Vaughn Palmer: The B.C. Conservative leader is having trouble getting out his own message as questions about some candidates continue

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VICTORIA — Nearing the end of the third week of the election campaign, B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad scheduled an announcement about the future of B.C. Ferries, part of the slow rollout of a party platform that has yet to be released in full.

Rustad promised an overhaul for the troubled service, a house cleaning at fleet headquarters, and a monthly pass for frequent travellers.

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He’d also give B.C.-based shipyards a better shot at building new vessels, a commitment delivered at the Seaspan yard in North Vancouver. Rustad didn’t explain how he would cover the extra cost of building ships here in B.C. instead of overseas. It could cost twice as much, according to some estimates.

But when he took questions from reporters Thursday, no one asked about his plan for the ferry system.

Instead most of the questions were about messes of the Conservatives own making.

What was Rustad’s response to the just-come-to-light comments about Muslims and Palestinians from Brent Chapman, the Conservative candidate in South Surrey?

“Brent has made an apology. We........

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