2022 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election explained

Party:British Columbia Liberal Party
Fontcolour:white
Year:2022
Date:February 5, 2022
Replaces:Andrew Wilkinson
Winner:Kevin Falcon
Ballots:5
Numcands:7
Entryfee:$45,000
Spendcap:$600,000

A British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election was held on February 5, 2022, to elect a new party leader, following the resignation of Andrew Wilkinson after the 2020 British Columbia general election. Kevin Falcon was declared the winner following the counting of the fifth ballot. This was the last leadership election under the name "BC Liberal Party", as the party changed its name to "BC United" in April 2023.[1]

Background

On October 24, 2020, the 2020 British Columbia general election was held. The election was the Liberal Party's worst performance since the 1991 election, with the party falling from 41 to 28 seats and losing traditional strongholds in the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan. Two days after the election, Andrew Wilkinson announced that he would step down as leader.[2]

On November 23, 2020, Shirley Bond was elected by party caucus members to serve as interim parliamentary leader.[3] [4] In a press conference held the following day, she said that the party would take some time to consider the election loss before launching its leadership contest.[5] At that time, Bond suggested the contest would occur "not too late" in 2021, saying a period of introspection about the party's performance in the 2020 election and future direction were needed before a new leader is chosen.[6] [7] However, in February 2021, the leadership convention's date was set for February 5, 2022.

Interim party president Don Silversides explained that the race was set for 2022 in order to "attract the broadest possible range of candidates", and at a point when the COVID-19 pandemic should be under control.[8] Wilkinson had remained the party leader until February 17, 2021, which allowed the party to schedule the election in February 2022 and still comply with a provision of the party constitution which requires a leadership election take place within a year of a resignation.[9]

Procedure and rules

The election was overseen by a seven-person organizing committee co-chaired by former Liberal cabinet minister Colin Hansen and Victoria lawyer Roxanne Helme.[10] Other committee members included member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jackie Tegart and former Prince George councillor Cameron Stolz.[11] [12]

Candidates were required to pay an application fee of $1,000 and candidate fees totalling $45,000. The campaign spending limit is $600,000.

The vote was held using weighted instant-runoff voting. Each provincial electoral district was worth 100 points, and points were allocated based on candidate rankings in the district.

In January 2022, it was reported that six of the candidates had lodged complaints with the party over concerns about fraudulent and ineligible memberships. Sources said as many as 24,000 members, representing about 60 percent of total members, did not comply with the party's eligibility criteria.[13] Gavin Dew's campaign manager pointed to incomplete profiles, including typos in email addresses, wrong phone numbers, missing phone numbers or emails, and members sharing phone numbers or email addresses. Ellis Ross' campaign manager said door-to-door canvassers identified addresses where members were listed but did not appear to be living.[14] The concerns led to a review by the party's organizing committee.[15] Broadcaster and former MLA Jas Johal called the complaints a form of "structural and institutional racism", raising concerns that a review might disproportionately affect members of visible minorities.[14] Kevin Falcon's campaign opposed the review, saying it would disfranchise members.[16] [14] In late January, the party's returning officer wrote to the leadership campaigns to advise that members would be given an opportunity to fix "genuine mistakes" on their membership applications. Four of the campaigns were critical of the decision, calling for a comprehensive audit.[17]

On February 1, 2022, party member Vikram Bajwa filed a petition in the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking to delay the announcement of results until the party released details of the membership audit.[18] The hearing took place on February 4.[19] [20] The following afternoon, Justice Heather MacNaughton dismissed the petition, permitting the results to be released without a delay.[21]

Timeline

2020

2021

2022

Official candidates

Gavin Dew

Gavin Dew is a business person and served as the BC Liberal candidate in the 2016 by-election in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.[35] [36]

Kevin Falcon

Kevin Falcon is a former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale (2001–2013), a former deputy premier of British Columbia, and the runner-up from the 2011 BC Liberal leadership election.[37] [38]

