About John Rustad
John Rustad is the Conservative MLA for Nechako Lakes— a riding he has represented since 2005.
Born and raised in Prince George, John married his wife Kim in 1995 and has spent his entire life in northern British Columbia. In the early 2000s, frustrated with the province’s direction, he faced a choice: leave for greener pastures or stay and fight for a better future. He chose to stay—and to fight for BC.
For more than 20 years, John has served the people of British Columbia. He was first elected as a school board trustee for SD-57, then as MLA in 2005 for the riding of Prince George–Omineca. Following the riding redistribution, he was re-elected in Nechako Lakes and has served there ever since.
Throughout his time in office, John has championed resource development, economic reconciliation, and the interests of the common man.
As Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, John signed 435 agreements with First Nations—more than any other Canadian politician in modern history. These agreements created economic opportunities not only for the province but also for the nations involved.
Before entering politics, John worked in the forestry industry for more than 20 years. He founded Western Geographic Information Systems Inc., a technology company providing consulting services to the resource sector. His work helped create jobs, support sustainable forestry, and bring prosperity to his community and the province.
After serving as an independent MLA, John joined the Conservative Party of BC, recognizing that he had to continue the fight—and that he couldn’t do it alone.
On March 24, 2023, John announced his intention to seek the leadership of the Conservative Party of BC, and on March 31, he became leader.
On October 19, 2024, John made history by delivering nearly one million votes for the Conservative Party and winning 44 seats. While he was just shy of a few hundred votes from securing a majority, this feat has gone down as one of the greatest Cinderella stories in modern Canadian history.
