By Nanaimo News Now

BC Liberals tackle feelings of abandonment on Van Isle at Nanaimo leadership debate

Nov 20, 2017 | 5:58 AM

NANAIMO —  The six candidates running for leader of the BC Liberals had a lot of making up to do at their most recent leadership debate in Nanaimo.

It was often referenced how Vancouver Island is seen as a BC NDP stronghold and there’s only one BC Liberal MLA on the island.

“We need to expand and widen the appeal of our party,” candidate Michael Lee said in his opening remarks. “Our vote count and vote base has been declining in the last four elections…we went from 14 seats to one seat on this island. We need to change our approach…we need to inspire British Columbians, not talk down to them.”

The first question specifically addressed how the party planned on gathering votes of the environmentally-minded on Vancouver Island.

“The key thing here is that we’ve done a good job in this party, when we’re in government, of integrating environmental interests and economic interests,” Andrew Wilkinson, who lived in Campbell River for three years, answered. “We need to build a reputation among our young people, among our citizens, that we have the highest possible environmental standards.” He advocated for proper waste-water facilities on the Island as a possibility for change.

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In her response, former Surrey mayor and federal Conservative MP Dianne Watts re-pitched the idea of a political platform specifically designed for Vancouver Island. It was previously introduced by the BC Liberals on the campaign trail earlier this year, aimed at boosting Island priorities and making sure NDP ridings weren’t forgotten.

“We have 800,000 people on this island. It’s going to grow to 1.2 million people. We have to have an Island strategy that’s actually meaningful to everyone here in their life….We need to make sure we’re addressing issues around tourism, resource development, transportation, dealing with the ferries and the highway system,” Watts said.

During both pre-submitted questions and questions from candidates directed at one another, topics such as the floundering ICBC, managing complex forestry decisions and promoting early education were discussed.

During the inter-candidate question period, Watts and former Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone were attacked the most. Watts was accused of having a vague platform and being a provincial politics outsider, while Stone was constantly hounded by rising ICBC and BC Ferries rates under his watch.

Stone countered by saying there had been significant changes and streamlining at ICBC, such as new anti-fraud programs and more efficient computer systems, though he admitted there were still serious issues with the corporation.

“The head winds at ICBC are significant,” he said. “We need more red-light cameras at intersections across British Columbia, we need to also invest more in road safety systems more generally and yes, we do need to look at product reform.”

Candidate Mike de Jong couldn’t stay for the whole debate. He left after the second question to return to his Abbotsford riding for the funeral service for fallen Cst. John Davidson.

This was the third of six leadership debates. BC Liberal party members will elect a new leader on Feb. 3, 2018.

The full debate can be seen by clicking here: http://www.nanaimonewsnow.com

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com