Michael Lee

Michael Lee is MLA for Vancouver-Langara and was the 3rd-place contestant in the 2018 leadership election.[39] He is a lawyer, a former partner at Lawson Lundell LLP and was a special assistant to Progressive Conservative prime minister Kim Campbell.[40] Lee has previously served as the party's critic for Transportation, Infrastructure and TransLink, for Justice, and as co-critic for Indigenous Relations.[41]

Ellis Ross

Ellis Ross is MLA for Skeena, a former chief councillor of the Haisla Nation and a recipient of the Order of British Columbia.[42] In 2017, he served briefly as the minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing in the Christy Clark government, until the NDP and Greens defeated the government on a confidence vote several weeks after his appointment.[43]

Val Litwin

Val Litwin is the former CEO of the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce.[44]

Renee Merrifield

Renee Merrifield is MLA for Kelowna-Mission.[45] Elected in October 2020, she served as the party's Critic for Health.[46]

Stan Sipos

Stan Sipos is the president of Cielo Properties Inc.[47]

Rejected candidates

Declined

Results

Kevin Falcon was declared the winner following the counting of the fifth ballot. Ellis Ross had the second-highest score, and Michael Lee the third. All other candidates were eliminated prior to the fifth ballot. The party announced the following results on February 5, 2022, via a Facebook live stream:

= Eliminated from next round

= Winner

CandidateBallot 1Ballot 2Ballot 3Ballot 4Ballot 5
NamePointsPercentPointsPercentPointsPercentPointsPercentPointsPercent
Kevin Falcon 412147%414347.6%4202.3648.3%4318.1449.63%4541.3552.19%
Ellis Ross 232526.7%2355.927.1%2493.128.66%2714.5031.2%2928.3333.65%
Michael Lee 89910.3%912.410.5%938.4310.8%1039.3711.94%1230.3114.14%
Val Litwin 5045.8%517.95.95%536.176.16%627.977.21%Eliminated
Gavin Dew 4665.4%481.45.5%429.936.01%Eliminated
Renee Merrifield 2783.2%2893.3%Eliminated
Stan Sipos 104.61.2%Eliminated

