VICTORIA, B.C.: Conservative Opposition Leader John Rustad says Premier David Eby has been caught misleading the public after court records confirmed the government never filed the stay of the Cowichan ruling the NDP repeatedly promised.

“For four months, the Premier said the stay was being sought, the Attorney General claimed the application was underway, and the government told British Columbians that action was coming. The court record shows they did nothing,” said Rustad. “Not one stay, not one application, not one motion. They made promises to homeowners while the registry sat empty.”

Premier Eby first promised on August 11, 2025, that a stay would be filed, then again in October, and twice in Question Period when pressured by the opposition. A review of court documents on Friday revealed that no stay has been filed.

Rustad said the stay was the single legal measure that could pause the ruling and protect homeowners in Richmond and across the province while appeals move forward. By failing to file it, the government allowed the ruling to take full effect. “Families are already losing mortgage renewals, and investors are already backing away. The consequences are real, and the Premier let this happen because he refused to take the one step that could provide certainty,” Rustad said.

According to Rustad, the NDP misled the public because filing a stay would mean admitting they failed to defend private property rights from the beginning. “They did not intend to file it. They said it because it bought them a news cycle, and they hoped no one would check. Now the truth is out. They promised action and delivered nothing.”

Rustad says the BC Conservatives will not allow the government to hide from this failure. “The Premier said he would act. He did not. He said he would defend homeowners. He did not. He said the stay was coming. It never was. British Columbians deserve a government that tells the truth and takes responsibility for its failures. This NDP government has done neither.”

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Media Contact:
Brad Zubyk, Chief of Staff
Conservative Caucus of B.C.
brad.zubyk@leg.bc.ca