Bob Mackin
A former Conservative Party of B.C. candidate is seeking an external audit of the party’s March 1 annual general meeting.
Tim Thielmann, third-place finisher in Victoria-Beacon Hill last year, circulated a petition on June 1, asking executive members and former riding executive members to sign-on and demand president Aisha Estey respond by June 14.
“As you may have seen, the three former Conservative MLAs held a press conference on [May 28] to reveal allegations that John Rustad and his senior executive team rigged the AGM,” Thielmann wrote. “The allegations include payment of approximately $100,000 to secure votes from 100 or more members of the South Asian community for Mr. Rustad’s slate of directors and proposed constitution.”
Tim Thielmann (centre) with leader John Rustad (right) and MLA Bruce Banman (left) in happier times in 2024. (Thielmann/X)
Thielmann’s letter also claims Rustad and his team chose delegates based on political leanings or allegiance to Rustad; improperly decertified certain riding associations; and stacked delegates loyal to Rustad into ridings to which they are not resident.
“The auditor should have no prior relationship with Mr. Rustad, senior party or caucus staff or any member of the board. The terms of reference must include an examination of the enumerated allegations above,” Thielmann’s letter says. “The auditor’s report should be published prior to the party’s next AGM if possible and made available to all party members.”
Randy Roy is Rustad’s director of special projects and president of the Prince George–Mackenzie riding association. He challenged Thielmann to provide evidence of the $100,000 slush fund.
“I don’t understand why you would have withheld proof — if you had any?” Roy wrote in response to Thielmann, who was briefly Rustad’s director of research.
Roy also questioned why Thielmann would encourage a riding president to void his membership by “signing a letter written by someone who is actively looking to destroy the Conservative Party of BC?
“I don’t support yours or anyone else’s efforts to destroy or defame our party — that’s why I’m a member, supporter and riding president,” Roy wrote.
Thielmann responded by asking Roy “whether members are free to request an audit of the AGM without fear of expulsion or other forms reprisal.”
Thielmann said a member of Rustad’s inner circle told MLA Tara Armstrong (Ind., Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream) about the slush fund
“It is a respectful request for an independent audit of the party’s AGM in light of numerous irregularities, just as John Rustad asked for an independent audit of our provincial election following irregularities,” Thielmann wrote.
Estey did not immediately respond to theBreaker.news.
NDP Premier David Eby remained in power with a narrow, 47-seat majority in the new 93-seat Legislature. Rustad’s Conservatives became opposition with 44 seats. Dissidents Armstrong, Dallas Brodie (Vancouver Quilchena) and Jordan Kealy (Peace River North) left the party earlier this year to sit as independents, leaving Rustad’s caucus at 41.
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