June 19, 2025
Parteek Singh Mahal
VANCOUVER, BC- BC NDP Caucus Chair, Stephanie Higginson, on Thursday sent a letter to the RCMP requesting an investigation into serious allegations made by Opposition Leader John Rustad against independent Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad had accused three independent MLAs of attempting to blackmail colleagues and caucus staffers. These accusations surfaced in an unsigned and undated internal party memo that was leaked on social media on Monday.
The newly formed One BC political party issued a statement after the letter was leaked, labeling the allegations as “false and defamatory.”
The six-page letter, reportedly from Rustad, warned members of the Conservative caucus about alleged blackmail attempts by three independent MLAs. Two of these MLAs have since formed the One BC party. The memo claims that staff members were threatened with the leaking of secretly recorded conversations and copied text messages in an attempt to blackmail them.
In her letter to the RCMP, Higginson stated, “On behalf of the BC NDP Caucus, I am writing to request an investigation of serious allegations made by BC Conservative Leader John Rustad against other MLAs in the legislature.”
She further elaborated, “Recently, a letter from Rustad to his caucus was leaked to the news media. In it, Rustad accuses three MLAs and their staff of blackmailing BC Conservative MLAs and staff. Without specifying who allegedly engaged in blackmail, he broadly implicates all three MLAs and their employees.
“In his letter, Rustad states that he has not disclosed this information to the police, despite asserting that he has enough evidence to accuse other MLAs of a crime. He has also declined to release additional information to the public to support his claims. There is a significant public interest in determining the facts of this matter. Blackmail is a serious crime. If any MLA or their legislative staff are engaged in it, British Columbians deserve to know,” she added.
On Wednesday, Premier David Eby urged Rustad to take any evidence of blackmail to the police. Eby stated that if Rustad failed to do so, the BC NDP would take that step themselves.
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