Premier David Eby said allegations in a leaked memo that former B.C. Conservative MLAs blackmailed party staff and members are “serious” and must be investigated.
He told reporters Tuesday that if Opposition Leader John Rustad does not take the matter to police, the NDP will.
“Legislators and staff members need to be able to do their work for the people without interference,” said Eby. “Mr. Rustad needs to explain to the public what’s happening.”
The six-page memo was posted to social media Monday by a reporter from Rebel News, a right-wing media outlet.
In the letter, Rustad alleges three Independent MLAs blackmailed several staff members and threatened them with “character assassination” to coerce them into taking jobs or contracts. He also accused the MLAs of secretly recording staff and photographing private text messages while still part of the Conservative Party, calling the behaviour “extremely unethical, abusive and potentially criminal.”
“From what I have been told, the threat is framed as something like: we will pay you handsomely if you join with us, and we will damage you if you refuse,” said Rustad. He said the party is still deciding whether to bring the matter to the RCMP. He did not name the MLAs involved, saying their goal was to divide the B.C. Conservatives.
MLA Dallas Brodie was expelled from the party in March after comments she made on a podcast about residential school survivors. Tara Armstrong and Jordan Kealy left the party shortly after. All three have since sat as Independents, though Brodie and Armstrong recently announced the launch of a new political party, OneBC.
In a social media post, Brodie said the three MLAs have been “viciously maligned” by Rustad and accused the Conservative party of bullying and abuse.
OneBC issued a statement calling the allegations “wild, false, and defamatory,” and demanded that Rustad release any evidence he has.
Kealy, MLA for Peace River North, also rejected the claims.
“I would never bribe or blackmail someone,” he said in a social media post.
Rustad’s letter instructed MLAs not to comment on what he described as an ongoing legal matter.
