NDP asks RCMP to investigate B.C. Conservative blackmail claims
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has accused 3 former party MLAs of blackmailing caucus staff
The B.C. NDP is asking the RCMP to investigate allegations made by B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad that three MLAs who left the party have tried to blackmail their former colleagues.
The allegations were revealed in an undated letter written by Rustad, leaked to media on Monday.
"In the letter John Rustad says the word blackmail 14 times and alleges criminal activity," said NDP caucus chair Stephanie Higginson.
That's why she sent a letter to the B.C. RCMP's top commander calling for an investigation.
Rustad alleged in his letter that the three MLAs and their staff threatened to release text messages and secret recordings, using that to blackmail some B.C. Conservative caucus staff into quitting and working for them.
"They are attempting to blackmail individuals into taking jobs or contracts with them while simultaneously attempting to force them to do or say certain things in order to prevent blackmail materials from being leaked," Rustad wrote in the letter.
In the letter, Rustad described the behaviour as "unethical, abusive, and potentially criminal."
Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie was kicked out of the Conservative caucus in March for her statements about residential schools. Tara Armstrong of Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream and Jordan Kealy of Peace River North left the party shortly after in solidarity.
All three have denied that they engaged in blackmail, pointing out that Rustad has not produced any evidence to support his claims.
Higginson sent a letter to B.C. RCMP Commanding Officer Dwayne McDonald on Thursday asking the police force to investigate.
"There is a significant public interest in determining the facts of this matter," the letter reads. "Blackmail is a serious crime. If any MLA or their legislative staff are engaged in it, British Columbians deserve to know, and any perpetrators should be prosecuted. British Columbians also deserve to know if Mr. Rustad, the Leader of the Official Opposition, is not in possession of evidence to support his accusations."
RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Vanessa Munn said in a statement that the agency had received the letter.
"The matter is under review and assessment," she said.
Higginson's letter follows comments from Premier David Eby on Tuesday about the allegations.
"Mr. Rustad needs to explain to the public what's happening," Eby said. "He needs to bring the information he has to the police. These are very serious allegations. And if he fails to bring them to the police, for whatever reason, then we will bring them to the police to make sure this is properly and thoroughly investigated."
Since leaving the B.C. Conservative caucus in March, Brodie, Armstrong and Kealy have sat as Independents.
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Brodie's chief of staff, Tim Thielmann, called the NDP's letter to the RCMP a "perversion of our justice system."
"By David Eby's own admission, that he doesn't have any evidence upon which to initiate this police investigation," Thielmann said. "When John Rustad has been asked to produce evidence of his allegation, he has been unable to do so."
Kealy said in a statement the allegations are false.
"This is what a desperate man looks like. John Rustad is losing control, so he lashes out. He lies. He manipulates. He throws wild accusations into the wind hoping they'll stick.
"Let the RCMP look into it. I have absolutely nothing to hide."
Hamish Telford, a political scientist from the University of the Fraser Valley, said the NDP is trying to capitalize on dissension within the Conservative ranks.
"I think the NDP is stirring the pot," Telford said.
Higginson denies that her letter to the RCMP was politically motivated.
"The easiest thing for me as the caucus chair, and perhaps even for the NDP, to do right now is to sit back and watch this internal mudslinging that's happening," she said. "But these are very serious allegations."
Rustad has so far refused to comment on the letter.
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