Following BC Tory MLAs’ Letter, Rustad Meets Police Board Vice-Chair Forced to Resign Over Online Posts

B.C. Conservative Party Leader John Rustad speaks during a press conference in Squamish, B.C., on Oct. 1, 2024. The Canadian Press/Tijana Martin

B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad says he supports the former vice-chair of the Vancouver Police Board who was recently forced to step down following comments she posted on social media.

Rustad’s comments come after some of his MLAs asked him to show support for former police board vice-chair Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba following another Conservative MLA’s public criticism of her.

Sakoma-Fadugba resigned on Nov. 22 following social media comments she made about the prevalence of “woke culture” and the sidelining of Christianity were made public. The board said the comments did not align with its values and asked for her resignation.

Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko was quoted by CBC News on Nov. 23 as saying she thought the board was correct in its action. Sturko also said that Sakoma-Fadugba’s comments were offensive.

Sturko is a former RCMP officer and was part of the BC United caucus before joining the provincial Conservatives. She also said that Sakoma-Fadugba’s comments on social media impacted public trust with police.

Thirteen MLAs wrote a letter to Rustad in response to Sturko’s comments, asking him to show support for Sakoma-Fadugba.

Rustad said in a social media post that he met with Sakoma-Fadugba and they discussed shared values of family, faith, and community.

”I want to make it crystal clear where I personally stand — I support Comfort Sakoma and I don’t believe she should have been asked to quit the VPD police board,” he said in the Dec. 9 post.

Rustad said he also allowed his MLAs freedom of speech.

“Personally, I believe MLA Sturko should meet with Comfort Sakoma before drawing further judgement,” he wrote in the post. “Comfort is a wonderful person with so much to offer, and I hope she continues to advocate for the conservative movement in British Columbia and in Canada.”

The MLAs said in their letter that Sturko should issue an apology to Sakoma-Fadugba, and if she did not, that Rustad should apologize to her on behalf of the caucus.

Sturko responded to Rustad’s social media post, saying she would not be issuing an apology.

“I do not plan to meet with Ms. Sakoma, nor do I plan to write a letter as requested by some of my colleagues, though I wish her the best,” she wrote in a post on the X platform.

Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba, former vice-chair of the Vancouver Police Board. Courtesy of Comfort Sakoma-Fadugba

She said that her focus remained holding the BC NDP government to account.

The comments that led to Sakoma-Fadugba’s ousting relate to her social media posts in November about a recent Diwali celebration her son was invited to as part of school activities. She wrote that the “push” for secular education “isn’t about religion” but about “erasing Christian values from the lives of our children.”

She added that she had “nothing against Hinduism,” saying her comments were aimed at the impact on Canadian identity of replacing the values of Christianity, which she described as Canada’s “dominant” religion, with those of “a new dominant group.”

In a Dec. 9 social media post, Sakoma-Fadugba commented on her meeting with Rustad, saying his support meant the world to her and she appreciated his standing by her side.

She also commented on the letter from the MLAs.

”I would also like to acknowledge with deep respect the courage of the “Sturdy 13“ for their initial statement,” Sakoma-Fadugba wrote on the X platform.

“Their bravery in standing up for what they believe in is commendable,“ she said, before turning her attention to Rustad, saying, ”The leadership you continue to demonstrate in rallying the party around true Conservative values is incredibly inspiring.”