B.C. Conservative leader muzzles MLAs to avoid exposing caucus divides

B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad, who promised his caucus free votes and freedom of speech, took the unusual step this week of muzzling his MLAs during a contested vote that would have exposed the divides within his caucus.

The New Democratic Party government called the vote in the legislature on the social values that have been tearing apart the official opposition for months.