Notes and References

  1. News: CBC . April 12, 2023 . B.C. Liberal Party officially becomes B.C. United .
  2. Web site: Little . Simon . November 21, 2020 . BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson stepping down for interim leader . January 16, 2022 . Global News.
  3. News: Zussman . Richard . November 24, 2020 . BC Liberal caucus chooses Shirley Bond as interim leader . . November 25, 2020.
  4. News: Veteran MLA Shirley Bond chosen interim leader of the B.C. Liberal Party . November 24, 2020 . . November 25, 2020.
  5. News: Fletcher . Tom . B.C. Liberal leadership contest will wait for election post-mortem . November 24, 2020 . . November 25, 2020.
  6. News: Fletcher . Tom . How does the 'British Columbia Party' sound for 2021? . December 23, 2020 . . December 29, 2020.
  7. News: 2021 a time to ask hard questions about what went wrong, BC Liberals' interim leader says . December 31, 2020 . . January 5, 2021.
  8. News: . February 26, 2021 . B.C. Liberals to choose next party leader in 2022 . . February 26, 2021.
  9. News: Zussman . Richard . February 17, 2021 . Andrew Wilkinson formally resigns as BC Liberal leader months after election defeat . . January 18, 2022.
  10. News: Meissner . Dirk . Plans underway for race to replace outgoing B.C. Liberal leader . January 21, 2021 . . January 26, 2021.
  11. News: Fedigan . Jess . Prince George business owner selected for BC Liberal Leadership Election Organizing Committee . January 21, 2021 . . January 27, 2021.
  12. News: Yanor . Fran . Bond navigating party's 'existential crisis' on cusp of Liberal leadership race . January 28, 2021 . . January 29, 2021.
  13. News: LaPointe . Kirk . Membership list controversy looms over BC Liberal leadership vote . January 7, 2022 . . January 14, 2022.
  14. News: LaPointe . Kirk . BC Liberal committee seeks to reassure voters after leadership candidates demand tougher audit of new memberships . January 11, 2022 . . January 14, 2022.
  15. News: Meissner . Dirk . . 'Concerns' about memberships prompt review ahead of BC Liberal leadership vote . January 7, 2022 . . January 14, 2022.
  16. News: Palmer . Vaughn . B.C. Liberal leadership race — at least there are no cats involved . January 12, 2022 . . January 14, 2022.
  17. News: LaPointe . Kirk . BC Liberal leadership race organizers give disputed memberships a do-over . January 27, 2022 . . January 31, 2022.
  18. News: Greer . Darryl . Party member files court petition to delay BC Liberal leadership race results . February 1, 2022 . . February 2, 2022.
  19. News: Meissner . Dirk . Court asked to delay B.C. Liberal leadership result over membership concerns . February 2, 2022 . . February 3, 2022.
  20. News: . B.C. Liberals' audit of new members was extensive, lawyer tells court . February 4, 2022 . . February 5, 2022.
  21. News: Charlebois . Brieanna . Judge rejects bid to delay the release of B.C. Liberal leadership results . February 5, 2022 . . February 5, 2022.
  22. News: Ross . Andrea . October 26, 2020 . Andrew Wilkinson resigning as BC Liberal leader after worst party showing in decades . CBC News . February 8, 2022.
  23. Web site: Liberal MLA Ellis Ross first to announce plans to seek BC Liberal leadership . December 1, 2021 . Global News.
  24. Web site: Political strategist Gavin Dew announces B.C. Liberal leadership bid . December 1, 2021 . vancouversun.
  25. News: DeRosa . Katie . B.C. Liberal leadership: Former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon swoops into the race . May 18, 2021 . . May 17, 2021.
  26. Web site: BC Liberal MLA Michael Lee joins party leadership race . December 1, 2021 . Global News.
  27. News: Val Litwin Enters the B.C. Liberal Race as a Catalyst of Change . financialpost . December 1, 2021.
  28. Web site: August 2, 2021 . Health critic, Kelowna MLA Renee Merrifield joins BC Liberal leadership race . December 1, 2021 . Castlegar News.
  29. Web site: BC Liberals . 2022 . BC Liberals Leadership 2022 . January 24, 2022 . British Columbia Liberal Party.
  30. Sipos . Stan . StanSipos . 1463708695104159755 . November 24, 2021 . Nomination papers have been submitted @bcliberals Our policies are taking shape and we're getting excited to bring positive, meaningful change to BC! . December 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211207070414/https://twitter.com/StanSipos/status/1463708695104159755 . December 7, 2021 . live.
  31. Web site: BC Liberals . 2022 . Leadership 2022: Rules and Procedures for the Election of the BC Liberal Party Leader . January 24, 2022 . British Columbia Liberal Party.
