Conservative MLA Sheldon Clare says leadership rules meant to stop ‘funny business’

VICTORIA — A leadership candidate for British Columbia’s Conservatives says recently announced rules for the contest are intended to stop “any funny business” following last year’s leadership review that was marred by fraud allegations.

Sheldon Clare says there were a “lot of perceptions, misplaced and otherwise,” during last year’s review of former leader John Rustad, who resigned Dec. 4, and he says the rules announced Friday make “it very clear that there’s no nonsense allowed.”

Last year’s review saw the party disqualify more than 2,000 new memberships amid questions about their validity, and the rules announced Friday require new members to provide valid information matching Elections BC records, restrict payment methods and disallow late bulk sign-ups that cannot be verified.

Clare, who represents the riding of Prince George-North Cariboo, says the rules are meant to make sure everything happening in the leadership race is “above board, transparent and squeaky clean,” so the party’s new leader and future premier of B.C. is “beyond reproach.”

Clare also says the $115,000 entry fee for the race is “designed to separate the serious from the less-than-serious.”

But Clare says he is confident he can meet the requirement, based on the calls and offers of support he has received.

The party says the nomination deadline is Feb. 15. Voting under a preferential ballot system will take place from May 9 to May 30, with results announced on May 30 at the party’s leadership convention.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 17, 2026.

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press