, the BC NDP, and the BC Greens, while matching the rhetoric of the federal [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]] in focusing on affordability and crime.<ref name=":8">{{cite news |last1=McIntyre |first1=Pete |date=July 9, 2023 |title=Rustad and BC Conservatives giving voters a right-wing option |url=https://vernonmatters.ca/2023/07/09/rustad-and-bc-conservatives-giving-voters-a-right-wing-option/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004220806/https://vernonmatters.ca/2023/07/09/rustad-and-bc-conservatives-giving-voters-a-right-wing-option/ |archive-date=2024-10-04 |work=Vernon Matters |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey-Kanaan |first1=Aastha |date=2024-03-31 |title=BC Conservatives gaining support ahead of election: poll |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/03/31/bc-conservatives-more-votes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404202325/https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/03/31/bc-conservatives-more-votes/ |archive-date=2024-04-04 |access-date=2024-04-04 |work=[[CityNews]]}}</ref> Rustad's party has been labeled right-wing.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8" /> Moreover, Rustad has been accused of inflaming American-style culture wars, or focusing on issues with stark ideological contrasts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-10 |title=Concerns over pre-election polarization amid online barbs in B.C. |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-election-polarization-1.7319502 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914024918/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-election-polarization-1.7319502 |archive-date=2024-09-14 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pawson |first=Chad |date=2024-09-26 |title=How turfing SOGI and banning books became part of B.C.'s election |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sogi-123-sexual-education-b-c-election-2024-1.7333988 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927041419/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sogi-123-sexual-education-b-c-election-2024-1.7333988 |archive-date=2024-09-27 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>
=== Economic issues ===
The party advocates for increased resource extraction with few environmental roadblocks, and calls to further develop the province's fossil fuel and lumber industries. In particular, it opposes the [[British Columbia carbon tax|provincial carbon tax]] and proposes that [[Environmental movement|environmental activists]] and their supporters be arrested for "illegal activities".<ref name="Meissner:5" /><ref>{{cite news |title=B.C. opposition parties heat up climate debate with attacks on NDP's plans |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-opposition-parties-climate-plans-1.7036855 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CBC News |agency=Canadian Press |date=22 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="CPBC_platform">{{cite web |title=Our Platform |url=https://www.conservativebc.ca/platform |publisher=Conservative Party of BC |access-date=October 8, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Housing ===
In 2024, party leader John Rustad told supporters that he would scrap a housing reform by the BC NDP that legalized fourplexes on lots that previously only allowed single-family housing and sixplexes on lots near rapid transit stations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2024 |title=Rustad Would Scrap Zoning Reforms, Keep Rent Control |url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/09/20/Rustad-Zoning-Reforms-Rent-Control/ |work=The Tyee}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024 |title=Rustad pledges $10B in infrastructure while scrapping density increase |url=https://www.wltribune.com/news/rustad-promises-10b-infrastructure-investment-while-scrapping-density-increase-7546531 |work=Williams Lake Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024 |title=John Rustad lays out plan if elected as B.C.'s next leader |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-rustad-sonia-furstenau-ubcm-speeches-1.7329947 |work=CBC}}</ref>. Instead, the BC Conservatives would work with local governments to use pre-zoning to increase density and supply in specific areas.
