Conservative Party of British Columbia: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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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.

While the BC Conservatives have traditionally been a right-wing free enterprise party, in recent years the party has been criticized for promoting far-right and conspiratorial views.<ref name=":2">{{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>

== History ==

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=== Wilderness years ===

Between the [[1956 British Columbia general election|1956]] and [[1972 British Columbia general election|1972]] elections, the Tories won no seats in the Legislature, and the party began to dwindle. [[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 eleven percent 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]]~~. It was not until 1971, following de Wolf's ouster as leader by [[Derrill Thomas Warren]], that some hope returned~~.

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~~the party's first MLA in fifteen years. The ~~attention translated~~PCs ~~into~~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.

Wallace was elected leader of the party in 1973, but in ~~the same year~~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.

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]].

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=== Twenty first century revival efforts ===

[[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 ~~was able to field~~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. ~~The~~In ~~re-emergence~~the aftermath of the ~~party~~election, ~~despite~~Hanni ~~not~~resigned ~~coming~~as ~~close~~party toleader, ~~winning~~along ~~any~~with ~~seats~~eleven directors and party officials, ~~sparked~~citing ~~renewed~~infighting.<ref>{{Cite ~~interest~~news in|last=Hui ~~the~~|first=Stephen ~~Conservatives,~~|date=2009-06-30 ~~who~~|title=B.C. ~~began~~Conservative toParty ~~poll~~leader ~~between~~Wilf ~~five~~Hanni ~~and~~resigns ~~ten~~over ~~percent~~infighting in|url=https://www.straight.com/article-238170/bc-conservative-party-leader-wilf-hanni-resigns-over-infighting ~~polls~~|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>

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> At the end of 2010, 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|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>

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, there was "probably 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>

The Conservatives held a leadership convention on May 28, 2011, and 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> After dropping into single digits after Liberal premier [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]]'s resignation in March 2011, the Conservatives consistently [[2013 British Columbia general election#Opinion polls|polled]] above ten percent in the last half of 2011, reaching as high as twenty three 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>

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 the run-up to the [[2013 British Columbia general election|2013 election]], the party was ~~only~~ 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> ~~Despite high hopes, the~~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 ~~strongest~~annual ~~result~~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 inre-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=[[~~Peace~~Canadian ~~River~~Broadcasting ~~South~~Corporation|CBC]] |date=September 17, ~~where~~2016 ~~candidate~~|access-date=September ~~Kurt~~19, ~~Peats~~2016}}</ref> ~~came~~On inOctober ~~second~~28, ~~place~~2016, ~~with~~the ~~27.2~~party's ~~percent~~executive ofboard removed Brooks from the ~~vote;~~leadership ~~all~~after ~~other~~ruling ~~candidates~~that ~~finished~~the nomeeting ~~higher~~that ~~than~~approved his candidacy for the leadership convention ~~third~~lacked ~~place~~quorum. ~~Cummins~~Brooks ~~was~~criticized ~~only~~the ~~able~~decision, tostating ~~earn~~that 11the executive were "like praying mantises, they eat their leaders".<ref name=":9">{{cite ~~percent~~news ~~support~~|date=2016-10-28 in|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=[[~~Langley~~The ~~(provincial~~Globe ~~electoral~~and ~~district)|Langley~~Mail]] ~~constituency.~~|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]}}</ref>

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, 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> 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> 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 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>

The party ~~was~~did not ~~able to~~ 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> The party still managed an average of more than a thousand votes per riding contested, with no candidate receiving less than two 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. In September 2017, following the party's ~~AGM~~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>

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>

During the [[2022 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election|BC Liberal leadership race]] in 2022, conservative commentator Aaron Gunn ~~entered~~was ~~the~~disqualified ~~race. However,~~by the BCparty, ~~Liberal~~which ~~Party disqualified Gunn, describing~~described his views as "inconsistent" with ~~the party's~~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 ~~young~~ right-wing ~~advocates~~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.

