Rustad meets with ousted VPB co-chair to show support while Sturko refuses to apologize for targeting her over posts

The rift between John Rustad and Elenore Sturko over the ousting of now-former Vancouver Police Board co-chair Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba has grown, with the BC Conservative leader visiting her to offer his support.The Surrey-Cloverdale MLA, meanwhile, not only refused to stop by, but also said she had no intention to apologize for targeting Sakoma-Fadugba over the posts that led to her resignation.."I'm grateful to Comfort Sakoma for inviting me into her beautiful home to share a meal with her, as we approach the auspicious holy day of Christmas," Rustad wrote in a post on X. "Together, we talked about our shared values of family, faith, and community and about what it means to be proudly Christian and proudly conservative. To me, being Christian and conservative means fighting for parents rights, religious liberty, and freedom of speech — even when we don't always fully agree with one another."He went on to address the controversy surrounding the difference of opinion regarding Sakoma-Fadugba within his party, noting, "I want to make it crystal clear where I personally stand — I support Comfort Sakoma and I don't believe she should have been asked to quit the VPD police board.""I also understand the critical importance of freedom of speech, particularly for MLAs," Rustad added. "Personally, I believe MLA Sturko should meet with Comfort Sakoma before drawing further judgement — Comfort is a wonderful person with so much to offer, and I hope she continues to advocate for the conservative movement in British Columbia and in Canada.".Sturko was quick to respond, making her position clear."I do not plan to meet with Ms. Sakoma," she said, "nor do I plan to write a letter as requested by some of my colleagues, though I wish her the best.".REVEALED: BC Cons MLAs called on party to reaffirm support for free speech after Sturko criticized ousted VPB co-chair's posts.In a letter to Rustad, 13 BC Conservative MLAs demanded that Sturko be made to apologize, arguing that Sturko's original comments "caused undue harm to Ms. Sakoma and called into question our commitment to the core values shared by Conservatives." In an interview with CBC News, Sturko sided in favour of Sakoma-Fadugba's resignation, arguing that her views were "offensive.".EXCLUSIVE: Ousted VPB co-chair defends 'Christian values' comment, reiterates need for Canadian national identity.The comment Sakoma-Fadugba made that perhaps drew the greatest backlash was about a Diwali celebration her son had been invited to at school. She had questioned why it was considered fine for everyone to take part in the overtly religious event while any mention of Jesus Christ around Christmas time was scrubbed from public spaces in favour of a watered down, secular version of the holiday.Sakoma-Fadugba clarified that she had not been trying to suggest that Diwali shouldn't be celebrated, but that Christians shouldn't have to modify their own holy days in the name of diversity.

Rustad meets with ousted VPB co-chair to show support while Sturko refuses to apologize for targeting her over posts

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