Rustad wonders if he should have made 'blackmail' claim after Opposition caucus meets

British Columbia Opposition Leader John Rustad said he wonders whether he should have used the word "blackmail" to describe the alleged behaviour of former B.C. Conservatives he's accused of trying to take over the party.

But he said he didn't exaggerate the claims and doesn't regret writing a letter to his caucus that contained the allegations that are now being examined by police.

Rustad was speaking Wednesday after a Conservative caucus meeting in Surrey, where most of his party's legislators stood behind him as he addressed reporters.

"I do think about whether I should have used the word 'blackmail.' That was how staff described it to me," Rustad said, adding it was "unfortunate" the situation had become "very politicized."

"I don't want to say a whole lot more because I'm trying to protect our staff."

Former Liberal premier Gordon Campbell also attended the caucus meeting. Rustad said Campbell was brought in to talk to legislators about how he handled differences in his own caucus, and how the party's situation differs today.

"There's nothing like drawing on some experience," Rustad said.

Rustad has faced questions over his handling of allegations that three former Conservative members of the legislative assembly tried to blackmail legislators and staff.

He said this week that a person who relayed the claims to him did not want to provide a statement in a police investigation.

The three former Conservative MLAs, Dallas Brodie, Tara Armstrong and Jordan Kealy, have all denied the accusations. They said the allegations were intended to distract from questions about Rustad's leadership.

Rustad's leadership is currently under a review that is expected to last until December, with individual riding associations voting on whether he should stay on. 

The constitution approved at the party's most recent annual general meeting in Nanaimo says a leader can only be removed from office after voluntary resignation, death, incapacity or in a leadership review by the membership.

Rustad said Wednesday that the review was not a unique situation, and while he would "love to have 100 per cent" support, he does not have a particular number in mind beyond the 50 per cent plus one benchmark set out in the party's constitution.

University of British Columbia political science lecturer Stewart Prest said he expects MLAs to let that process play out for now.

But Prest said the riding-by-riding vote also created the "possibility of an additional drip, drip effect" where Rustad had to continually defend his record.

"There's not one particular way this rule may play out, but I would think, if I were Mr. Rustad, I would not be looking forward to the summer," Prest said. 

He added it is not clear whether any future leadership challenger to Rustad would come from the "populist" or moderate wings of the party. 

"We are already hearing rumblings of challenges from both camps, so I don't know if it is an either-or situation," Prest said. 

He said that the recent emergence of the One BC party, launched by Brodie and Armstrong, speaks to a growing unwillingness among populists to compromise.

"So I think that is likely to continue," Prest said.

As for the moderate camp, its members would focus on the question of whether Rustad can win government, Prest said. 

"If there isn't a sense that Mr. Rustad can pull everyone together, they too will join the calls for him to step aside and let someone else try," Prest said. 

Premier David Eby said during his weekly news conference that the Opposition faces "significant challenges" regardless of who leads them, saying it has "far-right politics" that are extreme.

"The Conservatives will continue to focus on what appears to be important to them, which is mostly the Conservatives," Eby said.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito