2018_British_Columbia_Liberal_Party_leadership_election

2018 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election

2018 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election

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A British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election was held on February 3, 2018, due to the resignation of Christy Clark as Liberal leader on August 4, 2017. Rich Coleman was elected interim leader announcing that he has no intention of running for leader, but would resign as interim leader if he changed his mind, adding that he did not anticipate changing his mind.[2]

Quick Facts Date, Convention ...

Background

Under leaders Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark, the BC Liberal Party governed the province from 2001 until June 2017. In May 2017, the provincial election resulted in a hung parliament, with the Liberals holding 43 seats, one short of the 44 required for a majority. Clark initially formed a minority government, but resigned as premier after being defeated in a confidence vote by an alliance of the British Columbia New Democratic Party and Green Party of British Columbia.[3] On July 28, 2017, Clark announced that she would resign as party leader and as MLA for Kelowna West on August 4. The BC Liberal Caucus selected Rich Coleman, MLA for Langley East, as interim leader, to serve until a permanent leader can be chosen.[2]

Procedure

Party president Sharon White released a statement on Clark's resignation on the same day it was announced. This statement specified that the exact timeline and details of the leadership election process would be finalized within 28 days. As per the party's constitution, the election will give all party members a vote, but will give equal weight to all 87 constituencies in tallying the results.[4] A preferential (ranked) ballot will be used with voting conducted online and by phone.

Timeline

  • May 9, 2017 – In the general election, the BC Liberals held the largest number of seats (43), ahead of the NDP (41) and Greens (3), but were one seat short of forming a majority in the Legislative Assembly.
  • May 29, 2017 – The Green Party of British Columbia, which held the balance of power in the legislature, reached a confidence and supply agreement with the official opposition NDP.
  • June 29, 2017 – Clark's minority government was defeated 44–42 on motion of non-confidence by the NDP-Green alliance. Subsequently, Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon turned down Clark's request for a snap election, despite Clark's argument that the legislature would be dysfunctional due to the Speaker frequently having to cast the tie-breaking vote, and instead asked NDP leader John Horgan to form a minority government.
  • July 18, 2017 – John Horgan is sworn in as premier leading an NDP minority government.
  • July 28, 2017 – Clark announced her resignation as Liberal leader effective August 4, 2017. Rich Coleman is elected interim leader by the party's caucus. The Liberal Party executive is to meet within 28 days to decide a timeline for the leadership election which is expected to occur within a year, and in as short a period as three months.[2]
  • August 29, 2017 – Nomination period opens.[1]
  • September 21, 2017 – Sam Sullivan declares his candidacy.[5]
  • September 24, 2017 – Dianne Watts announces her candidacy.[6]
  • September 25, 2017 – Andrew Wilkinson and Mike Bernier announce their candidacies.[7][8]
  • September 26, 2017 – Mike de Jong and Mike Lee declare their candidacies.[9]
  • September 29, 2017 – Official leadership event scheduled for Vancouver.[10]
  • October 10, 2017 – Todd Stone announces his candidacy.[11]
  • October 14, 2017 – Bernier withdraws, endorses de Jong.
  • October 15, 2017 – First leadership debate, held in Surrey, British Columbia[10]
  • December 29, 2017, at 5 pm – Nomination deadline and deadline to become a member of the party and be eligible to vote.[1]
  • February 1, 2018, at 9 am – voting begins.
  • February 3, 2018, at 5 pm – voting ends, results of the first ballot were announced at a convention in Vancouver at approximately 6 pm.[12]

Declared candidates

Mike de Jong

Mike de Jong
Background

Mike de Jong is the MLA for Abbotsford West and formerly for the Abbotsford-Mount Lehman and Matsqui electoral districts (since 1994). He was a cabinet minister throughout BC Liberals 16 years in power under Premiers Campbell and Clark, serving as Minister of Finance (2012–17), Minister of Health (2011–12), Solicitor General (2010), Attorney General (2009–10), Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (2006–09), Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services (2005–06), Minister of Forests (2001–05) and Government House Leader.[13] He was previously a candidate for leader in the 2011 Leadership Election and placed fourth.

