NDP asks RCMP to investigate B.C. Conservative blackmail claims

Katie DeRosa · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 19, 2025 7:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 hours ago

The B.C. NDP is asking the RCMP to analyse allegations made by B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad that 3 MLAs who near the enactment person tried to blackmail their erstwhile colleagues. 

The allegations were revealed successful an undated letter written by Rustad, leaked to media connected Monday.

"In the missive John Rustad says the connection blackmail 14 times and alleges transgression activity," said NDP caucus seat Stephanie Higginson.

That's wherefore she sent a missive to the B.C. RCMP's apical commandant calling for an investigation. 

WATCH | John Rustad alleges blackmail:

Rustad alleged successful his letter that the 3 MLAs and their unit threatened to merchandise substance messages and secret recordings, utilizing that to blackmail some B.C. Conservative caucus unit into quitting and moving for them. 

"They are attempting to blackmail individuals into taking jobs oregon contracts with them portion simultaneously attempting to unit them to bash oregon accidental definite things successful bid to forestall blackmail materials from being leaked," Rustad wrote successful the letter. 

In the letter, Rustad described the behaviour arsenic "unethical, abusive, and perchance criminal."

Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie was kicked retired of the Conservative caucus successful March for her statements astir residential schools. Tara Armstrong of Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream and Jordan Kealy of Peace River North near the enactment soon aft successful solidarity. 

All 3 person denied that they engaged successful blackmail, pointing retired that Rustad has not produced immoderate grounds to enactment his claims.

Higginson sent a missive to B.C. RCMP Commanding Officer Dwayne McDonald connected Thursday asking the constabulary unit to investigate. 

"There is simply a important nationalist involvement successful determining the facts of this matter," the missive reads. "Blackmail is simply a superior crime. If immoderate MLA oregon their legislative unit are engaged successful it, British Columbians merit to know, and immoderate perpetrators should beryllium prosecuted. British Columbians besides merit to cognize if Mr. Rustad, the Leader of the Official Opposition, is not successful possession of grounds to enactment his accusations."

RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Vanessa Munn said successful a connection that the bureau had received the letter.

"The substance is nether reappraisal and assessment," she said. 

Higginson's missive follows comments from Premier David Eby connected Tuesday astir the allegations. 

"Mr. Rustad needs to explicate to the nationalist what's happening," Eby said. "He needs to bring the accusation helium has to the police. These are precise superior allegations. And if helium fails to bring them to the police, for immoderate reason, past we volition bring them to the constabulary to marque definite this is decently and thoroughly investigated." 

Since leaving the B.C. Conservative caucus successful March, Brodie, Armstrong and Kealy person sat arsenic Independents. 

Brodie's main of staff, Tim Thielmann, called the NDP's letter to the RCMP a "perversion of our justness system."

"By David Eby's ain admission, that helium doesn't person immoderate grounds upon which to initiate this constabulary investigation," Thielmann said. "When John Rustad has been asked to nutrient grounds of his allegation, helium has been incapable to bash so."

Kealy said successful a connection the allegations are false. 

"This is what a hopeless antheral looks like. John Rustad is losing control, truthful helium lashes out. He lies. He manipulates. He throws chaotic accusations into the upwind hoping they'll stick.

"Let the RCMP look into it. I person perfectly thing to hide."

Hamish Telford, a governmental idiosyncratic from the University of the Fraser Valley, said the NDP is trying to capitalize connected dissension wrong the Conservative ranks. 

"I deliberation the NDP is stirring the pot," Telford said.

Higginson denies that her missive to the RCMP was politically motivated. 

"The easiest happening for maine arsenic the caucus chair, and possibly adjacent for the NDP, to bash close present is to beryllium backmost and ticker this interior mudslinging that's happening," she said. "But these are precise superior allegations."

Rustad has truthful acold refused to remark connected the letter. 

Read some the NDP's missive to RCMP and Rustad's leaked missive here: