B.C. Liberal leadership hopeful Dianne Watts says the party has to reconnect with British Columbians if it hopes to wrestle back power from the NDP in the next provincial election.
Watts, the former Surrey mayor who quit as a Conservative MP last month to run for leadership of the B.C. Liberals, brought her campaign to Kelowna Tuesday, the latest stop on a tour of all 87 provincial ridings she said she has undertaken.
Speaking to a group of about 50 people at a downtown restaurant, Watts香蕉视频直播攃onsidered by many to be the front-runner in the race to succeed former Liberal leader Christy Clark香蕉视频直播攕aid it was clear from the loss of 11 seats by the party in the provincial election in the spring, the party has lost its connection to many British Columbians, especially in urban areas of the Lower Mainland.
香蕉视频直播淎nd we need to reconnect,香蕉视频直播� she said.
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That will start by doing what she is now doing, she said香蕉视频直播攇etting out and listening to what British Columbians want and need, and working to provide those things.
In her remarks, Watts was critical of the party following the last election for running on a platform only to change many of its positions in the subsequent Throne Speech. That speech was presented after the Liberals squeaked out a razor-thin, one-seat election victory.
香蕉视频直播淚f it香蕉视频直播檚 good enough to be in the platform, it香蕉视频直播檚 good enough to be in the Throne Speech, said Watts of the many flip-flops in the Throne Speech.
The changes香蕉视频直播攊n many cases reversals of previous long-held positions and election promises香蕉视频直播攚ere made in a last-ditch bid to hold onto power, given the NDP香蕉视频直播攚ith the support of the B.C. Green Party香蕉视频直播攈ad enough votes between them in the Legislature to topple the Liberals in a vote of non-confidence.
That is what they did, not only pushing the Liberals out of power after 16 years in office but also prompting Liberal leader and former premier Christy Clark to resign and quit politics altogether, despite having been re-elected easily as MLA in her Kelowna West riding.
Watts, who lived in Kelowna as a teen and graduated from KSS, said the party needs renewal and a new vision, both of which she believes she can provide. And she pointed to her nine years as mayor of Surrey, the province香蕉视频直播檚 second largest city, and a community with any challenges as proof.
While there, she said, she was able to bring many different groups together and get things done, not unlike the task of leading the 香蕉视频直播渇ree-enterprise coalition香蕉视频直播� that she said is today香蕉视频直播檚 B.C. Liberal Party.
Watts, who ran as a Conservative in the 2015 federal election and was elected MP in Surrey-White Rock, quit her federal seat Sept. 30 to run for leadership of the B.C. Liberals.
Following her brief remarks Tuesday in Kelowna, several people who spoke to the Capital News said they were impressed with her and what she had to say.
香蕉视频直播淪he has a strong message and I think (the B.C. Liberals) really do need to refocus,香蕉视频直播� said Brad Savoury, a recent arrival in Kelowna from Alberta.
Another recent arrival, knows first-hand what Watts can do in a position of leadership.
Nicholas Popoff said he moved to Kelowna from Surrey and lived there during Watts time as mayor.
香蕉视频直播淚f Dianne Watts can replenish the party and do what she did for the City of Surrey, the province of B.C. will be a better place,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Local Kelowna realtor Jane Hoffman also liked Watts message, saying she found her direct and liked the direction she wanted to take B.C.
Local Liberal MLAs, Norm Letnick (Kelowna-Lake Country) and Steve Thomson (Kelowna-Mission) were also on hand to hear Watts speak Tuesday night.
Both have yet to publicly endorse any of the eight candidates running for the Liberal leadership and Letnick said he will not do so until after the Dec. 2 leadership candidates香蕉视频直播� debate to be held in Kelowna. That debate will be open to all members of the public, not just B.C. Liberal Party members.
Letnick said a key requirement for whoever wins the leadership will be the ability to then go on to win the next provincial election.
香蕉视频直播淲e need a leader who can beat (current NDP leader and Premier) John Horgan,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Both Letnick and Thomson served as ministers in Clark香蕉视频直播檚 former Liberal government and brushed off Watts criticisms of that government and the party香蕉视频直播檚 tactics following the election.
Both men said all the leadership candidates bring different strengths to the race and that is a good thing. The leadership race, said Thomson, is about moving forward, not looking back.
Using a sports analogy, Letnick said he believed his party has a 香蕉视频直播渄eep bench香蕉视频直播� when it comes to the candidates running to succeed Clark and that will serve the Liberals well.
Watts visit to Kelowna was just one of four by Liberal leadership candidates, yesterday and today, with Micheal Lee in the city to rally support yesterday, Mike DeJong here today, speaking in the same spot as Watts this morning at 8 a.m. at the Curious Cafe on Ellis Street, and Andrew Wilkinson, speaking at the Rotary Centre for the Arts at 11:30 a.m. today.
