Nechako Lake MLA John Rustad has been removed from the B.C. Liberal caucus.
The ouster comes, apparently, as a result of Rustad retweeting a post from Patrick Moore, Greenpeace co-founder turned climate change denier, questioning the validity of the science behind climate change.
“The case for CO2 being the control knob for climate change grows weaker every day,” the post from Moore read, with the hashtag: CelebrateCO2.
For his part, Rustad maintains he believes in climate change.
“However, I refuse to support policies brought forward by environmental elitists to punish everyday British Columbian and families who are already dealing with out-of-control inflation,” he posted to social media. “I got into politics to help people and I will never support policies which hurt everyday people and families.”
Liberal leader Kevin Falcon said politics is a team sport and MLAs must work together.
“Like any team, our caucus operates on a foundation of mutual respect and trust,” Falcon posted on social media. “While a diversity of perspectives are encouraged and a source of strength, they cannot exist without that important foundation in place.
“Following a pattern of behaviour that was not supportive of our caucus team and the principles of mutual respect and trust, I have removed MLA John Rustad from the BC Liberal caucus, effective immediately.”
Rustad said he harbours no ill will towards Falcon.
“I hold no animosity towards Kevin Falcon or the BC Liberal Party and I remain proud of my work with Premier Christy Clark as her Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation,” Rustad said. “We achieved some real measure of economic reconciliation in British Columbia and we signed truly historic agreement with First Nations.”
Rustad will now sit as an independent MLA.