The final BC Liberal leadership debate saw things heat up as we enter the final week before the voting period.
At the brunt of it all was Andrew Wilkinson and Michael Lee, with the former called the latter “new at the job”.
Lee responded by saying “attitudes like that is why the Liberals are still in opposition”.
Prince George – Valemount MLA, Shirley Bond, has no problem with the excitement she saw.
“They wanted to make sure that people who were watching understood the passion they have for the province and the party,” she explains.
“It certainly was, at times, very emotional during the debate but that’s to be understood. The stakes are very high for these candidates and they’ve done a lot of work.”
Other shots were made about financial decisions and candidates’ track records, among other things, making some candidates feel patronized.
It’s all just part of the process, according to Bond, who goes on to describe the main characteristic she is looking for in the new leader.
“Someone who is going to be able to relate well right across the province; who has to be able to capture the attention and the votes of people both in rural and urban British Columbia,” says Bond.
“That’s one of the challenges we faced; on paper, we won the election but with the minority situation a coalition government is now in place.”
Two candidates will make one more stop in Northern BC, both in Prince George, before voting goes live.
Todd Stone will make an appearance Thursday night, while Lee will be in the northern capital Friday.
Ballots will be cast between February 1st and 3rd, with the announcement coming the night voting closes.
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