  32. News: Zussman . Richard . January 18, 2022 . BC Liberal leadership hopefuls spar over memberships, affordability in final debate . . January 24, 2022.
  33. News: Meissner . Dirk . January 30, 2022 . After reflecting on two election defeats, B.C. Liberals will elect new leader on Saturday . . January 31, 2022.
  34. News: Meissner . Dirk . Brieanna . Charlebois . February 5, 2022 . Former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon wins B.C. Liberal leadership race on 5th ballot . . February 6, 2022.
  35. News: Dew . Gavin . December 24, 2020 . BC Liberals need 21st century leadership to rebuild . . January 26, 2021.
  36. News: Katie . DeRosa . March 31, 2021 . Political strategist Gavin Dew announces B.C. Liberal leadership bid . . March 31, 2021.
  37. News: Zussman . Richard . Andrew Wilkinson still has not resigned as leader of the BC Liberals . January 21, 2021 . . January 26, 2021.
  38. News: Palmer . Vaughn . With Stone out of the running for B.C. Liberals, speculation turns to Kevin Falcon . January 20, 2021 . . January 31, 2021.
  39. Lee . Michael . MichaelLeeBC . 1394355977613299713 . May 17, 2021 . Ready to run. https://t.co/jKHeyH2gqr . June 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210529040120/https://twitter.com/MichaelLeeBC/status/1394355977613299713 . May 29, 2021 . live.
  40. Web site: 41st Parliament Members – Mike Lee.
  41. Web site: Michael Lee. September 23, 2021. BC Liberal Caucus. en-US.
  42. News: Link . Rod . Skeena MLA to run for BC Liberal Party leadership . February 18, 2021 . Terrace Standard . March 3, 2021.
  43. Web site: Ellis Ross appointed to Christy's cabinet . June 12, 2017 . June 12, 2017 . Leibel . Gerry . Northern Sentinel . Kitimat, BC.
  44. Zussman . Richard . Richard Zussman . richardzussman . 1407347273680498704 . June 22, 2021 . NEW – Former BC Chamber of Commerce CEO Val Litwin is running to be the next leader of the BC Liberal Party. #bcpoli . October 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210623025813/https://twitter.com/richardzussman/status/1407347273680498704 . June 23, 2021 . live.
  45. Web site: Nicholas . Johansen . Kelowna MLA Renee Merrifield is looking to become the new leader of the BC Liberals – Kelowna News . August 1, 2021 . August 2, 2021 . www.castanet.net.
  46. Web site: Renee Merrifield. January 7, 2021. BC Liberal Caucus. en.
  47. Sipos . Stan . StanSipos . 1468007076978847745 . December 6, 2021 . We have officially been accepted into the BC Liberal leadership race!! Looking forward to competing, starting with tomorrow nights zoom debate!!! #stan4bcliberalleadership . December 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211207070417/https://twitter.com/StanSipos/status/1468007076978847745 . December 7, 2021 . live.
  48. Web site: D'Amour . Mike . October 9, 2021 . Gunn-ing for BC's top job . October 10, 2021 . The Western Standard.
  49. News: Grochowski . Sarah . Aaron Gunn tossed from BC Liberals leadership race due to 'diversity concerns' . October 22, 2021 . . October 22, 2021.
  50. News: CHEK . BC Liberal Party rejects Aaron Gunn's leadership bid, he says fight 'is only just beginning' . October 22, 2021 . . October 22, 2021.
  51. News: DeRosa . Katie . B.C. Liberal leadership race amps up as two contenders enter field . May 17, 2021 . . May 17, 2021.
  52. News: Paterson . Shannon . Former premier Christy Clark on a new path and new leader for the BC Liberals . October 26, 2020 . . March 3, 2021.
  53. News: Fry . Greg . Mike Morris opts out of BC Liberal leadership race . March 19, 2021 . . March 30, 2021.
  54. News: Zussman . Richard . BC Liberals set choose new leader on Feb. 5, 2022 . . February 26, 2021 . March 3, 2021.
  55. News: Tibballs . Scott . Wilkinson would have been a great Premier: Shypitka. . October 26, 2020 . Cranbrook Townsman . January 12, 2021.
  56. News: Zussman . Richard . Former minister Todd Stone says he won't seek BC Liberal leadership . January 14, 2021 . . January 15, 2021.
  57. News: Stone . Todd . Opinion: Todd Stone's open letter to BC Liberals after "dreadful" election result . November 12, 2020 . . November 26, 2020.
  58. News: Amir . Mo . Tamara Taggart blasts BC Liberals amid leadership speculation . December 22, 2020 . . December 29, 2020.
  59. News: Zussman . Richard . The BC Liberals are looking for a new leader. Here are some possibilities . October 27, 2020 . . November 25, 2020.
  60. News: Smith . Charlie . What's up with Brad West and the B.C. Liberal leadership race? . March 6, 2021 . . March 29, 2021.
  61. News: The Mike Smyth Show: Who's REALLY running for BC Liberal Leadership? . March 10, 2021 . . March 29, 2021.

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