Watts lights it up in Round 4
It won’t go down in history as “the great debate,” or the turning point in the BC Liberal leadership campaign, but Saturday morning’s affair in Kelowna easily scored an eight out of 10.
It began with a welcome by Kelowna MLA Norm Letnick, trying to do his best Michael Buffer (“Let’s get ready to rumble,” or something along those lines). Moderator Jas Johal read the ground rules. Each of the six finalists gave recognition to Ben Stewart, presently fighting it out to be the Westside-Kelowna MLA again. Then it became nasty. Dianne Watts was immediately put on the hot seat by opponents Todd Stone and soon Andrew Wilkinson, who coincidentally drew numbers and were seated on each side of the former mayor of Surrey.
“We lost the election because we stopped listening,” said Watts, who was not a candidate in the 2017 provincial election. “We did not connect with British Columbians, a lot of the trust was lost and we have to work to win the 11 ridings (which were lost) back.”
The format allowed for candidates to ask questions of one another. It’s easy to see who the frontrunners are. Sam Sullivan wasn’t asked anything, although he engaged in some entertaining banter with Mike de Jong, nudging his wheelchair up close to go at it with the former finance minister.
Very little was asked of Michael Lee, who came across as a really nice guy with sincere ideas.
De Jong was the comedian, other times the peacemaker.
“B.C. needs you to make the commitment that when this is over, we all take off our (campaign) buttons and all put on one button, a BC Liberal button, and we are going to beat the NDP,” de Jong said.
The format was good, the event wellpublicized, and unlike most federal Conservative rallies staged in 2015, everyone was invited. The doors were open to the public and not just party members (although a few more chairs would have been nice.)
Among those in the packed hall — Penticton MLA Dan Ashton, Summerland Coun. Richard Barkwill, former Summerland Mayor Tom Johnson and political junkies Ernie and Elvena Slump.
On the stage, as expected, there were continuous shots at the present NDP government as well as the Greens. Nothing was said of the federal Liberals. The United States was mentioned only once.
Candidates agreed on most issues, including proportional representation, fire season, and the high-tech sector. Several candidates commented on their own upbringing and family situation, in particular with their aging parents.
Candidates, at times, gave specific references to the Okanagan Valley. DeJong mentioned UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College, several times. Stone made note that he’s the only candidate from the Interior. There was also homage to WAC Bennett and Bill Bennett, as well as kind words for predecessors Christy Clark and Gordon Campbell. I liked many of the comments made. Sullivan wants to create some open competition for ICBC. On the opioid crisis, the former Vancouver mayor said, “There were 2,000 people over the last two years who died. Almost every one of them was preventable.”
DeJong, meanwhile, suggested moving the forestry and agriculture ministries to cities close to the people who are directly affected.
If I had to pick a winner, I’d go with Dianne Watts. She was tough, convincing, well-organized, and held her own when it appeared as though she was being picked on, for no other reason than being an outsider.
“Please do not lie,” she said to Stone, once the microphones were cut off. The audience clearly heard her.
This, of course, is just my opinion. If you asked 10 people who were at the meeting, you will probably get 10 different answers. There wasn’t that Brian Mulroney-esque, “You had an option, sir,” knockout punch by any of the candidates.
Which of the six candidates stands the best chance of being promoted from leader of the Opposition to premier? I think any one of the six is capable of winning because it’s the NDP/Green’s election to lose, whenever that might be.
The leadership debates resume in the new year.