Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad delivered a campaign-style stump speech touching on issues and priorities alongside local MLAs in front of a crowd of supporters at a town hall in Cranbrook on Feb. 6.
Rustad's speech hit on subjects that included healthcare, the B.C. NDP's proposed changes to the Land Act, the toxic drug crisis, responding to Trump tariffs, breaking down inter-provincial trade barriers and highlighting what he called "irregularities" stemming from the recent provincial election.
Kootenay-Rockies MLA Pete Davis introduced Rustad at the beginning of the event, while Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis provided some closing remarks.
In front of roughly 100 supporters at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort, Rustad addressed a number of broad topical issues.
He railed against the administrative and bureaucratic state of government, particularly in healthcare, and environmental regulatory permitting, particularly for the development of new mines and natural resource projects.
Rustad also highlighted the increasing toxicity of fentanyl and its availability in the province, while also condemning prescribed safe supply that is being trafficked by organized crime, following a leaked report from the Ministry of Health.
The fentanyl issue ties into tariffs that were threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, who specifically signed out British Columbia when he briefly implemented the the measures, shortly before pausing them for 30 days after a call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Rustad also raised concerns about the long-term impacts of a trade war with the U.S., particularly on energy as B.C. imports power and jet fuel, while the tourism economy is largely reliant on the U.S.
In a media scrum following the event, Rustad responded to Trump's attack on Canada's sovereignty and widely reported desire to make Canada the 51st state of America.
"I look at it from this way — who wouldn't want the best country in the world? Canada's the best country in the world, who wouldn't want to have it as part of their jurisdiction? But you know what? We're not for sale. I'm a proud Canadian. I want to stay a proud Canadian," Rustad said.
"But my perspective is, it should be a wake-up call for all of us in Canada."
Rustad advocated for the removal of inter-provincial trade barriers and ensuring that natural resources can get to tide water ports in order to be shipped to overseas markets instead of being reliant on the U.S.
Trump's plan for 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian imports (10 per cent for oil and gas) were put on a 30-day pause following a phone call with Trudeau, where the latter promised to implement previously committed $1.3 billion in funding and resources for border security among other initiatives.
Rustad admitted that the "goalposts" for Trump's demands may change — from the fentanyl issue to something else — once the 30-day tariff pause is up.
"I'm fully expecting them to change, that's how Donald Trump negotiates," Rustad said.
However, Rustad noted that securing B.C. shipping ports to crack down on the fentanyl crisis isn't just about appeasing Trump.
"Dealing with fentanyl at our borders should be something we want to do for British Columbians and Canadians," Rustad said. "More than 16,000 people have died from overdoses (since 2016). Why aren't we taking this seriously and actually dealing with our ports?"
Rustad suggested that both Trudeau and B.C. Premier David Eby want a trade war with the United States in order to paint Trump as the enemy.
"They are looking for an enemy to blame for their failures of their government and their budgeting. So they don't mind the idea of that."
During his presentation, Rustad also talked up the Conservative's 10-point plan in response to the threat of tariffs, some of which include immediately negotiating a Canada-wide Free Trade Agreement, advancing phase two of LNG Canada's Kitimat LNG project, immediately advancing 17 mine projects that are effectively "ready to go" and eliminate the carbon tax.
The B.C. NDP government recently announced that it was fast tracking 10 critical minerals, energy, and clean energy projects.
Legislature business is set to get underway in under two weeks, and Rustad said he is committed to bringing down the government as soon as possible in order to force a new election.
Currently, the B.C. NDP barely hold a majority, with 47 seats, while the B.C. Conservatives hold 44 seats and the B.C. Green Party hold two seats.
"We are going to look for every possible opportunity to take these guys down the first chance we get and get to an election so we can get a government in place that understands how things should work and get our economy going," Rustad said.
He concluded his presentation talking about "irregularities" in the last election, particularly in Surrey-Guildford — which was decided in favour of the B.C. NDP by only 22 votes — and called for an independent review of the provincial election results and Elections BC.
Following his speech, the floor opened up for questions from the crowd, which included concerns over potential Indigenous land-use control over private property through the proposed Land Act changes, as well as how the provincial Conservatives can support the federal Conservatives in ousting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party in Ottawa.
Additional questions included what the B.C. Conservatives can do to intervene in support of a West Kootenay farm being ordered to cull up to 400 ostriches after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered the action in response to the detection of avian flu, while another question centred on ways to push back against the "globalist agenda."
