John Rustad says he expects a spirit of defiance and for free speech to reign in his British Columbia Conservative Party caucus 香蕉视频直播� even if it involves pitting team members against each other, including himself.

But he said there香蕉视频直播檚 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-Fadugba香蕉视频直播檚 resignation last month.

Conservative public safety critic Elenore Sturko had endorsed Sakoma-Fadugba香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渃ancel culture.香蕉视频直播�

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 wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 talk about the agenda, he said members were free to speak their minds.

香蕉视频直播淭hey have the right to say things,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭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.香蕉视频直播�

Sturko has refused to meet Sakoma-Fadugba and said she stands by her views, which her caucus opponents香蕉视频直播� letter said 香蕉视频直播渃alled into question our (party香蕉视频直播檚) commitment to the core values shared by Conservatives.香蕉视频直播�

Rustad said in a social media post late Monday that he met Sakoma-Fadugba, and she was a 香蕉视频直播渨onderful香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播減roudly Christian香蕉视频直播� person who shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have been asked to quit. He said Sturko should meet her too.

Sturko said her boss didn香蕉视频直播檛 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 香蕉视频直播渢hat he respects that different people will have different points of view and that he values free speech, particularly of MLAs.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚 certainly appreciate that and I don香蕉视频直播檛 feel uncomfortable at all expressing my point of view,香蕉视频直播� said the former RCMP officer. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 have any plans to change my position at all.香蕉视频直播�

Rustad said that was fine by him. 香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 whip our people,香蕉视频直播� said Rustad. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 completely up to her.香蕉视频直播�

Sturko香蕉视频直播檚 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 Rustad香蕉视频直播檚 efforts to create what he called a 香蕉视频直播渂ig tent香蕉视频直播� party.

But 香蕉视频直播済rowing pain香蕉视频直播� had been exposed by the various responses to Sakoma-Fadugba香蕉视频直播檚 exit from the police board, Sturko said.

香蕉视频直播淚 joined this party to work side by side with John and I intend to do that,香蕉视频直播� said Sturko. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to continue our discussions behind closed doors of caucus and I have no trepidations or hard feelings against the members I香蕉视频直播檓 working with.香蕉视频直播�

Sakoma-Fadugba香蕉视频直播檚 posts on Instagram had included remarks about the impact of multiculturalism on 香蕉视频直播淐anadian values.香蕉视频直播�

In a video posted on social media Monday, Sakoma-Fadugba said she had been 香蕉视频直播渇orced to resign香蕉视频直播� for advocating what she called 香蕉视频直播渃ivic nationalism, respect for Canadian heritage and parental rights.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he exclusion of Christians should not be the price we pay for multiculturalism,香蕉视频直播� she added, saying she wanted to 香蕉视频直播渕ake Canada Canadian again.香蕉视频直播�

She said B.C. and federal Conservatives 香蕉视频直播渕ust stand with us,香蕉视频直播� referring to what she called a 香蕉视频直播渟ilent majority.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播渁s a private conversation.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 sure now, in hindsight, many of my colleagues feel the same way,香蕉视频直播� she said.

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