The BC Liberals香蕉视频直播� self-admitted inability to connect with voters was the theme of their inaugural leadership debate on Sunday.
The six candidates made their pitches to a packed hall of more than 600 party supporters in Surrey.
But no matter who was speaking, the topic of the day was how the BC Liberals had failed to translate their message of jobs, economic growth and balanced budgets into one of tangible benefits for B.C. voters.
香蕉视频直播淭he platform didn香蕉视频直播檛 reflect what that meant to people in their own lives,香蕉视频直播� said . 香蕉视频直播淲e lost 11 seats, 10 of those in the Lower Mainland. We stopped listening. We stopped connecting.香蕉视频直播�
Former transportation minister Todd Stone agreed.
香蕉视频直播淲e were seen as to not be listening to British Columbians, particularly here in Metro Vancouver,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Vancouver-Langara MLA Michael Lee put the blame on the opposition and the press.
香蕉视频直播淚 believe that we need to change the narrative,香蕉视频直播� said Lee. 香蕉视频直播淲e need to get past the false choices that the NDP and the media have set up in this province.香蕉视频直播�
South of the Fraser has been painted as a key battleground for the party and Watts, as former mayor and South Surrey-White Rock MP, pressed for the hometown advantage as she pledged to improve Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 transportation corridors.
香蕉视频直播淲e have four stops in North Surrey and that was Expo 香蕉视频直播�86. That香蕉视频直播檚 the rapid transit line we have here in Surrey,香蕉视频直播� said Watts. She reiterated her support for the Massey Bridge but told the crowd it had to be part of a comprehensive transportation plan for B.C.
went one step further.
香蕉视频直播淚 think we should pick up where the Expo line ends at the King George Station and carry it through to Langley.香蕉视频直播�
Watts and de Jong weren香蕉视频直播檛 the only two to focus on Lower Mainland losses.
香蕉视频直播淚 think we香蕉视频直播檝e all had that experience of watching the election result and seeing how much we lost in the eastern suburbs,香蕉视频直播� said . 香蕉视频直播淭hose are areas we should have won and the reason we didn香蕉视频直播檛 is that we were preaching at people from 30,000 feet, telling them about credit ratings and debt-to-GDP ratio. It meant nothing in their living rooms.香蕉视频直播�
De Jong agreed.
香蕉视频直播淎ll of these terms that we use香蕉视频直播� balanced budgets, credit ratings, they are code for one thing: choices,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Housing was a key issue for all debaters.
said that housing prices one of the top two threats to B.C. communities, telling the crowd that 香蕉视频直播渓arge areas of [the Lower Mainland] are now reserved for only luxury housing; single, detached homes.香蕉视频直播�
Despite record-breaking illicit drug overdose numbers hitting record highs last week, only Sullivan made a promise to tackle the issue during the debate.
People with addictions need 香蕉视频直播渢he opportunity to wean themselves off香蕉视频直播� right now it香蕉视频直播檚 illegal for a drug addict to wean themselves off drugs. The drugs are illegal.香蕉视频直播�
Sullivan pitched a reformed HST tax, which he dubbed the MST tax: everything the HST had but 香蕉视频直播渕inus haircuts and Chinese food.香蕉视频直播�
Candidates across the board promised to make B.C. a hospitable province for its ever-growing tech sector. Stone told the crowd that he would bring tech education to the province香蕉视频直播檚 kids. Watts promised to fix procurement issues that she said dogged Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 Innovation Boulevard.
But overall, there was a focus from several candidates that whoever party members picked to represent them in the legislature, that person would also have to represent B.C. to the world.
As Lee put it, 香蕉视频直播渢hey need to sell the B.C. brand.香蕉视频直播�
All current candidates, except for 香蕉视频直播� turned out for the debate. The day before the debate, , offering his support to de Jong.
This was the first of six debates that will take place across the province in the lead up to
Watch the debate below:
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