B.C. Conservatives face identity crisis and growing pains amid defections, prof. says [Video]

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad admits it’s been a tough week but says it’s not unexpected in a party that was built and grown so quickly.

“We’re still in the building phase. So you know, were some mistakes made? Did we get through a proper vetting process with some candidates? Clearly, we’ve had a few issues.”

But the Tory leader says he’s still optimistic the Conservatives will continue to expand their membership and strength around the province.

On Friday, Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie was kicked out of the Conservative caucus for comments about residential schools on a podcast, prompting fellow MLAs Jordan Kealy and Tara Armstrong to leave the party.

They later announced on Monday they would sit as Independents, with Armstrong saying the party had been infiltrated by “woke liberals.”

While Leader John Rustad says the party remains focused on holding the governing B.C. NDP to account, political watchers …