=== Social issues ===
The party has been described as a "more socially conservative" party than BC United. Rustad has often clashed on social issues with BC premier David Eby in the legislature. Rustad accused Eby of being an "authoritarian socialist" in 2023, while in 2024, Eby accused the Conservatives of embodying "the worst traits of American populism".<ref name="Meissner">{{cite news |last1=Meissner |first1=Dirk |date=12 December 2023 |title=B.C. Conservatives awaken from decades in dormancy ahead of 2024 vote |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10164091/bc-conservatives-2024-election/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Global News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BC Conservatives pull into 2nd in latest poll |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/12/04/bc-conservatives-poll/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CityNews |date=4 December 2023}}</ref>
The party opposes [[vaccine mandate]]s for health care workers, BC's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) education policies, and [[Supervised injection site|safe injection sites]] for [[Substance abuse|drug users]].<ref>{{cite news |title=BC Conservative Party leader stands by controversial social media post |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/10000679/bc-conservative-party-leader-stands-by-controversial-social-media-post |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=Global News |date=2 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vance |first1=Emily |title=Rise of B.C. Conservatives puts B.C. United on shaky ground — to the NDP's advantage, experts say |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-united-on-shaky-ground-as-bc-conservatives-rise-1.7047260 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CBC News |date=3 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=John Rustad on the rise of the B.C. Conservatives and what 2024 might hold |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-conservatives-year-in-review-1.7058581 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CBC News}}</ref> Regarding the latter, the party proposes that drug abusers be [[Involuntary commitment|involuntarily committed]] to [[drug rehabilitation]] centres.<ref name="CPBC_platform" />
=== Conspiracies ===
In the leadup to the 2024 election, the party dropped some candidates for their spreading of misinformation on vaccination and medical issues; candidates dropped include Stephen Malthouse, Jan Webb and Rachael Weber.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/08/27/loopy-whacky-or-a-big-blue-tent-growing-pains-for-rustads-b-c-conservatives/|title=‘Loopy’, ‘whacky’ or a ‘big blue tent’? Growing pains for Rustad’s B.C. Conservatives|author=Dirk Meissner|website=[[CityNews]]|date=September 24, 2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bains |first1=Meera |title=B.C. Conservatives drop candidate amid misinformation claims |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-conservative-candidate-dropped-1.7159260 |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Rob |title=BC Conservatives fire Oceanside-Ladysmith physician candidate over COVID extremist views |url=https://www.cheknews.ca/bc-conservatives-fire-oceanside-ladysmith-physician-candidate-over-covid-extremist-views-1197225/ |access-date=4 April 2024 |work=CHEK News |date=29 March 2024 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10772329/bc-eletion-vaccine-politics/|title=Party leaders need to ‘quickly depoliticize’ vaccines, B.C. doctor says|author=Simon Little|website=[[Global News]]|date=September 24, 2024|access-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref><ref name="m222">{{cite web | last=Weichel | first=Andrew | title=B.C. Conservative candidate ousted after spreading 5G conspiracy theories online | website=British Columbia | date=2024-09-03 | url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-conservative-candidate-who-posted-about-5g-genocide-ousted-1.7023465 | access-date=2024-09-27}}</ref> The party also dropped Damon Scrase for homophobic and racist comments, and Alexandra Wright after “careful consideration of various factors related to campaign performance and conduct”. [[BC United]] had implied the decision was because she had reposted a statement calling for a criminal investigation into Health Minister [[Adrian Dix]] and Provincial Health Officer Dr. [[Bonnie Henry]], while Wright herself believed it was due to a conflict she had with a local fruit packer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kelowna-Mission candidate believes she was removed due to conflict with fruit packer |url=https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelowna-mission-candidate-believes-she-was-removed-due-to-conflict-with-fruit-packer/it106142 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=INFOnews}}</ref>
