John Rustad, leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. and now His Majesty's Official Leader of the Opposition, was officially sworn in as the MLA for the Nechako Lakes riding on Nov. 12 in Victoria, following his election on Oct. 19.
Reflecting on the swearing-in ceremony, Rustad described it as always a surreal experience, despite this being the sixth time he has been elected to represent the Nechako Lakes riding.
"No matter how many times I've been elected, there's something very special and mystic about being sworn in at that building," Rustad said.
Rustad said it is a tremendous honour to be able to serve and continue to represent the people of the Nechako Lakes.
"They have put their trust in me now for six elections, and I very much appreciate that, and I am going to work as hard as I can to make sure that the voice from our region is heard, and that I do everything I can to try to help our region see a better and brighter future," he said.
Speaking about the privilege of representing the Nechako Lakes riding in the legislature, Rustad said it is a responsibility he takes very seriously.
"I鈥檝e often spoken to our caucus about the importance of remembering that we are elected by our constituents, and our primary job is to represent them鈥攏o matter what other roles we may take on in our political careers. That responsibility must always remain a top priority."
Looking ahead, Rustad acknowledged the challenge of balancing his new role as leader of the opposition with his responsibilities to his riding.
"This will inevitably limit the time I can spend in my riding, but my staff will be supporting the community, and I'll stay in regular contact with them. While I won't be able to visit as often as I'd like, I will make sure to get back to the riding as frequently as possible."
Rustad鈥檚 B.C. Conservatives captured 44 seats in last month鈥檚 election. Rustad believes the Conservative caucus, by percentage, contains the largest number of women of any other Conservative caucus across the country.
He also highlighted several significant milestones: the first time B.C. had Conservative MLAs elected since the 1970s, the largest opposition caucus in B.C. history, and the largest number of new MLAs elected to an opposition caucus. Rustad further pointed to the election of B.C.鈥檚 first Black woman MLA since Rosemary Brown in 1972, as well as the first MLA from the Sto:lo Nation.
"There were many significant milestones in this swearing-in ceremony," he said.
Rustad outlined his key priorities for Nechako Lakes and northern B.C. following his swearing-in. His focus will be on advocating for the region's economic interests, improving infrastructure, and maintaining strong connections with constituents.
He acknowledged the heightened expectations from voters in Northern B.C., particularly regarding economic development, support for the resource sector, and improving connectivity.
The leader of the opposition said he intends to hold the newly elected NDP government accountable at every step, especially Premier David Eby, for failing to address rural B.C.'s priorities.
On the economic front, Rustad highlighted the challenges facing B.C.'s forestry sector, noting that the province has lost two-thirds of its forestry industry under the current government. Rustad committed to advancing legislation to support resource industries and stimulate economic growth in Northern B.C.
Despite his new role as leader of the opposition, Rustad said he plans to visit communities in the Nechako Lakes riding at least once a month to stay engaged with local issues. He also emphasized the continued role of his staff in supporting constituents and ensuring access to services across the region.
MLAs who do not live in the greater Victoria area are required to maintain a residence and for this, each can receive up to $25,325 a year for rent, utilities, basic telephone and internet service, furniture rental, contents insurance and parking. The same amount is available for a qualifying MLA who owns a residence within the greater Victoria area.
MLAs also have the option of staying in a hotel when required to be in Victoria and can receive up $22,288 a year for expenses. As well, MLAs can claim a maximum $61 a day for expenses when in Victoria or on work-related trips throughout the province. Travel for work is also covered.
-With files from Rod Link
