Analysis: BC Liberal leadership race grows

> Todd Stone announces candidacy

Jillian McMullen Staff Writer

odd Stone, MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson and former minister of transportation, announced October 10 his bid for the BC Liberal leadership. The party began its search for a new leader when Christy Clark resigned in early August after the NDP-Green party coalition toppled her government, which had been in power for 16 years.

In the May election, the Liberals were badly beaten in the area of Metro Vancouver. In a letter posted to his campaign site, Stone said the previous government “failed to listen to the voices of many British Columbians.”

Stone was instrumental in the transit plebiscite of 2015, which was ultimately unsuccessful. He said in a Vancouver Sun report that it had been a “tough lesson,” but one that he is willing to face head on.

Prior to entering politics, Stone was the CEO of a technology company, and one of his campaign promises is to commit to developing the province's technology sector to help grow BC’s economy.

He is also campaigning on improved affordability and increased access to childcare and early childhood education.

The leadership race itself has grown much larger than previous BC Liberal leadership campaigns. In the 2011 race to replace Gordon Campbell, there were only four candidates; the current race’s ballot has grown to eight candidates.

Some faces may be familiar to residents of the Lower Mainland. Former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan, as well as former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts, are both vying to a chance to lead the party.

Sullivan was first to announce his candidacy. Currently the MLA for Vancouver-False Creek, Sullivan promises to focus on developing the province’s urban centers in a video

posted to his website. This will largely focus on increasing affordable housing and addressing the overdose crisis

According to a report by the Toronto Star, Watts, who is now the current Conservative MP for South Surrey-White Rock, promises to step down from her federal seat to focus on provincial politics, if elected to lead the BC Liberals. In the Toronto Star report, Watts said she was inspired to enter the race in light of the NDP-Green coalition, something she says is “unstable.”

Other candidates include Mike

Tosser 2 = oH

ee

E 3 4 x uv vu S 2 x s a a ° 2 E o x Ss > vu c 9 £ Ww 3 8 ec . 3 ° £ ° x oa

CC [The previous government] failed to listen to the voices of many British Columbians.” — Todd Stone

Bernier, former minister of education; Mike de Jong, former minister of finance and former minister of health; Andrew Wilkinson, former minister of advanced education and former minister of technology; Michael Lee, newly-elected MLA of Vancouver-Langara; and Lucy

Election underway for education council student representative

> Three students from New Westminster campus vying for seat

Jake Wray News Editor

Over 17 is the final day to vote in a byelection to select one student representative from the New Westminster campus to sit on the Douglas College education council.

The education council is an elected body consisting of two students from the Coquitlam campus, two students from the New Westminster campus, two support staff, and ten faculty members. The responsibilities of the education council include defining curriculum content, setting various academic policies, and advising the Douglas College board.

Three students are in the running for an open seat to represent the New Westminster campus on the education

council. The candidates were required to be taking at least 50 per cent of their courses at the New Westminster campus, and they each had to provide a 250-word statement to the College outlining their campaign goals.

McKenzie Hutchison, a third- year associate of science student and the director at large for the DSU, wrote in her statement that her experience with the DSU and other organizations makes her an ideal candidate for the education council.

“[I] serve as the DSU Deputy Chairperson and a member of the DSU Budget and Operations Committee. Lalso serve as the President of the Athletes’ Council Club at Douglas, and am a member of the women’s volleyball team,” she wrote. “These roles have granted me excellent

experience in representing students and advocating for student rights.”

Hutchison wrote that, if elected, she would advocate for more program choices, open educational resources, and more support for students who wish to continue their education beyond Douglas College.

Sarah Long, an associate of arts student who plans to study behavioural neuroscience at UBC or SFU, wrote in her statement that she would represent mature students.

“As a mature student who has been here for a few years, I believe I am an accurate representation of that portion of the student population,” she wrote.

“If I can help shape what the future of the school looks like I will feel satisfied with my time here and be able to take the next step in my education.”

Sarah Thompson, who is

Sager, a businesswoman from Terrace. To remain in the race, candidates

must pay $50,000 to the Liberal

Party by December 29, with the

party voting between February 1

and February 3 of next year.

also competing for a seat on the education council, wrote in her statement that she would represent students’ financial interests if elected to the education council.

“T will make every effort to ensure the finances of Douglas College are being used to the best interest of students,” she wrote.

Thompson wrote that she would seek to expand textbook buyback, to increase scholarships and bursaries, to allow opt-out from the Compass Card program, and to hire advisors to help students who wish to transfer to another post-secondary school.

Students who are taking more than 50 per cent of their classes at the New Westminster campus can vote for an educational council representative online by signing in to the student registration system.