THIS IS THE B.C. CONSERVATIVES' ONE SHOT TO GET IT RIGHT

Whoever wins the B.C. Tory leadership will need to put forward a plan that consolidates the party’s existing support, and wins new ground in the Lower Mainland.

Mike McDonald

“What’s past is prologue.” — Shakespeare, The Tempest

A B.C. political party emerges from the political wilderness, vanquishes the incumbent free enterprise alternative, comes close to winning power over the NDP and is firmly established as the official Opposition with a caucus made up of political neophytes.

Just over a year later, the leader is out and a leadership convention is called.

That describes the events of the early 1990s when the B.C. Liberals led by Gordon Wilson stormed to official Opposition after flirting with victory, and set aside the Social Credit dynasty that had governed for 36 of 39 years.

By January 1993, Wilson had been pushed out by his caucus and a leadership convention was called, ultimately leading to the selection of Vancouver Mayor Gordon Campbell, who led the B.C. Grits for almost 18 years, including a decade as premier.

It also describes the events of last week. The man who led the B.C. Conservatives from obscurity to official Opposition in the blink of an eye, John Rustad, was shown the door by a majority of his caucus, just one month after members of the party endorsed his leadership.

Like Wilson, John Rustad accomplished a miracle feat that no one thought possible. The circumstances were different, but at the heart of it, they were both relentless underdogs who tapped into a populist vein that was searching for a new alternative.

While in both cases, it’s unlikely either party would have succeeded without their leadership, it’s also the case that both parties were ready for a change. The leader that got you there isn’t necessarily the leader to take you home — to victory.

Do the parallels between the parties stop there?

In 1993, Campbell was a political bright light who was nearing the end of this third term as mayor, only 45 years old, and was simultaneously chairing the Greater Vancouver Regional District and serving as president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities. He clearly had the profile and the capacity to lead a provincial political party, and the members agreed, electing him with 65 per cent of the vote at the leadership convention.

Even then, it was tough slogging to pull together a winning coalition. He came close in 1996, winning the popular vote but losing the election by the all-important seat count. He spent eight years in opposition before his chance to govern arrived in 2001, setting the B.C. Liberals on a 16-year run in power.

B.C. Tories can’t wait that long. The NDP government is already in its eighth year, whereas Campbell’s B.C. Liberals were trying to take down a first-term NDP government. The Conservatives had their chance in 2024 and missed, in part due to their own strategic mistakes. There’s little tolerance for error now. They need to get leadership selection right to win the next election.

Whoever wins the leadership will need to put forward an approach and plan that consolidates the party’s existing support, and wins new ground in the Lower Mainland, specifically north of the Fraser River, in places like the Tri-Cities, Burnaby, Vancouver and the North Shore.

Leaders don’t need to be exceptional at all things, but they do need to be a minimum of good in connecting with the voters through the media, at retail politics, raising money and in articulating a coherent vision that unites supporters.

They do, however, need to be exceptional when it comes to drive, being relentless, and acting as the engine and example that pushes the entire organization forward. And, as Rustad and Wilson learned, they need to hold the caucus together and harness their energies effectively.

This is the B.C. Conservatives’ one shot to get it right. If they don’t, there’s a party lurking in the wilderness, formerly known as the B.C. Liberal party.

Past is prologue.

. . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mike McDonald - Mike McDonald is former chief of staff to Christy Clark and was involved in B.C. Liberal campaigns from 1986 to 2017. He co-hosts the Hotel Pacifico podcast on B.C. politics. This ope-ed was originally published on December 8, 2025 in the Vancouver Sun.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Air Quotes Media. Read more opinion contributions via QUOTES from Air Quotes Media.