B.C. Liberals gather in Vancouver to build May 2017 election team
VICTORIA — It’s still six months before British Columbians go to the polls, but the unofficial start of the election campaign is expected to get underway Friday as the Liberal party gathers in Vancouver.
Up to 1,300 people are registered to attend a three-day convention, which is being billed as the party’s largest team-building exercise before it seeks a fifth consecutive victory in May.
Campaign strategy adviser Jim Messina, who helped both U.S. President Barack Obama and former British prime minister David Cameron win second terms, has been hired as the keynote speaker to rally the grassroots.
“With six months to go, we are better prepared than ever before,” party spokeswoman Jillian Stead said. “We know that campaigns matter and as the clock ticks to May 9, 2017, we know this is going to be a really tough one.”