Date candidacy declared: September 26, 2017[14]
Campaign website: Official Website
Endorsements
Other information
Proposes an all-day kindergarten program for four-year-olds, financial incentives for local governments who can complete zoning and permitting processes related to 50 residential units or fewer within 10 months, relocating government offices related to forest and lands ministry to Prince George.[15]

Michael Lee

Michael Lee
Background

Michael Lee is the MLA for Vancouver-Langara (since 2017). He is a lawyer by profession, a former partner at Lawson Lundell LLP and was formerly a special assistant to Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Kim Campbell.[16]

Date candidacy declared: September 26, 2017[9]
Campaign website: Official Website
Endorsements
Other information
Proposes to eliminate LNG tax, complete the Site C dam, build rapid transit beneath the Broadway Corridor to UBC, phase out the use of disposable plastic grocery bags, increase the deposit on all beverage containers, create an enhanced internship tax credit, and increase funding and access to legal aid.[20]

Todd Stone

Todd Stone
Background

Todd Stone is the MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson (since 2013). He has served as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure (2013–2017), Minister Responsible for Emergency Management BC (2015–2017) and Deputy Government House Leader (2013–2017).[21]

Date candidacy declared: October 10, 2017[22]
Campaign website: Official Website
Endorsements
Other information
Proposes to eliminate the hospital capital tax, create an agricultural electricity rate, double the Rural Dividend Fund, expand the teaching of coding in elementary and high school, delivering government programs and services online, increasing support to Buy Local campaigns and agricultural fairs, expanding trade offices in Asia, provide support for an agriplex in the Comox Valley.[27]

Sam Sullivan

Sam Sullivan
Background

Sam Sullivan is the MLA for Vancouver-False Creek (since 2013), former Minister of Communities, Sport and Cultural Development with responsibility for Translink (2017), and former Mayor of Vancouver (2005–08). He has also been president of the Global Civic Policy Society and an adjunct professor with the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. [28]

Date candidacy declared: September 21, 2017[5]
Campaign website: Official Website
Other information
Proposes to privatize the Liquor Distribution Branch and elements of the health care system, introduce charter schools to BC, create a modified sales tax to replace the provincial sales tax.[29]

Dianne Watts

Dianne Watts
Background

Dianne Watts was the Conservative MP for South Surrey—White Rock (2015–17), and former Mayor of Surrey (2005–14)

Date candidacy declared: September 24, 2017[6]
Campaign website: Official Website
Endorsements


Andrew Wilkinson

Andrew Wilkinson
Background

Andrew Wilkinson is the MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena (since 2013), and former Attorney General (2017), Minister of Advanced Education (2014–17) and Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services (2013–14). He also served as Deputy Minister of Economic Development (2003–06) and Deputy Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (2001–03). He is a doctor and a lawyer by profession, and a former Rhodes Scholar.[39]

Date candidacy declared: September 25, 2017[7]
Campaign website: Official Website
Endorsements
Other information
Proposes to privatize government-owned liquor stores, abolish the small business income tax for family businesses, create an office to attract American investment to BC, and create a northern premier and cabinet office in Prince George with video-conferencing services to representatives in Victoria.[44]

Withdrawn candidates

Mike Bernier

Background

Mike Bernier is the MLA for Peace River South (since 2013), former Minister of Education (2015–17), and former councillor (2005–08) and mayor (2008–13) of Dawson Creek.[45]

Endorsements

Date candidacy declared: September 25, 2017[46]
Campaign website: Official Website
Date withdrawn: October 14, 2017
Subsequently endorsed: Mike de Jong
Reason:[47] Bernier withdrew citing an inability to amass support in the Lower Mainland. Supported de Jong based on de Jong's experience.

Lucy Sager

Background

Lucy Sager is a businesswoman who lives in Terrace.
Date candidacy declared: September 20, 2017[48]
Campaign website: Official Website
Date withdrawn: November 2, 2017
Subsequently endorsed: Dianne Watts
Reason:[49] Sager withdrew citing her belief that Watts would give the best chance to defeat the NDP.

Declined

Opinion polls

All British Columbians

More information Date(s) administered, Polling firm/Link ...

Results

  = Eliminated from next round
  = Winner
More information Candidate, Ballot 1 ...

Riding results

More information City of Vancouver, Vancouver East ...
More information Lower Mainland, North Shore ...
More information Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria ...
More information Interior, Okanagan ...

See also

References

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