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BC Conservative schism: Two MLA’s join ousted AG critic and leave caucus

Paul James
Mar 7, 2025 | 9:59 PM


BC Conservative schism: Two MLA's join ousted AG critic and leave caucus

Link to MLA Jordan Kealy's page on BC Conservative website/via Conservativebc.ca

In the fallout from the sacking of the Party’s Attorney General critic, at least two members of the BC Conservative caucus have decided to pull their support and leave the caucus.

Peace River-North MLA Jordan Kealy has now been joined by Tara Armstrong, the MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream.

Kealy was the first out of the gate, delivering a blistering message to his former party leader on Facebook on Friday afternoon:

“On Thursday, I witnessed firsthand just how toxic the BC Conservative Party has become,” stated Kealy in his post.  “Some of the worst bullies sit in the legislature, and the BC Conservatives are no exception.”

“I stood up for a fellow MLA who was harassed for speaking the truth, only to become a target myself. The party has created an environment where some so-called “Conservatives” would rather throw cheap insults than deal with facts,” he continued.  “There were no apologies, no accountability, and I refuse to stand with those who either enable or ignore that kind of behavior.”

“This is just the start of a new path and a new party that respects Conservative values!!!” Kealy concluded.

With the apparent launch of a new party, or political movement, Armstrong would follow suit a short time later on Friday evening.

“I’m leaving the Conservative Party of BC,” proclaimed Armstrong on social media on Friday evening.  “British Columbia voted for me and other BC Conservative MLAs because we promised to stand up for them and for what is right, no matter the cost.
“But under John Rustad’s leadership, one compromise after another has transformed that party into something I no longer recognize,” she added.  “He’s abandoned the truth and his moral compass in a quest for power. And the reality is, he will end up with neither.”
“No one was surprised when David Eby attacked Dallas Brodie for telling the truth about Kamloops. But John Rustad’s cowardly decision to stab her in the back revealed just how corrupt he has become,” continued Armstrong.
“And, as I will be sharing further in the coming days, this betrayal was just the tip of the iceberg. British Columbia faces unprecedented dangers,” she stated.  “Our economy is soaked in debt. Our businesses are being strangled by taxes, tariffs, and hostile interests within the reconciliation industry. It is time we break free.”
“We have never needed courage and truth more than we do today. And we have never needed each other more either,” she said.  “I am here to serve my community and all British Columbians.”

This comes as the fallout from BC Conservative leader John Rustad ousting AG critic Dallas Broadie earlier in the day, after she reportedly challenged the party to dismiss her during a caucus meeting, according to an online post from Rustad.

It’s not clear at this point whether there will be more defections.

Reports of discord within the BC Conservative caucus began to emerge as the rift between Brodie and Rustad first began to become public ahead of a Party policy convention in Nanaimo this past weekend.

It’s not clear where the two Kamloops-based MLA’s stand on the situation.

Radio NL has made inquiries and will provide an update when more information becomes available.

More to come…