Pitching To Party Faithful

Thursday, February 03, 2011 05:09 PM

Ed Mayne, Christy Clark, Kevin Falcon, Mike de Jong, George Abbott and Moira Stilwell

Prince George, B.C. - For the second day in a row, the six candidates vying to replace B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, have faced off in front of party faithful...

Yesterday, it was a debate in Kamloops, the second event is just wrapping up at the Ramada in Prince George. And, as was reportedly the case yesterday, the leadership hopefuls chose not to trade any direct punches in front of the approximately 150 card-carrying party members who came out on this snowy/rainy afternoon.

All six took turns introducing themselves, highlighting their already stated platforms, and answering questions submitted from party members from around the province. The importance of the northern B.C. and the importance of expanding education opportunities to meet the growing demand for skilled labour were two themes throughout the hour-and-a-half gathering -- and often the two were interwined in responses.

Moira Stilwell, Christy Clark, Kevin Falcon, and George Abbott all spoke of the need for some kind of technical engineering training program in the north. And while they all offered ideas for maximizing northern BC's, and all of the province's, prosperity, Mike de Jong was the only one to point out what he feels should be at the centre of the party's agenda -- "you can't spend more than you're making, it's pretty basic. If you do you're going to be in trouble. Folks, we're spending $1.7-million dollars more than we're making right now." He says addressing that problem needs to be central to any Liberal plan for the future.

Ed Mayne was the only candidate to distance himself from the rest of the group, saying he has no link the this current government. And said he was addressing, "the elephant in the room", by raising the issue of the HST. He says he fully supports it and thinks it was the right tax, at the right time.

From this debate, many are expected to make their way to the Civic Centre, where 800 B.C. Liberals are expected to gather for a farewell dinner for Gordon Campbell. The Liberals wil elect a new leader, and new premier of the province, on February 26th.

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