Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack North MLA speaks up

Chilliwack North MLA welcomes resignation of party leader

Dec 4, 2025 | 12:39 PM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs says this morning’s announcement by B.C. Conservative Party Leader John Rustad that he is stepping down is a welcome one.

Maahs told Fraser Valley Today Thursday morning that it became increasingly clear Rustad had lost the confidence and support of his colleagues.

“I’m happy that John made the right decision,” Maahs said. “I’m also very grateful to him for starting this party off and getting us all on the right track.”

Rustad received a letter from roughly 20 B.C. Conservative Party MLAs Wednesday morning urging him to step aside. He initially resisted and said he wasn’t going anywhere, but the cold reality of politics and an avalanche of sentiment against him from within his own caucus caused him to change his mind. By Thursday morning, Rustad conceded the obvious.

“Sometimes there’s just unfortunately politics, and an expiry date on a leader,” Maahs said. “Unfortunately, he had lost the confidence of the province and the caucus.”

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Chilliwack North MLA speaks up

Chilliwack North MLA welcomes resignation of party leader

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Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford has been named interim leader of the B.C. Conservative Party.

Image: MLA Trevor Halford (right).

“I’m very confident that Trevor Halford will do a great job as interim leader,” Maahs said. “I’m looking forward to a leadership race the party board will need to initiate. I’m looking forward to our party going back to its roots on all the reasons that the people of this province elected us, and also bringing this family of conservatives back together. That’s the ultimate goal so that we can defeat the NDP.”

Chilliwack-Cultus Lake MLA Á’a:líya Warbus issued the following statement about Rustad’s resignation on X/Twitter at 1:38 p.m. Thursday afternoon: “I am grateful for John Rustad’s service and the dedication he’s shown to British Columbians and the Conservative Caucus of BC. As we move forward together, I fully support Trevor Halford and have complete confidence in his leadership. While the NDP continues to create instability and division in this province, my commitment remains unchanged: to stand strong for my community and for British Columbians, to support my colleagues, and to fight for the steady, accountable leadership this province deserves.”