A leaked letter signed by 13 B.C. Conservative MLAs attacking a fellow caucus member has exposed a rift within the upstart party, just weeks after it became the Official Opposition following a swift rise from political obscurity.
The group of MLAs, which comprises almost one-third of the 44-member B.C. Conservative caucus, sent a letter dated Nov. 29 to leader John Rustad raising concerns about public comments MLA Elenore Sturko made to CBC News on Nov. 23.
Sturko, a former RCMP officer who represents Surrey Cloverdale, said she thought it was appropriate for the Vancouver Police Board to accept the resignation of vice-chair Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba following comments made on social media.
In screenshots shared to Reddit, one of Sakoma-Fadugba’s posts discusses how “mass immigration” and “a growing aversion to assimilation” are “transforming Canada into a place where a shared identity is disappearing.”
Another post questions Diwali celebrations at schools, saying the “push for secular education isn’t about religion — it’s about erasing Christian values from the lives of our children.”
A third references “gender transitions” while criticizing a “woke culture that pits children against their parents.”
Sturko said the comments were offensive, particularly to the transgender community.
However, many B.C. Conservatives have rallied behind Sakoma-Fadugba, saying she is a victim of “cancel culture” and has been attacked for supporting traditional family values.
The party’s president, Aisha Estey, wrote on social media: “Cancel culture is alive and well at the Vancouver Police Board. She should never have resigned and shame on those who pressured her to do it.”
MLAs call for written apology
The MLAs’ letter to Rustad says they believe Sturko spoke out of turn.
“It is our view that the statements caused undue harm to Ms. Sakoma and called into question our commitment to the core values shared by Conservatives,” they wrote.
The MLAs also said under Rustad’s leadership, the B.C. Conservative Party “has consistently denounced ‘cancel culture’ and stood for the Charter rights British Columbians enjoy to free expression and freedom of religion.”
They called for Rustad to ask Sturko to send a written apology to Sakoma-Fadugba and “encourage the Vancouver Police Board to advance conciliatory discussions” with the former board member.
The letter’s signatories are: Tara Armstrong, Rosalyn Bird, Dallas Brodie, Brent Chapman, Reann Gasper, Sharon Hartwell, Anna Kindy, Jordan Kealy, Kristina Loewen, Macklin McCall, Heather Maahs, Korky Neufeld and Ward Stamer.
B.C. Conservative MLAs convened virtually for an emergency caucus meeting Friday morning.
Sturko told CBC News she won’t comment, since the letter was addressed to Rustad. She added she has no plans to change her statement regarding Sakoma-Fadugba, nor has Rustad asked her to do so.
Sturko said she first learned about the letter on Thursday.
CBC News has contacted Rustad and Estey for comment but has yet to hear back.
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has announced his shadow cabinet -— the critics’ portfolios meant to hold government ministers to account.
But as CBC’s Katie DeRosa reports, some of the appointments are facing pushback.
Rustad’s party campaigned on socially conservative issues including what it calls parental rights. It voiced its opposition to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI 123) guidelines in schools, saying parents should have more of a say in what’s taught to their children.
Rustad then created a new critic portfolio called parental rights and sports, signalling the issue will continue to be a priority for the party.
SOGI 123 is not a curriculum but provides guides and resources to help teachers address discrimination and bullying, create supportive and inclusive environments for 2SLGBTQ+ students and acknowledge varying genders and sexual orientations.
Sturko, a former B.C. United MLA, crossed the floor in June to join Rustad amid poor polling numbers and flagging confidence in B.C. United Leader Kevin Falcon.
A month later, Falcon made a deal with the B.C. Conservatives to suspend the party’s election campaign and throw his support behind Rustad.