Andrew Wilkinson insists he鈥檚 the person to renew the B.C. Liberal Party.
Wilkinson, MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena, was in Vernon Wednesday as part of his bid to take over the helm of the party from Christy Clark.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a time for rebuilding of the party,鈥� he said, referring to the party gaining minority government status in the spring election but then losing power to the NDP and Greens through parliamentary procedures.
鈥淲e have to do a lot of listening so we can do better. It鈥檚 a matter of sitting down with 87 ridings across the province. It鈥檚 a matter of listening to people and what their priorities are.鈥�
Among the issues being raised are affordability and economic conditions in communities.
鈥淧eople are worried about their future,鈥� said Wilkinson.
He is also hearing concern about the NDP鈥檚 plans for electoral reform and a shift to proportional representation from the current first-past-the-post system.
鈥淥nce people hear what the NDP are up to, they are quite annoyed. It (proportional representation) leads to unstable, minority governments.鈥�
Wilkinson most recently served as justice minister, but he has also been minister of advanced education and technology and innovation. He also served as deputy minister for intergovernmental relations for two years and was president of the B.C. Liberal Party from 1998 to 2001.
He is currently among eight candidates for the party leadership. The others are Michael de Jong, Sam Sullivan, Lucy Sager, Dianne Watts, Todd Stone, Mike Bernier and Michael Lee.
鈥淭here is a very capable field of candidates. It鈥檚 good for the party to have so many qualified candidates,鈥� he said, adding that he is confident about his campaign.
鈥淚 want to be a leader for all of B.C. I have a broad knowledge of this province. I want to make sure the next generation has the same opportunities we had.鈥�
