B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad speaks to reporters following the throne speech at the legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA — B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has apologized to his caucus after discussing a party member's alleged romantic relationship at a meeting with legislators last week.

The Canadian Press saw a copy of the emailed apology on Thursday, after Conservative legislator Peter Milobar previously confirmed that a redacted screenshot of it, posted to social media, was authentic.

"Yes, we received an email from John that he apologized in," Opposition finance critic Milobar said on Monday, when asked about the screenshot.

Rustad said in the apology that he regrets "repeating a rumour that caused embarrassment and harm" to the woman, who The Canadian Press is not naming.

Rustad did not respond to requests for comment.

The apology comes amid pressure on Rustad's Opposition leadership, which has gone to a vote in a months-long process that is drawing to a close.

Final voting is currently taking place in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley, and a statement from a representative said the party will release the results of the review by news release on Monday.

The leadership vote has been entangled with allegations of improper membership sign-ups, which the party says were identified by an internal audit and "promptly cancelled."

The Canadian Press has seen screenshots of an estimated 2,100 fake memberships, each with a phone number that reads either 1111111111 or 2222222222 and all using the same email address.

But the party said it lacked information about claims that at least two of the fake memberships involved people who were already dead.

The review of Rustad's leadership started in June, and has been unfolding on a riding-by-riding basis, a process which Milobar has described as "clunky."

The party's constitution says the leader can only be removed from office by resignation, death, incapacitation or a leadership review resulting in less than 50 per cent support from party members in good standing.

Rustad's recent apology is not the first time he has regretted his choice of words to his colleagues.

He wondered in June whether he should have used the word "blackmail" when he told colleagues about what he said were attempts by former B.C. Conservatives to take over the party.

But he said he didn't exaggerate the claims and didn't regret writing the letter that resulted in an RCMP investigation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025