FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
John Rustad: Why Won’t David Eby Condemn Antisemitism?
Prince George, BC – Conservative Party of British Columbia Leader John Rustad is calling out Premier David Eby for his refusal to condemn newly elected Vancouver city councillor Sean Orr, despite Orr’s long and well-documented history of antisemitic statements and rhetoric.
“Let’s be blunt: Sean Orr is an antisemite, and David Eby is protecting him,” said Rustad. “Jewish leaders have condemned him. The Mayor of Vancouver has condemned him. The Conservative Party of BC has condemned him. So why is the Premier of British Columbia still silent?”
Orr, elected under the COPE banner, has compared Zionism to white supremacy, defended known antisemites, and promoted hateful conspiracy theories — all of which remain posted on his social media. And yet, not a word of condemnation has come from Premier Eby.
“This isn’t a grey area. This is antisemitism, plain and simple,” Rustad continued. “David Eby talks endlessly about fighting hate, but when it comes from the far-left, he says nothing. That’s not leadership — it’s cowardice.”
Rustad noted that this silence follows the recent removal of Selina Robinson — one of the only Jewish MLAs in the BC NDP — from cabinet after she expressed support for Israel.
“There’s a pattern here,” said Rustad.
“Jewish voices are being silenced inside the NDP, while extremists like Sean Orr are being empowered. It’s part of a growing problem of systemic antisemitism in David Eby’s party, and British Columbians should be alarmed.”
Rustad said the people of British Columbia deserve to know whether their Premier supports allowing someone with a record of antisemitism to sit on city council — or whether he’s just too scared to stand up to his radical political allies.
“The Jewish community in this province is under threat. They deserve a Premier who will stand up and say: this is wrong,” said Rustad. “David Eby’s refusal to condemn antisemitism isn’t just disgraceful — it’s dangerous.”
Rustad reaffirmed the Conservative Party of BC’s commitment to standing with the Jewish community and to confronting antisemitism wherever it appears.
“If David Eby can’t even say Sean Orr’s antisemitism is unacceptable, then he is unfit to lead this province,” Rustad said. “The Conservative Party of BC will always stand against hate — loudly, clearly, and without apology.”
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