By Greg Fry

Provincial politics

Mike Morris opts out of BC Liberal leadership race

Mar 19, 2021 | 9:59 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — Mike Morris has decided not to take a run for leader of the BC Liberal Party.

The Prince George-Mackenzie Liberal MLA told CKPG Today last month that he was mulling a run.

In an opinion piece released to CKPG today, Morris said he decided to pass up on the opportunity after “much though, reflection and consultation.”

Though he’s not running, Morris took time to reflect on the party’s loss in last fall’s provincial election and offered some advice on what the party needs to do to find success in the future.

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For instance, he said if the party wants to remain “a big tent” coalition, it needs a leader who understands this strength and who “is willing to broaden that coalition with a principled leadership approach.”

“The election results have shown us that we have lost our way, lost our focus, and lost our connection with urban voters, voters who can no longer see themselves reflected in the BC Liberals, and can no longer see the path ahead.”

The party will choose it’s next leader on Feb. 5, 2022. So far Skeena Liberal MLA Ellis Ross is the only declared candidate.

You can read the entire opinion piece below:

Recently I was asked by a reporter if I was letting my name stand as a candidate for the BC Liberal leadership. I replied that I was contemplating this opportunity but had not yet made up my mind. After much thought, reflection and consultation, I have decided not to let my name stand.

A couple of decades ago, one of my instructors in a series of courses I was taking on “Organizational Effectiveness” said to our class that “no organization has the right to exist”. At the time, I held a senior position in an organization that was over a century old, and up to that moment, had never thought about this. We get lulled into mediocrity or into thinking that we know best. He was right. If you don’t offer a product or a service that people subscribe to, you cease to be valid.

If the BC Liberals are to remain a “big tent” coalition, the reason that drew many of us to the BC Liberal party in the first place, we need a leader who understands this strength and is willing to broaden our coalition with a principled leadership approach. The election results have shown us that we have lost our way, lost our focus, and lost our connection with urban voters, voters who can no longer see themselves reflected in the BC Liberals, and can no longer see the path ahead.

Our task is to redefine who we are, where we are going, and how are we going to get there. A leader is not a position, it is not an entitlement and is not a reward of ambition. Personal confidence must trump personal ego. A leadership candidate should ask themselves – who will follow me? Why would they follow me? What do I have to offer?

A leader is inspirational – a visionary. A leader is one who passionately lays out his/her vision for the future, who has identified the few key strategies necessary to achieve that vision, who understands how to align our resources to kick those strategies into gear, and most importantly, has modeled these traits in the past.

The BC Liberals are embarking on an exercise to win the next election – not at the expense of an NDP government that may eventually fall victim to public discord but win because we have concentrated on what British Columbians want. All generations and every person need to see themselves reflected in what we stand for and feel welcome in our big tent coalition. Our British Columbia affords opportunity for everyone and commits to the good health of all citizens.

Our job is not to manage the status quo – our job is to describe the future and to constantly and publicly describe the future, not release it in a platform at election time. Every Bill debated in the house and every question in question period should be aligned with our vision and strategy to inculcate in the minds of British Columbians, what we stand for. By developing a clear vision and strategies complete with supporting initiatives, we will be election ready at any time.

I’ve observed over the years that those who constantly look over their shoulder at the past will always collide with the obstacles of the future. Let’s put the “same old same old” in our rear-view mirror and redesign politics for the future.

Is there a visionary out there who is passionate about British Columbia, who is willing to make an 8-year commitment, and has the skills to lead a diverse group of personalities? Step up to the plate – you’ll have my support.