B.C. Liberals to elect new leader among field of veterans and newcomers
VICTORIA — British Columbia’s Liberals will elect a new leader Saturday with an assignment to ignite and guide the party from an unfamiliar position in Opposition after 16 years in power.
An estimated 60,000 party members are eligible to vote online and by phone starting Thursday to replace Christy Clark, who resigned last summer after the New Democrats formed a minority government with the support of the Green party.
The field of six candidates includes three veterans with deep cabinet experience, two former big city mayors and a first-time member of the legislature from Metro Vancouver.
Mike de Jong, Andrew Wilkinson and Todd Stone were longtime members of Clark’s cabinet, joined late her in government by Sam Sullivan, who is also a former Vancouver mayor. The field of candidates also includes Michael Lee, a Vancouver lawyer who was elected to the legislature last spring, and Dianne Watts, a former Conservative MP and former mayor of Surrey.