John Rustad

John Rustad MLA (born 1963) is a Canadian politician who is the current leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. He first became a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Canadian province of British Columbia in 2005, representing Prince George–Omineca.[2] He currently represents the constituency of Nechako Lakes, which he has held since the 2009 election.[3]

John Rustad
MLA
Rustad in 2016
Leader of Conservative Party of British Columbia
Assumed office
March 31, 2023
Preceded byTrevor Bolin
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
In office
June 10, 2013 – July 18, 2017
PremierChristy Clark
Preceded byIda Chong
Succeeded byScott Fraser
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Nechako Lakes
(Prince George-Omineca; 2005–2009)
Assumed office
May 17, 2005
Preceded byPaul Nettleton
Personal details
Born1962/1963 (age 59–60)
Prince George, British Columbia, Canada[1]
Political partyBC Conservative (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		BC Liberal (2005–2022)
Independent (2022–2023)

He was first elected in 2005 representing the riding of Prince George-Omineca, which was dissolved in 2009 and replaced by the current Nechako Lakes riding.[3] Rustad was re-elected to represent the riding in 2013 and was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation on June 10, 2013 by Premier Christy Clark. He previously served as Parliamentary Secretary for Forestry to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and as a member of the Environment and Land Use Committee, Legislative Review Committee, Treasury Board, Select Standing Committee on Education, Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Select Standing Committee on Health.

Rustad was born and raised in Prince George and has lived all of his life in northern B.C. He grew up enjoying fishing and hunting. In 2009, he and his wife Kim moved to Cluculz Lake.

On August 18, 2022, Rustad was removed from the BC Liberal caucus by leader Kevin Falcon after Rustad suggested online that carbon dioxide emissions were not contributing to climate change.[4]

On February 16, 2023, Rustad joined the BC Conservative Party, giving the party representation in the Legislature. Rustad cited "irreconcilable differences" with Falcon in explaining his party change.[5]

On March 23, 2023, Rustad announced that he was running to be the leader of the BC Conservatives.[6] Rustad was acclaimed as the leader of the Conservatives on March 31, 2023, succeeding Trevor Bolin.[7]

Electoral record
2020 British Columbia general election: Nechako Lakes
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJohn Rustad4,61152.24−2.15$17,423.82
New DemocraticAnne Marie Sam3,03134.34+4.53$9,236.20
Christian HeritageDan Stuart4134.68–$991.53
LibertarianJon Rempel4034.57+0.32$0.00
IndependentMargo Maley3684.17–$1,280.76
Total valid votes 8,826100.00–
Total rejected ballots   
Turnout   
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC[8][9]
2017 British Columbia general election: Nechako Lakes
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJohn Rustad5,30754.39+0.6$43,487
New DemocraticAnne Marie Sam2,90929.81+2.16$14,578
GreenDouglas Norman Gook8789.00+3.85$163
LibertarianJon Rempel4384.49–$3,100
IndependentAl Trampuh2262.31–
Total valid votes 9,758100.00
Total rejected ballots 670.68
Turnout 9,82559.06
Registered voters 16,636
Source: Elections BC[10]
2013 British Columbia general election: Nechako Lakes
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJohn Rustad5,32453.79–1.97$75,052
New DemocraticSussanne Skidmore-Hewlett2,73727.65–7.64$56,108
ConservativeDan Brooks1,25312.66–$52,518
GreenColin Hamm5105.15–1.15$1,599
AdvocationalBeverly Bird740.75–$3,009
Total valid votes 9,898100.0  
Total rejected ballots 420.42
Turnout 9,94058.46
Liberal hold Swing +2.84
Source: Elections BC[11]
2009 British Columbia general election: Nechako Lakes
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
LiberalJohn Rustad4,94955.76$60,522
New DemocraticByron Goerz3,13335.29$7,480
GreenGerard Riley5596.30$350
RefederationMike Summers2352.65$1,110
Total valid votes 8,87699.25
Total rejected ballots 670.75
Turnout 8,94354.80
Source: Elections BC[12]
2005 British Columbia general election: Prince George–Omineca
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
LiberalJohn Rustad8,62251.71$87,794
New DemocraticChuck Fraser6,18037.06$64,805
GreenAndrej J. DeWolf1,3938.35$2,139
Democratic ReformErle Martz4792.87$983
Total valid votes 16,674 100
Total rejected ballots 91 0.55
Turnout 16,765 64.22


References
  1. John Rustad to run in Nechako Lakes riding Anonymous. The Caledonia Courier [Fort St. James, B.C] 09 Apr 2008: 3.
  2. Rustad making another effort to sit as school board trustee: [Final Edition] Prince George Citizen [Prince George, B.C] 27 Sep 2002: 3.
  3. John Rustad Official Website
  4. "B.C. Liberal leader boots John Rustad from caucus over climate change denial". vancouversun. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  5. "Ousted B.C. Liberal MLA John Rustad joins B.C. Conservatives". vancouversun. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  6. Petersen, Hanna (March 23, 2023). "MLA John Rustad running for BC Conservative Party leadership". Prince George Citizen. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  7. Depner, Wolf (March 31, 2023). "New BC Conservative leader John Rustad says nobody will 'outwork' him - Prince Rupert Northern View". The Northern View. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  8. "Statement of Votes – 42nd Provincial General Election – October 24, 2020" (PDF). Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  9. "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. "Statement of Votes – 41st Provincial General Election – May 9, 2017" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  11. "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  12. "Nechako Lakes - 2009 Voting results by voting area" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
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