=== John Rustad leadership (2023–present) ===

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== Ideology and political positions ==

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 ~~consequently~~ been labeled right-wing.<ref name=":57" /><ref name=":75" /><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 ===

Line 140 ⟶ 132:

=== Conspiracies ===

Under Rustad's leadership, the party has been ~~described~~criticized asfor espousing [[~~racism]],~~Conspiracy ~~anti-[[Indigenous peoples in Canada~~theory|~~Indigenous~~conspiracy theories]].<ref ~~views,~~name=":22">{{cite ~~opposition~~web to|author=Meissner ~~[[LGBTQ~~|first=Dirk ~~rights in Canada~~|~~LGBTQ~~date=2024-08-27 ~~rights]]~~|title='Loopy', ~~and~~'whacky' or a ~~disregard~~'big ~~for~~blue ~~[[Human~~tent'? ~~rights~~Growing inpains ~~Canada|human~~for ~~rights]],~~Rustad’s ~~and~~B.C. ~~has~~Conservatives ~~been~~|url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/08/27/loopy-whacky-or-a-big-blue-tent-growing-pains-for-rustads-b-c-conservatives/ ~~called~~|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/ ~~"conspiracy~~|archive-date=2024-09-26 ~~party", with many of the party's candidates espousing various~~|access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[~~Conspiracy~~CityNews]] ~~theory~~|~~conspiracy~~agency=[[The ~~theories~~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 "[[Cell site|cellphone towers]] cause [[COVID-19]] and are [[Genocide|genocidal]] [[Weapon|weapons]]", and~~ that [[Vaccination policy#Compulsory vaccination|vaccine mandates]] are about "shaping opinion and control on the population"~~.<ref~~, ~~name=":2"~~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> Candidates have expressed support for American conspiracy theories, including that [[Donald Trump]] won the [[2020 presidential election in the united states|2020 presidential election]].<ref name=":0" /> Candidates have espoused 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]].<ref name=":2" /><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> ~~Anti-[[Indigenous~~A ~~peoples~~leaked indossier ~~Canada|Indigenous]]~~of ~~and~~opposition ~~[[Racism|racist]]~~research ~~views~~revealed ~~include~~extensive ~~asserting~~support ~~that~~for ~~[[Indigenous~~conspiracy ~~peoples~~theories inamong ~~Canada]]~~party candidates.<ref name=":0"~~commit~~ ~~more~~/> ~~[[Crime|crimes]]...~~This ~~Like~~included ~~[[African~~support ~~Americans|Black~~for ~~people~~American inconspiracy ~~the~~theories, ~~US]]"~~such ~~and that~~as the ~~efforts~~notion ~~of the~~that [[~~Government~~Donald ~~of British Columbia|provincial government of British Columbia~~Trump]] towon ~~recognize~~the [[~~Indigenous~~2020 ~~land~~presidential ~~claims~~election in ~~Canada|Indigenous~~the ~~land~~united ~~claims]]~~states|2020 ~~are~~presidential ~~"a direct assault on [[private property~~election]]".<ref name="~~o591~~:0"~~>{{cite~~ ~~web |last=Feinberg |first=Jennifer |date=2024-09-06 |title=B.C. Indigenous chiefs slam Conservative leader's take on reconciliation |url=https:~~//www.langleyadvancetimes.com/news/bc-indigenous-chiefs-slam-conservative-leaders-take-on-reconciliation-7522622 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004182712/https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/news/bc-indigenous-chiefs-slam-conservative-leaders-take-on-reconciliation-7522622 |archive-date=2024-10-04 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Langley Advance Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=First Nations Leadership Council |date=2024-09-05 |title=John Rustad’s Interview with Jordan Peterson Another Example of BC Conservatives Taking Aim at Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation |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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906042307/https://www.ubcic.bc.ca/john_rustad_s_interview_with_jordan_peterson_another_example_of_bc_conservatives_taking_aim_at_indigenous_rights_and_reconciliation |archive-date=2024-09-06 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=[[Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs]]}}</ref>

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>

== ~~Leaders~~Party leaders ==

''†'' denotes interim leader or vacancy

* [[Charles Wilson (British Columbia politician)|Charles Wilson]], March 1900 – 1903

{| class="wikitable"

