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Edmonton Journal
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
After B.C. Conservative leader made claim of MLA blackmailers in his own party, NDP asked RCMP to investigate
Article content The chair of British Columbia's NDP caucus has written to the RCMP requesting an investigation into allegations that former members of the B.C. Conservative Opposition tried to blackmail their ex-colleagues. The letter from Stephanie Higginson to Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald comes after B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad wrote to his party's own caucus warning about the alleged blackmail by three MLAs and their staff. Article content On Monday, Rustad confirmed that he wrote a letter obtained by The Canadian Press in which he tells his caucus that their former colleagues and staff were threatening to release 'blackmail materials,' including secretly recorded phone conversations and text messages. One of the former party members said Thursday that he welcomed a police investigation, saying Rustad made the blackmail allegations to 'distract and change the conversation' about how his leadership was reconfirmed at the annual general meeting of the party. Independent Jordan Kealy said he had already asked for an audit of the leadership review. 'Maybe the Conservative Party, if they've got nothing to hide, will then open their books and actually show to their constituents, voters and members, that they're telling the truth,' Kealy said in an interview. Another of the former Conservatives, Dallas Brodie, said on social media platform X that Rustad had 'painted himself into a corner' with a 'big lie' about blackmail that he could not substantiate. Article content Article content Higginson said in the open letter written on behalf of the NDP caucus that there's a significant public interest in determining the facts. She said if any MLA or their staff are engaged in blackmail, British Columbians deserve to know, and perpetrators should be prosecuted. Rustad said in an interview on Monday that he did not personally have recorded evidence of blackmail, but would not say if the party possessed it. 'As I said earlier, I am not sure what has been provided to our legal staff around it. I don't personally have it,' he said. Asked if Rustad was available for an interview on Thursday, the B.C. Conservative Party said it had received advice not to comment further on the matter. Higginson said British Columbians deserved to know whether Rustad has any evidence to support his accusations. 'Given the accusations of criminal activity, it seems appropriate for police to examine any relevant information in Mr. Rustad's possession to determine if additional investigation and/or criminal charges are necessary,' Higginson wrote. Article content Premier David Eby said earlier this week after learning of the blackmail allegations that Rustad needed to take the claims to police, and if he didn't, then the NDP would. 'It is a profound and serious allegation that also strikes at the core of this place behind me and the public's confidence in the fact that legislators and staff members need to be able to do their work for the people without interference,' Eby said during a news conference outside the legislature on Tuesday. Tim Thielmann is the chief of staff for the new One BC party formed by Brodie and Tara Armstrong, who is the third ex-Conservative MLA. He blamed Eby for the NDP calling in the police, saying it was 'extremely irresponsible.' 'By his own admission, he is relying upon John Rustad's claims of blackmail, and when John Rustad has been asked for evidence, he has been unable to provide a single shred,' said Thielmann. Article content He called the accusations in Rustad's letter to the Conservative caucus 'desperate lies' that he 'invented' to attack people exposing what happened at the party's annual general meeting. He said the case could 'cross the threshold for public mischief.' Brodie made the same argument in her social media post. 'If Rustad asks for a police investigation knowing his allegations are false, he might himself be committing the crime of public mischief under section 140 of the Criminal Code,' she said. 'But if he doesn't, he will have exposed his own big lie. 'And as for David Eby, he should know better than to attempt to instigate a police investigation when he admits to having absolutely no evidence of any wrongdoing.' Brodie was thrown out of the B.C. Conservatives over remarks about residential schools, prompting Armstrong and Kealy to quit the party in sympathy. Latest National Stories
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike Myers Boosts 'Good Guys' Canada As Election Kicks Off; Endorses PM Mark Carney, Praises CBC
Skating even deeper into Canadian politics, Wayne's World star Mike Myers today officially endorsed incumbent Prime Minister Mark Carney, bodychecked Conservative Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre & robustly flew the Maple Leaf flag in the face of Donald Trump. In the second campaign ad in just over as many days with a Team Canada hockey jersey wearing Myers and Carney patriotically chatting rink side, the longtime US resident told the new PM how much he hates 'bullies.' More from Deadline Donald Trump Blasts George Clooney Following '60 Minutes' Interview In Which Actor Talked Of Importance Of A Free Press Supreme Court Rejects Steve Wynn's Effort To Remake Libel Law CNN Names Amanda Wills As Chief Content Officer Without mentioning the tariff imposing and sovereignty threatening Donald Trump by name, Myers goes on to say' 'This is what I can't stand in the world, and we're the country that stands up to bullies.' After a 'yeah' from former Bank of Canada and former Bank of England boss Carney, the ex-SNL cast member adds: 'I hope, and I know that you will, but I hope we continue to be the good guys.' Getting an official endorsement from the suburban Toronto-born Myers in the 2-minute spot, a stilted Carney asks Emmy winner Myers, 'What does Canada mean to you?' Myers shoots back: 'Canada means everything. I wouldn't be anything without Canada.' Check out the ad, where Myers among other things, decries Poilievre's plan to defund public broadcaster CBC as 'wrong,' here: Just two weeks into Carney replacing Justin Trudeau as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, and one day into an election the government looked certain just two months ago to lose to poll leading Poilievre, Myers' 'elbows up' March 1 battle cry on Saturday Night Live has thrust the actor right into the heart of the campaign. With NHL legend and 'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe's motto taking an increasingly nationalistic Canada by storm, Myers first appeared with Carney in a March 22 video with 'Never 51' on the back of his jersey. Posted on social media in both English and French, the first ad has drawn over 12 million viewers the former language and 565,000 viewers in the latter, Taken together, those numbers equal over 25% of Canada's total population. Both the previous video and the one released today were pre-recorded last week in Ottawa before the poll surging Carney grab ahold of the anti-Trump sentiment and called the widely anticipated election on March 23. Canadians will vote on April 28 in a race that right now has the Liberals and the Conservatives in a dead heat. Before that vote, sources tell me, you can expect to see the WME-repped Myers popping up again for Team Carney. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery How To Watch 'Wicked: Part One': Is The Film Streaming Yet? All The Songs In 'Severance' Season 2: From The Who To Ella Fitzgerald
