Conservative Leader John Rustad speaks during a campaign rally in Surrey B.C., on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

By The Canadian Press

Rustad says ‘dirty trick’ by BC United may have cost Conservatives election victory

Apr 9, 2026 | 11:44 AM

Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad says a “dirty trick” by the BC United Party ahead of the 2024 provincial election suppressed voter turnout and may have cost the Conservatives victory.

Rustad says in a post on social media platform X that BC United was “sabotaging” his party by secretly funding the firejohnrustad.ca website that called for him to be ousted.

Elections BC revealed this week that its investigators found the website was not operated by disgruntled Conservatives, as it claimed, but was orchestrated by BC United campaign officials, who hired an Alberta political operative’s firm called Sovereign North Strategies Inc.

The elections watchdog fined BC United $4,500 for “transmitting a false statement to affect election results” related to the website and a mail out.

Rustad says BC United’s strategy “actively worked to elect the NDP,” and the Conservatives were at the time just one seat short of forming government.

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Elections BC says evidence confirms the website and mail out were organized by BC United’s campaign manager, who it did not name, but who was Mark Werner, now managing the campaign of Conservative leadership contender Peter Milobar.

The website was set up in August 2024, before BC United folded its campaign and leader Kevin Falcon called for voters to support Rustad’s Conservatives instead.

Rustad also does not name Werner, but says Milobar’s campaign manager was “in the middle of this betrayal.”

“The BC Conservatives need leadership that puts this province first, before disgusting old-guard politics,” Rustad says.

“Remember this when choosing your next leader for the BC Conservatives.”

Rustad also singles out BC United’s former vice-president Caroline Elliott, now vying for the Conservative leadership, saying she “wants to take over” the party. Elliott is Falcon’s sister-in-law.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2026.

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Rustad says ‘dirty trick’ by BC United may have cost Conservatives election victory

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