* [[Richard McBride]], 1903 – December 1915

* [[William John Bowser]], December 1915 – August 1924

* [[Robert Henry Pooley]], August 1924 – November 1926 (interim)

!Leader

* [[Simon Fraser Tolmie]], November 1926 – May 1936

!Tenure

* [[Frank Porter Patterson]], May – July 1936 (interim), July 1936 – February 10, 1938

!Highest position

* [[Royal Lethington Maitland]], September 1938 – March 28, 1946

* [[Herbert Anscomb]], April 1946 – November 1952

|''†''{{ref label|leader|a|a}}

* [[Deane Finlayson]], November 1952 – April 1961

|[[Charles Wilson (British Columbia politician)|Charles Wilson]]

* ''vacant'', April 1961 – January 1963

|1900 – 1903

* [[Davie Fulton]], January 1963 – April 1965

|Party leader

* ''vacant'', April 1965 – June 1969

* [[John Anthony St. Etienne de Wolf]], June 1969 – November 1971

* Derril Thomas Warren, November 1971 – December 1973

|[[Richard McBride]]

* [[George Scott Wallace]], December 1973 – October 1977

|1903 – December 1915

* [[Victor Albert Stephens]], October 1977 – November 1980

|Premier

* Brian Westwood, November 1980 – March 1985

* [[Peter Pollen]], March 1985 – August 1986

* ''vacant'', August 1986 – July 1991

|[[William John Bowser]]

* Peter B. Macdonald, July 1991 – March 1997

|December 1915 – August 1924

* [[David Maurice Mercier]], March 1997 – January 2001

|Premier

* Susan Power, January 2001 – 2003

* Kenneth Edgar King, 2003–2004

|''†''

* Barry Edward Chilton, 2004 – September 2005

|[[Robert Henry Pooley]]

* [[Wilf Hanni]], September 2005 – June 2009

|August 1924 – November 1926

* ''vacant'', June 2009 – May 2011

|Party leader (interim)

* [[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

|[[Simon Fraser Tolmie]]

* ''vacant'', February 20, 2016 – September 17, 2016

|November 1926 – May 1936

* Dan Brooks, September 17, 2016 – October 28, 2016

|Premier

* ''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)

|[[Frank Porter Patterson]]

* [[John Rustad]], March 31, 2023 – present

|May 1936 – February 1938

|Party leader (interim)

|[[Royal Lethington Maitland]]

|September 1938 – March 1946

|Deputy premier

|[[Herbert Anscomb]]

|April 1946 – November 1952

|Deputy premier

|[[Deane Finlayson]]

|November 1952 – April 1961

|Party leader

|''†''

|''Vacant''

|April 1961 – January 1963

|—

|[[Davie Fulton]]

|January 1963 – April 1965

|Party leader

|''†''

|''Vacant''

|April 1965 – June 1969

|—

|[[John de Wolf (politician)|John de Wolf]]

|June 1969 – November 1971

|Party leader

|[[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

=== Notes ===

: {{note label|leader|a|a}} Wilson served as leader before the province officially allowed party politics.<ref name="leaders" />

: {{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" />

== Election results ==

Line 270 ⟶ 404:

![[1933 British Columbia general election|1933]]

| colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | ''~~did~~Did not contest''

|{{Composition bar|0|47|#9999FF}}

| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |{{TableTBA|N/A}}

Line 362 ⟶ 496:

![[1966 British Columbia general election|1966]]

| ''~~vacant~~Vacant''

|1,409

Line 422 ⟶ 556:

![[1986 British Columbia general election|1986]]

|''~~vacant~~Vacant''

|12

|14,074

Line 491 ⟶ 625:

![[2017 British Columbia general election|2017]]

| ''~~vacant~~Vacant''

|10

|10,421

Line 520 ⟶ 654:

|TBD

=== Notes ===

== See also ==

Line 525 ⟶ 663:

* [[List of British Columbia premiers]]

* [[List of British Columbia general elections]]

~~== Notes ==~~

~~{{Notelist}}~~

== References ==

* [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-conservative-leader-john-cummins-to-quit/article13309260/ B.C. Conservative Leader John Cummins resigns]

== External links ==