It was watching provincial politics unfold in B.C. this spring that inspired soon-to-be-former MP Dianne Watts to put in her BC Liberal Party leadership bid.

Watts announced her long-anticipated decision to run at an 香蕉视频直播榠nvite-only香蕉视频直播� event in Surrey Sunday afternoon. There, she spoke about a disconnect between B.C. voters and the BC Liberals.

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In a phone interview with Black Press a day later, she offered up her solution on how to fix that.

香蕉视频直播淲e really need to be looking at why we lost so many seats, why there was a disconnect and why people were dissatisfied,香蕉视频直播� said Watts. She expressed concern over the 香蕉视频直播渟elf-mandated coalition香蕉视频直播� between the NDP and the Greens, as well as the bewilderment sowed by former premier Christy Clark香蕉视频直播檚 June throne speech. Critics accused Clark of simply replicating the NDP香蕉视频直播檚 platform and betraying those who had voted for the BC Liberals.

香蕉视频直播淭he throne speech confused a lot of people. They weren香蕉视频直播檛 sure what to expect,香蕉视频直播� said Watts. 香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 really important that they know what the BC Liberals stand for香蕉视频直播� and that they香蕉视频直播檙e part of creating that vision.香蕉视频直播�

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Watts, who has spent the past two years as the Conservative MP for South Surrey-White Rock, said that she was 香蕉视频直播渆ncouraged by people in [her] riding and all through the Lower Mainland and province香蕉视频直播� to run for the BC Liberals香蕉视频直播� leadership role. A byelection has yet to be called for her riding but the last one, in Alberta, cost taxpayers $1.2 million.

香蕉视频直播淚 have had overwhelming support to move forward,香蕉视频直播� she said, confirming that she will not get involved in the campaign to replace her as MP. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not something I take lightly.香蕉视频直播�

Watts made her decision after 香蕉视频直播渓ooking at the number of seats that were lost by the BC Liberals, looking at how the self-mandated coalition came together to defeat the government and Christy [Clark] stepping down and what香蕉视频直播檚 been going on in the past two months when the NDP and the Greens have taken power香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

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The BC Liberals lost several key ridings in Watts香蕉视频直播� old stomping ground, leading former finance minister Mike de Jong, who is now himself mulling a leadership bid, to question why Watts wasn香蕉视频直播檛 around to help the former government when they needed it.

Watts refuted any thought that a federal politician should have spent time meddling in provincial politics but did latch onto her civic past as a reason why she could reverse the Liberals香蕉视频直播� poor fortunes in the Lower Mainland.

香蕉视频直播淚 hope to offer up my skill set in terms of spending a couple of decades working within the Lower Mainland,香蕉视频直播� said Watts. 香蕉视频直播淭he transportation issue is absolutely key; the gridlock and traffic right now is off the charts.香蕉视频直播�

She noted that housing affordability in the region needed 香蕉视频直播渧ery creative solutions香蕉视频直播� including different kinds of housing stock, co-op housing and making sure that those choosing to live further east had transportation to get them to the region香蕉视频直播檚 downtown cores.

Watts said she was 香蕉视频直播渁stonished香蕉视频直播� that conversations on how to fund the Lower Mainland香蕉视频直播檚 megaprojects, including the now-paused Massey Bridge and the Pattullo Bridge replacements, continue to this day.

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香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e looking at things in isolation, not as a system,香蕉视频直播� said Watts. 香蕉视频直播淲e have to have the federal government, provincial and local and regional governments come together and create a master plan of a system for movement of goods throughout the province. Until that is done we will continue to half these on off fights throughout the region.香蕉视频直播�

With the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention kicking off in Vancouver as she spoke, Watts emphasized that no local government would be left out of the decision making process.

She lauded the province香蕉视频直播檚 just-launched public consultation with cities on pot legalization but emphasized that 香蕉视频直播渋f marijuana is going to be sold in communities, then that money needs to stay in communities to support the sale, the regulation, the policing.香蕉视频直播�

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Earlier today, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth acknowledged that a revenue sharing formula between the three levels of government had yet to be worked out.

Watts is one of a growing list of candidates running for the BC Liberals香蕉视频直播� top spot. , and have all announced their bids, with more expected to follow in the coming days.

Voting will take place Feb. 1-3. Only party members are allowed to cast a ballot. The BC Liberals will hold six debate across the province beginning on Oct. 15 in Surrey.