Leaked Dossier Reveals 200 Pages of Conspiracies and Controversial Statements From John Rustad’s BC Conservative Candidates

British Columbia’s soon-to-be defunct centre-right BC United Party prepared a nearly 200-page dossier of opposition research on John Rustad’s far-right BC Conservatives – and now the entire document has leaked onto the Internet in the middle of the election campaign.

The document, which was uploaded to Scribd and posted on social media by former BC Liberal MLA and current radio broadcaster Jas Johal, focuses largely on past statements posted on social media by BC Conservative leader John Rustad and his party’s candidates.

Sorry, I had an uploading issue. Here is the full oppo research that was conducted by BC United. I recently received it. You can decide whether it matters to you. #bcpoli #vanpoli https://t.co/9r9eZJQigi

— Jas Johal (@JasJohalBC) September 26, 2024

Senior BC United sources confirmed to PressProgress that the oppo dossier shared by Johal is authentic, but qualified that it was an earlier draft of a working file and therefore “doesn’t contain everything.”

Metadata associated with the PDF lists BC United’s lead researcher as the primary author of the dossier.

During elections, political parties typically gather information about their opponents, something which is called opposition research or “oppo.” While this term is sometimes used derisively, this material can also shine a light on problematic or dangerous beliefs held by candidates for public office.

The material contained in the BC United oppo dossier range from serious to strange and offer insights into the thoughts of those who want the power to create or repeal laws that could impact the public in ways informed by such mindsets.

For example, the dossier includes a transcript from a video blog featuring Sheldon Clare, the BC Conservative candidate for Prince George–North Cariboo, that BC United claims shows him comparing Canada to “Germany 1933” and “willing to commit insurrection.”

A closer-reading of the transcript shows Clare discussing gun control and stating that “what’s happening in this country right now is almost akin to statist oppression.” Clare states that Canadians “need to be willing to take any action that’s necessary to stand up for themselves in the face of statist tyranny.”

BC United opposition research dossier

On the stranger side, the dossier includes a photograph of Clare, who is the former president of Canada’s National Firearms Association, dressed in an outfit resembling a 19th century European colonial soldier stationed in occupied lands in Africa.

BC United labeled this as a “potentially ‘insensitive’ colonial costume, with gun.”

BC United opposition research dossier

Other postings from BC Conservative candidates should raise questions about what kind of content they are consuming online – let alone their grasp on reality.

Jordan Kealy, a BC Conservative candidate in Peace River North, appears in the dossier discussing what BC United describes as a “government plan to eat bugs” and “control the weather.”

“We do question if this is all planned,” Kealy wrote in a 2023 Facebook post. “They’re going after vitamins and supplements right now so we won’t have access to them … control the food and you control the people. Will you eat bugs because there’s nothing else?”

Kealy’s post, which links to a 2015 Global News article about an “Ontario cricket farm” that “hopes bugs are the future,” echoes comments BC Conservative leader John Rustad himself made in a speech at an event celebrating the Freedom Convoy in which he warned children could be forced to eat bugs.

BC United opposition research dossier

The rambling post shifts to the topic of “weather modification,” insisting “we know that they cloud seed and spray things in the air.”

Kealy asks “what are unintentional (or intentional) harms from messing with the weather?? Hmm. unpredictable weather, weather extremes maybe??? Drought, fires???”

Kealy’s post concludes with photos of vapour trails – what conspiracy theorists describe as “chemtrails” – in the sky above a farm: “How can we fight back?” Kealy asks. “How can we unite and take our lives back?”

BC United opposition research dossier

Mike Harris, the BC Conservative candidate for Langford, is featured in the dossier touting dubious claims that it is possible to “kill” COVID-19 simply by “blowing a hair dryer up one’s nose.”

“Blowdryers have heating elements and a fan,” explains a graphic Harris shared three years ago. “Deliver forced air temperatures well above the level needed to kill coronavirus.”

BC United opposition research dossier

In a statement to PressProgress, Harris confirmed the post appears on his LinkedIn profile but insists “I didn’t post it” — “My staff probably thought it was gonna help with the virus,” Harris said.

Other BC Conservative candidates appear to share conspiratorial beliefs with some of the most hardcore far-right MAGA Trump supporters in America.

In a section of the dossier titled “crazy views on US politics,” BC Conservative Surrey–White Rock candidate Bryan Tepper is included by BC United for sharing memes “denying that the storming of the capital on January 6” and claiming it was “a ‘false flag’ operation by elites.”

BC United opposition research dossier

Another section of the dossier shows Cowichan Valley BC Conservative candidate John Koury responding to former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Twitter earlier this year.

“You lost and Trump won,” Koury wrote, adding that Trump won “twice, soon three times” – an apparent reference to denials that the 2020 US election result was legitimate.

BC United opposition research dossier

Elsewhere, Koury is listed as having “liked” a 2023 tweet from a US-based “MAGA” account about a QAnon-adjacent theory about an “elite pedophile ring” operating in Hollywood.

“Do you support Mel Gibson’s plan to expose an elite pedophile ring operating at the heart of the Hollywood system?” reads the tweet.

BC United opposition research dossier

In a February 2024 tweet, Bulkley Valley-Stikine BC Conservative candidate Sharon Hartwell replied to a Twitter account called “Trump Army,” asking if “Democrats cheated and that President Donald Trump won the last election?”

Hartwell replied: “Yes.”

