[6][7] He ran in Cowichan-Malahat again in the 1986 provincial election, this time defeating NDP candidate Carolyn Askew to become the riding's member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
In a joint statement, the four stressed that they "in no way desire[d] the fall of our government", but wished to spur an "open and realistic assessment" of Premier Bill Vander Zalm's continued leadership.
[8] Bruce was said to have grown discontent after the shocking by-election defeat in Cariboo, a longtime stronghold for the party, two weeks prior.
[10] Vander Zalm resigned as premier and party leader in April 1991; his successor Rita Johnston appointed Bruce to the cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture.
[17] However, in a separate investigation by the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, Bruce was found in breach of the Federal Lobbyists' Code of Conduct for not registering.