All 44 B.C. Conservatives get critic or leadership roles [Video]

All 44 members of the B.C. Conservative caucus have been appointed to leadership positions – whether as shadow cabinet members or Opposition house leader.

That latter position went to Aaliya Warbus, a historic appointment.

“The first Indigenous person to take the role of house leader in the legislature,” noted party leader John Rustad.

The team also includes South Surrey MLA Brent Chapman, who’s the transit and ICBC critic, and whose offensive social media posts sparked controversy and calls for him to be removed as a candidate. Rustad stands behind his MLA.

“All of our MLAs need to contribute – they’ve been elected to do that. Brent was elected by the largest percentage that any MLA has been elected out of his riding,” said Rustad. “There’s important issues in Surrey – particularly when it comes to transit.”

University of the Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford says keeping Chapman in the …