A Number Of Provincial Issues Addressed At Liberal Leadership Debate

As the BC Liberals are in search of their next leader, a debate held Saturday in Prince George saw all 6 remaining candidates firing on all cylinders, even exchanging barbs with one another. Forestry, mining and energy was where Todd Stone directed his path at the debate, calling all three vital to the BC economy, and areas being overlooked by the current NDP government. Dianne Watts, a former Conservative MP and Surrey Mayor took a lot of heat when the candidates asked questions to one another. Michael Lee asked Watts if she is fiscally responsible to be leader, citing back to when she was Mayor of Surrey and tagged the total cost of a new City Hall, parkade and civic plaza at $97 million, but eventually finishing off at $138 million. Watts defended the project though, claiming it was what Surrey needed and that a daycare was also added to the development. Sam Sullivan says he believes Prince George is what got Vancouver the 2010 Winter Olympics, noting Prince George is a community with a “can do” attitude. Andrew Wilkinson criticized Mike De Jong for his promise made earlier this week about relocating the forestry ministry to Prince George. Wilkinson grilled De Jong on the issue stating he could have done that 12 years ago when he was Forests Minister. The Opioid Crisis, working with First Nations and defeating a referendum on proportional representation were all other issues talked about by the leadership hopefuls. The next party leadership debate is in Nanaimo on November 19th.