2022 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election

A British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election is planned to be held on February 5, 2022, to elect a new party leader, following the resignation of Andrew Wilkinson after the 2020 British Columbia general election.[1]

2022 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election
DateFebruary 5, 2022
Resigning leaderAndrew Wilkinson

On November 23, 2020, Shirley Bond was elected by party caucus members to serve as interim leader; the candidate elected in the 2022 contest will replace Bond as party leader.[2][3] In a press conference held the following day, she said that the party would take some time to consider the election loss before launching its leadership contest.[4][2] At that time, Bond suggested the contest would occur "not too late" in 2021, saying a period of introspection about the party's performance in the 2020 election and future direction were needed before a new leader is chosen.[5][6] However, on February 26, 2021, the date of the leadership convention was announced as February 5, 2022. Interim party president Don Silversides explained that the race was set for 2022 in order to "attract the broadest possible range of candidates", and at a point when the COVID-19 pandemic should be under control.[1][7]

The election is to be overseen by a seven-person organizing committee to be co-chaired by former Liberal cabinet minister Colin Hansen and Victoria lawyer Roxanne Helme.[8] Other committee members include member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jackie Tegart and former Prince George councillor Cameron Stolz.[9][10]

Official candidates

Gavin Dew

Gavin Dew is a business person and served as the BC Liberal candidate in the 2016 by-election in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant[11][12]

Date candidacy declared: March 30, 2021[13]

Kevin Falcon

Kevin Falcon is the former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale (2001–2013), former deputy premier of British Columbia, runner-up in 2011 BC Liberal leadership election[14][15]

Date candidacy declared: May 17, 2021[16]
Endorsements of Kevin Falcon (14)

Michael Lee

Michael Lee is MLA for Vancouver-Langara, 3rd-place contestant in the 2018 leadership election.[31] 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.[32]

Date candidacy declared: June 9, 2021[33]
Endorsements of Michael Lee (1)

Ellis Ross

Ellis Ross is the MLA for Skeena, a former chief councillor of the Haisla Nation and a recipient of the Order of British Columbia.[14][35][36]

Date candidacy declared: February 18, 2021[37]
Endorsements of Ellis Ross (3)

Val Litwin

Val Litwin is the CEO of the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce[40]

Date candidacy declared: June 22, 2021[41]

Renee Merrifield

Renee Merrifield is the MLA for Kelowna-Mission[42]

Date candidacy declared: August 2, 2021[43]

Stan Sipos

Stan Sipos is the president of Cielo Properties Inc.[44]

Date candidacy declared: November 24, 2021[45]

Rejected candidates

Declined

References
  1. "B.C. Liberals to choose next party leader in 2022". CBC News. February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021 – via The Canadian Press.
  2. Zussman, Richard (November 24, 2020). "BC Liberal caucus chooses Shirley Bond as interim leader". Global News. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  3. "Veteran MLA Shirley Bond chosen interim leader of the B.C. Liberal Party". CBC News. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  4. Fletcher, Tom (November 24, 2020). "B.C. Liberal leadership contest will wait for election post-mortem". Peace Arch News. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  5. Fletcher, Tom (December 23, 2020). "How does the 'British Columbia Party' sound for 2021?". Saanich News. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  6. "2021 a time to ask hard questions about what went wrong, BC Liberals' interim leader says". CTV News. December 31, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  7. Zussman, Richard (February 26, 2021). "BC Liberals set choose new leader on Feb. 5, 2022". Global News. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  8. Meissner, Dirk (January 21, 2021). "Plans underway for race to replace outgoing B.C. Liberal leader". CBC News. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  9. Fedigan, Jess (January 21, 2021). "Prince George business owner selected for BC Liberal Leadership Election Organizing Committee". Delta Optimist. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
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  12. DeRosa, Katie (March 31, 2021). "Political strategist Gavin Dew announces B.C. Liberal leadership bid". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  13. "Political strategist Gavin Dew announces B.C. Liberal leadership bid". vancouversun. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  14. Zussman, Richard (January 21, 2021). "Andrew Wilkinson still has not resigned as leader of the BC Liberals". Global News. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  15. Palmer, Vaughn (January 20, 2021). "With Stone out of the running for B.C. Liberals, speculation turns to Kevin Falcon". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  16. DeRosa, Katie (May 17, 2021). "B.C. Liberal leadership: Former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon swoops into the race". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  17. Falcon, Kevin [@KevinFalcon] (December 9, 2021). "Glad to have the support of Abbotsford South MLA @BruceBanman! "We need a leader that's committed to rebuilding, a leader that has experience, a leader that can gather and rally the Party so that we can beat the NDP. I believe that leader is Kevin Falcon" #bcpoli #LetsWinBC t.co/5MuxQPNyvi" (Tweet). Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Twitter.
  18. Mike Bernier Endorsement | Kevin Falcon Leadership. Kevin Falcon. October 11, 2021. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via YouTube.
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  21. Falcon, Kevin [@KevinFalcon] (November 20, 2021). "I'm proud to have the support of West Van-Capilano MLA Karin Kirkpatrick! "Kevin is speaking to the types of issues we need to focus on if we want to win back seats in BC's urban areas. Two of the most important issues being childcare and the environment"-@KirkpatrickWVC #bcpoli t.co/SRjDIuCPtL" (Tweet). Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Twitter.
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