Under Rustad's leadership, the party has been criticized for espousing [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]].<ref name=":22">{{cite web |author=Meissner |first=Dirk |date=2024-08-27 |title='Loopy', 'whacky' or a 'big blue tent'? Growing pains for Rustad’s B.C. Conservatives |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/08/27/loopy-whacky-or-a-big-blue-tent-growing-pains-for-rustads-b-c-conservatives/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926152152/https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/08/27/loopy-whacky-or-a-big-blue-tent-growing-pains-for-rustads-b-c-conservatives/ |archive-date=2024-09-26 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[CityNews]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Meissner |first=Dirk |date=2024-09-28 |title=NDP uses BC United research to mount attacks on ‘crackpot’ B.C. Conservatives |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-ndp-uses-bc-united-research-to-mount-attacks-on-crackpot-bc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003113601/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-ndp-uses-bc-united-research-to-mount-attacks-on-crackpot-bc/ |archive-date=2024-10-03 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |agency=[[Canadian Press]]}}</ref> These include Rustad's claims that children may be forced to eat insects, that [[Vaccination policy#Compulsory vaccination|vaccine mandates]] are about "shaping opinion and control on the population", and his comparison between sexual health education and the [[Residential school system|Canadian residential school system]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Johal |first=Rumneek |date=2024-09-24 |title=BC Conservative Leader John Rustad Warned Convoy Event That Kids Will Be Forced to ‘Eat Bugs’ |url=https://pressprogress.ca/bc-conservative-leader-john-rustad-warned-convoy-event-that-kids-will-be-forced-to-eat-bugs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002160436/https://pressprogress.ca/bc-conservative-leader-john-rustad-warned-convoy-event-that-kids-will-be-forced-to-eat-bugs/ |archive-date=2024-10-02 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[PressProgress]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Little |first=Simon |date=2024-09-24 |title=Party leaders need to 'quickly depoliticize' vaccines, B.C. doctor says |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10772329/bc-eletion-vaccine-politics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924224914/https://globalnews.ca/news/10772329/bc-eletion-vaccine-politics/ |archive-date=2024-09-24 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[Global News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Wyton |first=Moira |date=2023-10-01 |title=B.C. Tory leader defends post that appeared to liken teaching of sexuality and gender to residential schools |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-rustad-sept-30-tweet-1.6984159 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926205549/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-rustad-sept-30-tweet-1.6984159 |archive-date=2024-09-26 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[CBC News]] |quote=The leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia has defended his social media post that critics say appeared to compare teaching students about sexual orientation and gender identity to the genocide of Indigenous children in residential schools.}}</ref> A leaked dossier of opposition research revealed extensive support for conspiracy theories among party candidates.<ref name=":0" /> This included support for American conspiracy theories, such as the notion that [[Donald Trump]] won the [[2020 presidential election in the united states|2020 presidential election]].<ref name=":0" />
In the lead-up to the [[2024 British Columbia general election|2024 election]], the party dropped several candidates for spreading misinformation on vaccination and medical issues, including Stephen Malthouse, Jan Webb, and Rachael Weber.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bains |first1=Meera |date=2024-03-28 |title=B.C. Conservatives drop candidate amid misinformation claims |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-conservative-candidate-dropped-1.7159260 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402035915/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-conservative-candidate-dropped-1.7159260 |archive-date=2024-04-02 |access-date=2024-04-04 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Rob |date=2024-03-29 |title=BC Conservatives fire Oceanside-Ladysmith physician candidate over COVID extremist views |url=https://www.cheknews.ca/bc-conservatives-fire-oceanside-ladysmith-physician-candidate-over-covid-extremist-views-1197225/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404202331/https://www.cheknews.ca/bc-conservatives-fire-oceanside-ladysmith-physician-candidate-over-covid-extremist-views-1197225/ |archive-date=2024-04-04 |access-date=2024-04-04 |work=CHEK News |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name="m222">{{cite web |last=Weichel |first=Andrew |date=2024-09-03 |title=B.C. Conservative candidate ousted after spreading 5G conspiracy theories online |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-conservative-candidate-who-posted-about-5g-genocide-ousted-1.7023465 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904025026/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-conservative-candidate-who-posted-about-5g-genocide-ousted-1.7023465 |archive-date=2024-09-04 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[CTV News]] Vancouver}}</ref> The party also dropped Damon Scrase for homophobic and racist comments, and Alexandra Wright after “careful consideration of various factors related to campaign performance and conduct”.