John Rustad says he expects a spirit of defiance and for free speech to reign in his British Columbia Conservative Party caucus B次元官网网址� even if it involves pitting team members against each other, including himself.

But he said thereB次元官网网址檚 no rift in the upstart party, despite differences about its core values that have publicly played out in the aftermath of Vancouver Police Board member Comfort Sakoma-FadugbaB次元官网网址檚 resignation last month.

Conservative public safety critic Elenore Sturko had endorsed Sakoma-FadugbaB次元官网网址檚 exit over social media posts about multiculturalism and gender, while 13 fellow MLAs called on Sturko to make a written apology and meet Sakoma-Fadugba, citing an opposition to B次元官网网址渃ancel culture.B次元官网网址�

They called for the matter to be discussed at a caucus meeting.

That meeting of the 44-member caucus was held behind closed doors at the legislature on Tuesday and while Rustad wouldnB次元官网网址檛 talk about the agenda, he said members were free to speak their minds.

B次元官网网址淭hey have the right to say things,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey have the right to bring forward issues and I look forward to discussions. I look at it from the perspective (that) the NDP would be whipping everybody. They would make sure that they all say the same thing.B次元官网网址�

Sturko has refused to meet Sakoma-Fadugba and said she stands by her views, which her caucus opponentsB次元官网网址� letter said B次元官网网址渃alled into question our (partyB次元官网网址檚) commitment to the core values shared by Conservatives.B次元官网网址�

Rustad said in a social media post late Monday that he met Sakoma-Fadugba, and she was a B次元官网网址渨onderfulB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址減roudly ChristianB次元官网网址� person who shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been asked to quit. He said Sturko should meet her too.

Sturko said her boss didnB次元官网网址檛 tell her in advance about the post, and she had no intention of meeting Sakoma-Fadugba. But she said before attending the caucus meeting that Rustad had been clear B次元官网网址渢hat he respects that different people will have different points of view and that he values free speech, particularly of MLAs.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 certainly appreciate that and I donB次元官网网址檛 feel uncomfortable at all expressing my point of view,B次元官网网址� said the former RCMP officer. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 have any plans to change my position at all.B次元官网网址�

Rustad said that was fine by him. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 whip our people,B次元官网网址� said Rustad. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 completely up to her.B次元官网网址�

SturkoB次元官网网址檚 defection from the BC United party to the B.C. Conservatives ahead of the fall election had been a pivotal moment for the party and RustadB次元官网网址檚 efforts to create what he called a B次元官网网址渂ig tentB次元官网网址� party.

But B次元官网网址済rowing painB次元官网网址� had been exposed by the various responses to Sakoma-FadugbaB次元官网网址檚 exit from the police board, Sturko said.

B次元官网网址淚 joined this party to work side by side with John and I intend to do that,B次元官网网址� said Sturko. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to continue our discussions behind closed doors of caucus and I have no trepidations or hard feelings against the members IB次元官网网址檓 working with.B次元官网网址�

Sakoma-FadugbaB次元官网网址檚 posts on Instagram had included remarks about the impact of multiculturalism on B次元官网网址淐anadian values.B次元官网网址�

In a video posted on social media Monday, Sakoma-Fadugba said she had been B次元官网网址渇orced to resignB次元官网网址� for advocating what she called B次元官网网址渃ivic nationalism, respect for Canadian heritage and parental rights.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he exclusion of Christians should not be the price we pay for multiculturalism,B次元官网网址� she added, saying she wanted to B次元官网网址渕ake Canada Canadian again.B次元官网网址�

She said B.C. and federal Conservatives B次元官网网址渕ust stand with us,B次元官网网址� referring to what she called a B次元官网网址渟ilent majority.B次元官网网址�

The 13 MLAs who had sought an apology from Sturko, in a letter first reported by broadcaster Jas Johal, had little to say but some appeared in high spirits after the caucus meeting.

Sturko said she wished the differences in the caucus had played out B次元官网网址渁s a private conversation.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure now, in hindsight, many of my colleagues feel the same way,B次元官网网址� she said.

The caucus meeting ended with smiles in a group photo on the legislature steps.