Elenore Sturko speaks out after exit from B.C. Conservative caucus, calls for other members to push leader out

Outspoken MLA Elenore Sturko says she was blindsided when Conservative Leader John Rustad kicked her out of caucus Monday.

Elenore Sturko moved into her new office in the basement of the B.C. legislature as an independent after getting kicked out of the B.C. Conservative caucus Monday evening.

“It’s an emotional roller-coaster,” the Surrey-Cloverdale MLA said, reflecting on her state of mind.

The bombshell happened just before a tense caucus meeting Monday to address party Leader John Rustad and the results of a leadership review. He won 70 per cent support, but faces ongoing questions about inappropriate party membership signups.

Sturko says she’s not sure what the future holds for her, including whether she’d form a new party.

“I wish I had a crystal ball, and then I would know and wouldn’t feel so anxious,” she said.

She says she’s encouraging her now former colleagues to boot Rustad out.

“Think about who you want to lead this party into the next election and do what you need to do to ensure the party has the strongest possible leadership,” she said.

Former colleagues generally toed the party line Tuesday. Surrey—White Rock MLA Trevor Halford says Sturko is his friend, but he supports Rustad as leader.

“British Columbians are really depending on us to hold this government account, and making sure we have a strong voice in there,” he said, referring to the B.C.legislature, which returns for the fall session on Oct. 6.

But below the surface, it’s not all smooth sailing. One caucus member told CTV News that as many as nine MLA’s want Rustad removed as leader. The member spoke out at Monday night’s meeting – opposing the removal of Sturko – and told CTV News they are seriously thinking abut leaving the party.

“It’s hard to say with regards to what’s happened,” responded Rustad, when asked Tuesday whether he thought there would be members leaving his caucus after Sturko’s ejection.

“Elenore Sturko, by her own admission, was going out trying to recruit people to try to force me to resign,” he added.

The tensions in the party echo those BC United and its leader Kevin Falcon experienced while trying to keep a centre-right party intact.

“The vehicle that carries the right has to be a coalition. That coalition is fractious, they don’t necessarily get along,” observes political scientist Hamish Telford.