B.C. Conservatives Look to Stabilise After Leadership Turmoil as Interim Chief Trevor Halford Takes Charge

VICTORIA, December 24, 2025— The British Columbia Conservative Party is attempting to steady itself after an unprecedented leadership crisis that briefly left it with two leaders inside the legislature, a moment that underscored deep internal divisions within the opposition.
Trevor Halford entered the B.C. legislature on December 3 as interim leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. following his appointment by the party board. Hours earlier, 20 Conservative MLAs had publicly declared they had lost confidence in party leader John Rustad, citing prolonged internal disputes that had hurt fundraising and eroded the party’s credibility.
The party board subsequently stated that Rustad had become “professionally incapacitated.” However, Rustad, who had secured 71 per cent support in a recent leadership review, refused to step down immediately and took his seat as leader of the Opposition in the legislature, creating an extraordinary situation in which the party appeared to have two leaders.
Neither Halford nor Rustad acknowledged each other during Question Period, as both focused on their notes and phones. Reflecting later, Halford described the moment as unusual but said his attention was on supporting colleagues dealing with the fallout of the crisis.
Halford termed the 48 hours leading up to Rustad’s resignation on December 4 as “unprecedented” and admitted the party is still processing what occurred. He said, however, that the Conservatives are now moving forward, pointing to a rebound in fundraising and growing party membership.
The interim leader acknowledged that the dispute strained personal relationships within caucus but stressed that the party’s responsibility to British Columbians must come first. Rustad, for his part, resigned to avoid what he described as a potential “civil war” within the party, which had won 44 seats under his leadership and narrowly missed forming government.
Halford said ideological differences exist within every caucus and admitted that some internal struggles played out publicly. He maintained that the party is now more unified and focused on projecting itself as a government-in-waiting while holding Premier David Eby’s NDP government accountable.
He outlined multiple crises facing British Columbia, including healthcare, forestry, housing, public safety and municipal governance, and renewed calls for the government to recall the legislature to repeal the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, citing concerns over private property rights.
Looking ahead, Halford said the upcoming leadership race will be critical in defining the party’s vision. Several prominent names are being discussed as potential contenders, including federal Conservative MP Aaron Gunn, former MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer, former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, and Conservative MLAs Peter Milobar and Harman Bhangu, though none have officially declared their candidacy.
Halford expressed confidence that caucus unity will follow once a new leader is chosen. He said the Conservatives must appeal beyond ideological labels and connect with British Columbians who are struggling and seeking an alternative to the current government.