Kamloops South-Thompson MLA Todd Stone (left) and Kamloops North-Thompson MLA Peter Milobar (right) (CFJC Today/File photo).

By Aaron Schulze

B.C. Liberals Post-Mortem

Stone and Milobar not surprised with B.C. Liberals election report, look forward to new ideas

Jun 16, 2021 | 4:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Neither of Kamloops’ MLAs were surprised from the B.C. Liberals’ post-mortem released on June 12.

Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone said the most compelling part of the B.C. Liberals’ document analyzing the party’s 2020 B.C. election loss to the NDP was the situation of being in a snap election amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There was an overwhelming mindset amongst many British Columbians that change in Victoria was not as important as maintaining the leadership that was in place, in terms of managing the pandemic,” Stone said. “I do believe the platform that was put forward was not something that contains many compelling, big, bold ideas. I think we certainly watched as our leader [Andrew Wilkinson], for all kinds of reasons, had some difficulties in connecting with people, which is not a helpful reality in an election campaign as well.”

In the wake of Wilkinson’s resignation, B.C. Liberal party members will elect their new leader on Feb. 5, 2022. Four candidates have already declared: businessperson Gavin Dew, former Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Kevin Falcon, Vancouver-Langara MLA Michael Lee and Skeena MLA Ellis Ross. Stone said the B.C. Liberals’ slate will be wiped clean and the candidates have a chance to inspire party members, and potentially British Columbians.

“I certainly will be looking for someone who has a very strong economic agenda… strong statements on plans for ensuring affordable housing options, and ideas to provide improved access and affordable childcare spaces across the province,” Stone said. “I’ll be looking for candidates who have really credible, thoughtful, serious plans to address climate change as well.”

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To inspire party members and undecided voters, Stone believes there’s a growing desire within the B.C. Liberals to seriously consider changing the party’s name.

“The policies and priorities of the leader and the party need to reflect the solutions that address the challenges British Columbians are facing on a day-to-day basis,” Stone said. “If we get it right on the policy side and who we pick for leader – and we couple that with a new, refreshed brand for the party, which likely could include a name change – I think we’ll give the NDP one heck of a run in the next election.”

MLAs Peter Milobar (l) and Todd Stone flank former leader Andrew Wilkinson during the 2020 election campaign in Kamloops. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

North of the river, Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar said it’s always important for a party to self-reflect following an election loss, but the post-mortem provided no surprises.

“It gave everyone a chance to take a breath and realize there were a lot of similar thoughts around what did not work,” Milobar said. “That way we can move forward through this leadership race and be ready to rebuild for the next election. I think we’ll have a great opportunity now through the next seven or eight months building up to the leadership vote to see the ideas and directions that various people stepping forward want to see for the party.”

Milobar said all political parties tend to morph and change their policies, directions and views over time, but they get highlighted more in the middle of a leadership race.

“The key thing in any leadership race is to see how those new ideas come forward with the grassroots membership’s direction they would like to see the party go in. By way of choosing a leader of representing what they feel we need to be, as a centre-right party, in the modern times,” Milobar said.

Regarding endorsements of one of the four B.C. Liberals leadership candidates, Milobar said he’ll remain neutral as he serves as house leader through the remaining legislature sessions.

“We’ll let the leadership race play out within the membership as a separate entity from my role.”