BC United opposition research dossier

BC Conservative Langley-Abbotsford Harman Bhangu, who makes numerous appearances throughout the 200-page dossier, is documented in 2022 tweeting promoting a widely debunked far-right conspiracy falsely claiming January 6 insurrectionists were actually undercover members of “Antifa.”

“Antifa broke into the Capitol on Jan 6 too,” Bhangu wrote. “If you read the Jan 6 report you would know antifa dressed up as Trump supporters and broke in.”

BC United opposition research dossier

The dossier also includes a 2012 photo posted on Instagram by Bhangu featuring a photo of himself holding a bottle of “Hermannator” beer, which he describes as “liquid panty remover.”

BC United opposition research dossier

Online conspiracies popular with the Canadian far-right about climate change or COVID-19 public health measures are recurring themes throughout the dossier.

Elsewhere in the dossier, BC United highlights conspiratorial posts from Kelowna Centre BC Conservative candidate Kristina Loewen.

In a Facebook group called “Reject: NWO (New World Order) BS,” Loewen posted a message referencing the 15 minute cities conspiracy, asking group members if they’d heard that a “test city” in the UK had “not fared well.”

In other postings, BC United says Loewen promoted conspiratorial content railing “against UN world order” and claiming “banking is a WEF plot,” a reference to far-right conspiracies about the World Economic Forum.

BC United opposition research dossier

Chris Sankey, the BC Conservative candidate for North Coast–Haida Gwaii, appears in a section of the dossier highlighting conspiratorial beliefs about climate change.

BC United highlights a December 2023 tweet which it says shows Sankey claiming the “climate agenda is a WEF depopulation conspiracy.”

“A leading climate scientist, previously engaged with the World Economic Forum (WEF), has made a controversial claim, asserting the WEF’s environmental agenda is actually a guise for depopulating the planet under the pretense of ecological preservation,” Sankey wrote. “I thought fossil fuel.”

BC United opposition research dossier

Vancouver–Point Grey BC Conservative candidate Paul Ratchford is featured amplifying a message from a far-right People’s Party candidate “calling for the arrest of Dr. Bonnie Henry.”

BC United opposition research dossier

In November 2023, BC Conservative candidate Tara Armstrong from Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream replied to a tweet from Vancouver radio broadcaster Jody Vance asking her audience to listen to a doctor who specializes in vaccines.

“Do you realize he’s bought and paid for by big pharma,” Armstrong told Vance. “ You might want to study up a bit before pushing this kind of narrative.”

BC United opposition research dossier

Other postings by BC Conservative candidates suggest a constellation of resentments and problematic beliefs about women, gender and sexuality and race.

Bryan Breguet, the BC Conservative candidate in Vancouver–Langara, appears numerous times associated with sexist and misogynistic statements that suggest a constellation of resentments and problematic beliefs about women.

Breguet, whose website bio indicates he has “embraced married life,” is quoted in 2024 tweets criticizing women who choose not to breastfeed their infants.

“I just really can’t with this insane nihilism,” the BC Conservative candidate wrote. “You f–king decided to have a baby! Act as a f–king mother! Jesus Chris, get your priorities right.”

“But of course Reddit thinks it’s just a ‘my body, my choice’ discussion. Disgusting.”

BC United opposition research dossier

BC Conservative party spokesperson Anthony Koch is on the record stating that he would personally resign if his friend Breguet was ever “removed as a candidate.”

The BC Conservative candidate in Prince George-Valemount, Rosalyn Bird, is featured in the dossier promoting anti-LGBTQ+ views.

Earlier this year, Bird shared a Rebel Media video from the account “Anti Woke Canadian” describing Pride supporters as “groomers” and claiming the government wants to “castrate kids.”

BC United opposition research dossier

Numerous postings from BC Conservative candidate Paul Ratchford are included in the 200-page dossier, including one criticizing the Vancouver Canucks’ use of pride-themed practice jerseys.

“This is what you are proud of?” the BC Conservative candidate told the Vancouver Canucks’ official Twitter account. “Violent anti-social trans extremists increasingly define the movement, be careful what you endorse.”

“Exactly,” replied BC Conservative candidate Harman Bhangu. “There is nothing to be proud of.”

BC United opposition research dossier

Ratchford, whose Vancouver–Point Grey riding is the same as where the University of British Columbia is located – has also called for defunding UBC on the basis that its school of kinesiology hired a professor whose area of specialization is race and ethics.

“We don’t just need to defund the CBC, we need to defund UBC,” Ratchford wrote.

BC United opposition research dossier

Tim Thielmann, BC Conservative candidate in Victoria–Beacon Hill, is included in the dossier for a tweet replying to a CityNews story about public reaction to a white supremacist daycare that advertised itself as a “whites-only” space for “proud parents of European children” looking to “escape forced diversity.”

“Gross,” Thielmann replied, adding: “Will the (Victoria Police Department) be investigating the racially segregated social clubs in Victoria?” Thielmann included a link to the University of Victoria’s “BIPOC Support Hub,” an organization that provides community support to students who are Black, Indigenous or People of Colour.

BC United opposition research dossier

Last month, BC United leader Kevin Falcon surprised everyone, including his own MLAs, announcing his party would fold and effectively merge with Rustad’s five-seat BC Conservatives – a party previously relegated to the fringe of BC politics receiving only 1% of the vote during the last election.

As part of the terms for BC United to stand down, Falcon said BC United candidates would run under the BC Conservative banner and all candidates would be re-evaluated under an “improved vetting process.”

Despite this, only several BC United candidates actually joined the BC Conservatives.

A number of former BC United candidates are currently running as independents.