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Little |first=Simon |date=2024-05-29 |title=BC Conservative candidate resigns amid spotlight on recent social media posts |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10532335/bc-conservative-candidate-resign-social-media/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814222649/https://globalnews.ca/news/10532335/bc-conservative-candidate-resign-social-media/ |archive-date=2024-08-14 |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=[[Global News]]}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> [[BC United]] implied the latter decision was because Wright had re-posted a statement calling for a criminal investigation into Health Minister [[Adrian Dix]] and Provincial Health Officer Dr. [[Bonnie Henry]], while Wright herself believed it was due to a conflict she had with a local fruit packer.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Tomas |first=Jesse |date=2024-08-12 |title=Kelowna-Mission candidate believes she was removed due to conflict with fruit packer |url=https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelowna-mission-candidate-believes-she-was-removed-due-to-conflict-with-fruit-packer/it106142 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828215759/https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelowna-mission-candidate-believes-she-was-removed-due-to-conflict-with-fruit-packer/it106142 |archive-date=2024-08-28 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Info News Kamloops}}</ref>
Some of Rustad's comments about [[Indigenous peoples in Canada]] have caused controversy, including that the efforts of the [[Government of British Columbia|provincial government of British Columbia]] to recognize [[Indigenous land claims in Canada]] are "a direct assault on [[private property]]",<ref name="o591">{{cite web | last=Feinberg | first=Jennifer | title=B.C. Indigenous chiefs slam Conservative leader's take on reconciliation | website=Langley Advance Times | date=2024-09-06 | url=https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/news/bc-indigenous-chiefs-slam-conservative-leaders-take-on-reconciliation-7522622 | access-date=2024-09-27}}</ref> and a social media post that critics said likened [[LGBT sex education| teaching students about sexual orientation and gender identity]] to [[Canadian Indian residential school system|residential schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/john-rustad-sept-30-tweet-1.6984159|title=B.C. Tory leader defends post that appeared to liken teaching of sexuality and gender to residential schools|author=Moira Wyton|website=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=October 1, 2023|access-date=September 27, 2024 | quote=The leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia has defended his social media post that critics say appeared to compare teaching students about sexual orientation and gender identity to the genocide of Indigenous children in residential schools.}}</ref>
== Party leaders ==
''†'' denotes interim leader or vacancy
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!#
!Leader
!Tenure
!Highest position
|-
|''†''{{ref label|leader|a|a}}
|[[Charles Wilson (British Columbia politician)|Charles Wilson]]
|1900 – 1903
|Party leader
|-
|1
|[[Richard McBride]]
|1903 – December 1915
|Premier
|-
|2
|[[William John Bowser]]
|December 1915 – August 1924
|Premier
|-
|''†''
|[[Robert Henry Pooley]]
|August 1924 – November 1926
|Party leader (interim)
|-
|3
|[[Simon Fraser Tolmie]]
|November 1926 – May 1936
|Premier
|-
|''†''
|[[Frank Porter Patterson]]
|May 1936 – February 1938
|Party leader (interim)
|-
|4
|[[Royal Lethington Maitland]]
|September 1938 – March 1946
|Deputy premier
|-
|5
|[[Herbert Anscomb]]
|April 1946 – November 1952
|Deputy premier
|-
|6
|[[Deane Finlayson]]
|November 1952 – April 1961
|Party leader
|-
|''†''
|''Vacant''
|April 1961 – January 1963
|—
|-
|7
|[[Davie Fulton]]
|January 1963 – April 1965
|Party leader
|-
|''†''
|''Vacant''
|April 1965 – June 1969
|—
|-
|8
|[[John de Wolf (politician)|John de Wolf]]
|June 1969 – November 1971
|Party leader
|-
|9
|[[Derril Thomas Warren]]
|November 1971 – December 1973
|Party leader
|-
|10
|[[George Scott Wallace]]
|December 1973 – October 1977
|Party leader
|-
|11
|[[Victor Albert Stephens]]
|October 1977 – November 1980
|Party leader
|-
|12
|[[Brian Westwood]]
|November 1980 – March 1985
|Party leader
|-
|13
|[[Peter Pollen]]
|March 1985 – August 1986
|Party leader
|-
|''†''
|''Vacant''
|August 1986 – July 1991
|—
|-
|14
|[[Peter B. Macdonald]]
|July 1991 – March 1997
|Party leader
|-
|15
|[[David Mercier]]
|March 1997 – January 2001
|Party leader
|-
