Backed by 13 current MLAs and boasting a wealth of political and career experience, Andrew Wilkinson feels he’s best suited to be the next leader of the B.C. Liberal Party.
The Vancouver-Quilchena MLA made a stop in Ladner last Thursday where he met with party supporters as he enters the stretch run of the leadership race.
Wilkinson is vying for the top job against Mike de Jong, Michael Lee, Todd Stone, Sam Sullivan and former Conservative South Surrey-White Rock MP Dianne Watts.
Party members will elect a new leader during a three-day period starting Feb. 1 with an announcement expected after the vote closes on Feb. 3.
“Visiting south of the Fraser is very important in this leadership race because we have a lot of support in this part of the world,” Wilkinson told the Optimist prior to his presentation. “It’s very important to come out here and hear what people have to say. The significant advantage that I have is that I have lived and worked all over B.C., so I have a very good feel for the whole province. Plus I have the depth of experience and the skills to take on this challenge.”
On the night of Wilkinson’s visit, a major accident in the George Massey Tunnel tied up traffic for hours, which was not lost on the would-be party leader.
“On the way here today we got to the Bridgeport exit and it was an hour and 20 minutes to get through the tunnel because there had been an accident. It needs to get fixed. It’s the biggest traffic bottleneck in British Columbia. Tunnels will not last for another 50 years,” he said. “This is something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.”
During this leadership campaign, Wilkinson said affordability has been a major issue throughout the province, and an issue that he expects will be top of mind in the lead-up to the next election.
