Delta South MLA Ian Paton is throwing his support behind Liberal leadership hopeful Todd Stone.
Paton this week announced that he’s endorsing Stone, one of six candidates vying for party leadership following the resignation of former premier Christy Clark.
“After months of deliberation and wringing my hands as to who I should support, I finally decided that I’m going to support Todd Stone…there were three or four caucus members when I got elected who stood out in my mind that if there was ever a leadership race they would be excellent candidates. He (Stone) is young, bright, well-spoken and will have appeal,” said Paton.
Stone, who will attend a party get together at Paton’s East Ladner farm this afternoon where he will make some policy announcements, hoping to get Delta farmers’ support, has been touring the province along with the other candidates.
The Kamloops-South Thompson MLA in his last portfolio in government served as the transportation minister who strongly defended the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project.
His last visit to Delta this spring didn’t go over very well when anti-bridge activists showed up to disrupt a ground-breaking ceremony. Forced to speak to reporters in a tiny former fire hall, Stone explained the many attributes of the project, noting much technical work has gone into analyzing it and that there’s overwhelming public support.
He also reiterated the bridge project, which has been suspended by the new NDP government pending a technical review, is about creating jobs as well as relieving the worst congestion point in B.C.
Stone’s leadership platform includes creating up to 75,000 new childcare spaces and dealing with affordable housing issues.
He has the endorsement of four other sitting MLAs as well as several former MLAs.
Also in the campaign are former Surrey mayor and Conservative MP Dianne Watts, and MLAs Andrew Wilkinson, Michael Lee, Sam Sullivan and Mike de Jong.
The leadership vote will take place between Feb. 1 and Feb. 3 via online as well as telephone voting.