|16
|[[Susan Power (Canadian politician)|Susan Power]]
|2001 – 2003
|Party leader
|-
|17
|[[Kenneth Edgar King]]
|2003 – 2004
|Party leader
|-
|18
|[[Barry Edward Chilton]]
|2004 – 2005
|Party leader
|-
|19
|[[Wilf Hanni]]
|2005 – 2009
|Party leader
|-
|''†''
|''Vacant''
|2009 – May 2011
|—
|-
|20
|[[John Cummins (Canadian politician)|John Cummins]]
|May 2011 – July 2013
|Party leader
|-
|''†''
|''Vacant''
|July 2013 – April 2014
|—
|-
|21
|[[Dan Brooks (Canadian politician)|Dan Brooks]]
|April 2014 – February 2016{{ref label|tenure|b|b}}
|Party leader
|-
|''†''
|''Vacant''
|February 2016 – October 2017
|—
|-
|''†''
|[[Scott Anderson (Canadian politician)|Scott Anderson]]
|October 4, 2017 – April 8, 2019
|Party leader (interim)
|-
|22
|[[Trevor Bolin]]
|April 8, 2019 – March 31, 2023
|Party leader
|-
|23
|[[John Rustad]]
|March 31, 2023 – present
|Party leader
|}
=== LeadersNotes ===
: {{note label|leader|a|a}} Wilson served as leader before the province officially allowed party politics.<ref name="leaders" />
* [[Charles Wilson (British Columbia politician)|Charles Wilson]], March 1900 – 1903<ref name="leaders">Legislative Library of British Columbia, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110220034808/http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/partyleaders.pdf Party Leaders in British Columbia 1900–]'', 2000, updated 2005</ref>
: {{note label|tenure|b|b}} After resigning as leader in February 2016, Brooks ran again for leadership in September 2016; although he was elected, he was removed the following month when the party executive ruled that his nomination meeting had lacked quorum.<ref name=":9" />
* [[Richard McBride]], 1903 – December 1915
* [[William John Bowser]], December 1915 – August 1924
* [[Robert Henry Pooley]], August 1924 – November 1926 (interim)
* [[Simon Fraser Tolmie]], November 1926 – May 1936
* [[Frank Porter Patterson]], May – July 1936 (interim), July 1936 – February 10, 1938
* [[Royal Lethington Maitland]], September 1938 – March 28, 1946
* [[Herbert Anscomb]], April 1946 – November 1952
* [[Deane Finlayson]], November 1952 – April 1961
* ''vacant'', April 1961 – January 1963
* [[Davie Fulton]], January 1963 – April 1965
* ''vacant'', April 1965 – June 1969
* [[John Anthony St. Etienne de Wolf]], June 1969 – November 1971
* Derril Thomas Warren, November 1971 – December 1973
* [[George Scott Wallace]], December 1973 – October 1977
* [[Victor Albert Stephens]], October 1977 – November 1980
* Brian Westwood, November 1980 – March 1985
* [[Peter Pollen]], March 1985 – August 1986
* ''vacant'', August 1986 – July 1991
* Peter B. Macdonald, July 1991 – March 1997
* [[David Maurice Mercier]], March 1997 – January 2001
* Susan Power, January 2001 – 2003
* Kenneth Edgar King, 2003–2004
* Barry Edward Chilton, 2004 – September 2005
* [[Wilf Hanni]], September 2005 – June 2009
* ''vacant'', June 2009 – May 2011
* [[John Cummins (Canadian politician)|John Cummins]], May 2011 – July 18, 2013
* ''vacant'', July 18, 2013 – April 12, 2014
* Dan Brooks, April 12, 2014 – February 20, 2016
* ''vacant'', February 20, 2016 – September 17, 2016
* Dan Brooks, September 17, 2016 – October 28, 2016
* ''vacant'', October 28, 2016 – October 4, 2017
* Scott Anderson, October 4, 2017 – April 8, 2019 (interim)
* [[Trevor Bolin]], April 8, 2019 – March 3, 2023; March 3, 2023 – March 31, 2023 (interim)
* [[John Rustad]], March 31, 2023 – present
== Election results ==
Line 215 ⟶ 329:
|-
![[1903 British Columbia general election|1903]]
| rowspan="4" | [[Richard McBride]]
|41
|27,913
Line 252 ⟶ 366:
|-
![[1916 British Columbia general election|1916]]
| rowspan="3" | [[William John Bowser]]
|46
|72,842
Line 290 ⟶ 404:
|-
![[1933 British Columbia general election|1933]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | ''didDid not contest''
|{{Composition bar|0|47|#9999FF}}
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{TableTBA|N/A}}
Line 306 ⟶ 420:
|-
![[1941 British Columbia general election|1941]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Royal Lethington Maitland]]
|42
|140,282
Line 325 ⟶ 439:
|-
![[1949 British Columbia general election|1949]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Herbert Anscomb]]
|48
|428,773
Line 344 ⟶ 458:
|-
![[1953 British Columbia general election|1953]]{{efn|name=alternative}}
| rowspan="3" | [[Deane Finlayson]]
|39
|40,780
Line 382 ⟶ 496:
|-
![[1966 British Columbia general election|1966]]
| ''vacantVacant''
|3
|1,409
Line 442 ⟶ 556:
|-
![[1986 British Columbia general election|1986]]
|''vacantVacant''
|12
|14,074
Line 452 ⟶ 566:
|-
![[1991 British Columbia general election|1991]]
| rowspan="2" | Peter B. Macdonald
|4
|426
Line 511 ⟶ 625:
|-
![[2017 British Columbia general election|2017]]
| ''vacantVacant''
|10
|10,421
Line 540 ⟶ 654:
|TBD
|}
=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}
== See also ==
Line 546 ⟶ 663:
* [[List of British Columbia premiers]]
* [[List of British Columbia general elections]]
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-conservative-leader-john-cummins-to-quit/article13309260/ B.C. Conservative Leader John Cummins resigns]
== External links ==