BC Conservative AGM kicks off in Nanaimo

Rustad, among others, emphasized the importance of ensuring the BC Conservatives remain a grassroots party.
BC Conservative AGM
BC Conservative AGMPhoto: Jarryd Jäger, Western Standard
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NANAIMO: BC Conservative MLAs, delegates, and members from across the province have convened at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre for the party's annual general meeting.

Prior to the beginning of scheduled events, a number of MLAs, delegates, and members told the Western Standard they were optimistic about the future of the party, and excited to get going with the day.

The day began with board candidate speeches, which included those running for positions of directors-at-large, secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president.

The candidates for president, Tim Thielmann, David Splett, Jeffrey Rettmer, David Busch, and incumbent Aisha Estey, each made their case to attendees. Estey cited her record in the position overseeing the party's rise, while the others suggested it was time for change.

Thielmann pointed to his experience as candidate for and riding president of Victoria-Beacon Hill, which he labelled "one of the wokest and most hostile ridings in the province."

Splett argued that his time in the corporate world made him an ideal choice to run the BC Conservatives. He suggested there were "significant governance concerns" within the party, namely the omnibus constitution approval and existing four-year mandate for the board.

Busch, a former nurse, professor, and lawyer, centred his campaign on ensuring the BC Conservatives remain a "grassroots" party.

"We have to be bottom up," he warned. "We must not fall into the trap of going top down."

Splett, president of the Ladysmith Riding Association, said he was concerned that "experts and lawyers" were vying for too much control of the party, arguing that those with expertise in one subject should not be considered qualified to do anything else.

"Replacing a lawyer with another lawyer and expecting a different result may not be the direction that we wanna go," he said.

Voting for the board is set to begin at 12 p.m. PST.

After MLAs made their way into the main hall, Abbotsford South representative Bruce Banman led everyone in the singing of O' Canada. Everyone made sure to replace "in all of us command" with "in all thy sons command."

In his opening remarks, Rustad commented on the growth of the party. He pointed out that when he first joined two years ago, there were 800 members.

"Today at this AGM," he declared, "we have over 800 people just here alone."

He went on to emphasize the importance of ensuring the BC Conservatives remain a grassroots party.

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