Rumours of his leadership demise are greatly exaggerated according to the man who is the face of the BC Conservative party.
In text message John Cummins called it “wishful thinking.”
An official with the BC Conservative party also said Cummins isn’t going anywhere.
Director of policy and research Christy Fredericks is casting doubt on a story that several constituency associations have written Cummins asking him to step down.
“John is not resigning and he will not resign as he recently received over 70 percent support at our recent AGM. Moreover John has taken our party from two percent to almost 20 percent in the polls. Neither John nor the campaign have received any letter, and in fact a handful of people have contacted us to say that they did not, as alleged, sign any such letter.”
While former BC Conservative candidate Rick Peterson offered a no comment but seemed surprised when told he was to be the party’s interim leader according to some reports.
What can be verified is that there is a petition signed by at least 19 BC Conservative party constituency association presidents asking Cummins to resign immediately.
All but one are ridings in the lower mainland.
Yesterday the party’s former vice president Ben Besler defected to the Liberals.
This follows a similar defection by now former BC Tory candidate in Chilliwack-Hope John Martin.
And the loss of what was the party’s only MLA John van Dongen who now sits as an independent.
UPDATE: Since going to air with the story two constituency association presidents have contacted CKNW to say they never signed the letter attached below and have no idea why their names are on it.
They are Russell Morrison and Ryan Warawa. A line has been put through their names on the list to recognize the change.
A copy of the letter in question (in its original form) is included below.
Dear BC Conservative Family,
Under the leadership of John Cummins, we have not been able to raise funds for the CA’s and we have not been able to bring new members into the party.
Under John Cummins, we have lost our only MLA, our candidate in Chilliwack and many young promising candidates who see no future with John Cummins and Randy White.
The party has run up a debt of $ 20,000 this year and the petty infighting has turned into a witch hunt against anyone considered not loyal to John Cummins. All the while the party has lost sight of the goal and has slid down from the high of 20% in the polls to a disastrous 11% and falling fast.
John Cummins has taken us to the foot of the mountain but he is not able to take us to the top. We are therefore asking John Cumminsto resign immediately.
As CA Presidents please voice your opinion and respond to this email with a simple “Yes, we agree that John Cummins should resign immediately” and help us stop the NDP from having a landslide victory in May.
To date these are the presidents who have responded and are now asking for John Cummins to resign immediately as leader:
1. Kevin Chapman P Abbotsford South
2. Lyle Collie P Chilliwack
3. Robbie Armstrong P Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows
4. Gordon Reid P Victoria Swan Lake
5. Antonio Simoes P Burnaby DearLake
6. Bill Rusin P Burnaby Lougheed
7. Grigori Khaskin P Marlidiville
8. Ariane Eckardt P Burnaby North
9. David Millar P Burnaby Edmonds
10. Milan Kljajic P Vancouver Kingsway
11. Ryan Warawa P Vancouver West End
12. David Mohr P Vancouver Langara
13. Ian Tootill P Vancouver Pt Grey
14. David Wilder P Vancouver Quilchena
15. Russell Morrison P Vancouver False Creek
16. Allison Patton P Surrey Whiterock
17. Kulwinder Turna P Surrey Tynehead
18. Kamaljit Thind P Surrey Whalley
19. ? Bruce Carson P Saanich H & Islands