Following weeks of speculation, Conservative MP Dianne Watts has officially thrown her hat into

In a much-hyped announcement in Surrey on Sunday afternoon, Watts told an invitation-only room of supporters that it was time to 香蕉视频直播渂ring our province back from a coalition government that is not only unstable, but determined to raise taxes, gut our natural resource sector and drive jobs and investment out of this province.香蕉视频直播�

WATCH: Dianne Watts announces her bid for BC Liberal Party leadership

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Watts joins a growing list of leadership candidates that includes and .

She will step down from her role as South Surrey White Rock MP, triggering a byelection. According to Elections Canada, the most recent federal byelection, which took place in Alberta, cost taxpayers $1.2 million.

When asked for his thoughts on Watts香蕉视频直播檚 bid, former finance minister Mike de Jong questioned her timing.

香蕉视频直播淚 hope we香蕉视频直播檒l find out why she香蕉视频直播檚 been such a stranger to the BC Liberal Party over the years,香蕉视频直播� said Abbotsford West MLA de Jong. 香蕉视频直播淭here were times when this year we could have used all the help we could get in Surrey.香蕉视频直播�

De Jong declined to comment on whether he would run for BC Liberals leadership but hinted that he thought 香蕉视频直播渢here will be more entrants in that race in the days ahead.香蕉视频直播�

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Watts, who was Surrey香蕉视频直播檚 mayor from 2005-2014 before becoming MP in 2015, leaned heavily on her time in civic politics while making her leadership pitch.

香蕉视频直播淲e created and built a city from the ground up,香蕉视频直播� Watts said. 香蕉视频直播淲e worked with investors, community groups to build an iconic downtown core.香蕉视频直播�

She lauded her city council香蕉视频直播檚 homelessness and housing strategy, noting that 香蕉视频直播渟till to this day, it gives people a safe place to live.香蕉视频直播�

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Watts admitted that the BC Liberals ended up with a 香蕉视频直播渄isconnect香蕉视频直播� with B.C. voters that the party will have to address. She admitted that past premier Christy Clark香蕉视频直播檚 Throne speech was 香蕉视频直播渃onfusing香蕉视频直播� for voters because it incorporated platform promises from the NDP and the BC Greens.

香蕉视频直播淲e have to reconnect, we have to create and build a new future and a new vision together,香蕉视频直播� said Watts. 香蕉视频直播淚 believe that a strong economy and a balanced budget must have a purpose and that purpose has to be our children, our families, our seniors and those who are our most vulnerable.香蕉视频直播�

It was a speech that echoed ones given by Clark, who played up the BC Liberals香蕉视频直播� economic prowess and the benefits to the province香蕉视频直播檚 families during the 2017 election campaign.

after a partnership between the NDP and the Greens gave a vote of non-confidence to her throne speech. NDP leader John Horgan was sworn in as premier in mid-July.

Watts had harsh words for the new provincial government. In a scrum following the speech, she called it 香蕉视频直播渨rong.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚n just a few weeks, the NDP-Green coalition have chased away billions of dollars in investment and job creation,香蕉视频直播� Watts said, citing carbon tax, income tax and business tax increases.

香蕉视频直播淲here香蕉视频直播檚 that money going? What香蕉视频直播檚 the plan? It香蕉视频直播檚 a mystery.香蕉视频直播�

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She acknowledged the need for campaign finance reform but said she didn香蕉视频直播檛 believe the new government was going about it properly.

Watts said that under her watch, the BC Liberals would take on softwood tariffs and pine beetles that she said have taken a toll on the forestry sector. She told the room she would fight to help B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 forests recover from what has been a record-breaking wildfire season in which over a million hectares has been lost.

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She promised a better seat at the table for municipalities, especially in the fight against the overdose crisis and in upcoming marijuana legalization. The province香蕉视频直播檚 local governments have made legal pot a key issue at the upcoming Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver this week.

香蕉视频直播淲hen marijuana is sold in communities, those dollars need to stay in those communities,香蕉视频直播� Watts said. 香蕉视频直播淎dditional policing for impaired driving, the distribution, sales and regulation are all additional costs.香蕉视频直播�

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Watts said that B.C. needed to take a 香蕉视频直播渕ulti-faceted approach香蕉视频直播� to an opioid crisis that has claimed 876 lives in 2017 so far. That approach 香蕉视频直播渋ncludes support for parents, for recovery centres, therapeutic communities, treatment options.香蕉视频直播�

In the Lower Mainland, where the Liberals lost seats South of the Fraser to the NDP香蕉视频直播檚 promises of lower tolls and better transit funding, Watts said she would focus on transportation.

香蕉视频直播淩apid transit lines need to be built right now,香蕉视频直播� she said, referring to light rail planned for Surrey and Langley.

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More to come.