ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022 | NEWS | A7
Kevin Falcon wins B.C. Liberal leadership race By Glen Korstrom Kevin Falcon won the B.C. Liberal leadership race on the fifth ballot Saturday night, over six competitors. The format to determine the winner involved each of B.C.’s 87 ridings getting 100 points, which were distributed according to the share of the vote by each constituency’s members’ votes. Voters were asked to rank candidates in order of preference. Falcon received 4,121 points on the first ballot, or 47.37%. The announced total, however, was that Falcon received 47% of the vote. Stan Sipos finished last on the first ballot, with 104.6 points, or 1.2%, and was therefore forced to drop out of the race. The second choices on the ballots that ranked him first were then counted. The results for the others on the first ballot included: • Ellis Ross with 26.7%; • Michael Lee with 10.3%; • Val Litwin with 5.8%; • Gavin Dew with 5.4%; and • Renee Merrifield with 3.2%. The second ballot results were: • Kevin Falcon with 47.6%; • Ellis Ross with 27.1%; • Michael Lee with 10.5%; • Val Litwin with 5.95%; • Gavin Dew with 5.5%; and • Renee Merrifield with 3.3%. The third ballot results were: • Kevin Falcon with 48.3%; • Ellis Ross with 28.66%; • Michael Lee with 10.8%; • Val Litwin with 6.16%; and • Gavin Dew with 6.01%. The fourth ballot results were: • Kevin Falcon with 49.63%; • Ellis Ross with 31.2%; • Michael Lee with 11.94%; and • Val Litwin with 7.21%. Litwin, who raised controversy in the past week by saying that he would not be part of a Kevin Falconled party, then dropped off the ballot. The point share after the fifth ballot was: • Kevin Falcon with 52.19%; • Ellis Ross with 33.65%; and • Michael Lee with 14.14%. The former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale was the most experienced candidate in the race, having served almost 12 years in the legislature, up until April 2013. Falcon held various posts in former Premier Gordon Campbell’s government, including about five and a half years as minister of transportation.
Under former Premier Christy Clark, Falcon served as minister of finance and deputy premier. Falcon’s campaign was the only one in the race that did not take issue with alleged irregularities in thousands of new memberships. Party member Vikram Bajwa brought a petition to BC Supreme Court seeking an order to force the party to delay releasing tonight’s results, but Justice Heather MacNaughton today ruled that he had not sufficiently proved his case. Katy Merrifield, who was communications director to Clark, said following the vote that her interpretation of MacNaughton’s ruling was that it was an 11th-hour challenge that amounted to “sour grapes.” Merrifield said she was neutral during the campaign, but in the end decided to support Falcon. She hailed Falcon’s 47.37% support level on the first ballot as a strong indication that the party was behind him. The fact that he needed four more ballots to crawl over the 50% threshold was simply a matter of the way preferential-ballot systems play out, she said, as the system necessarily means that those who drop off the ballot have few votes to redistribute. “The last leadership race we saw went to five ballots,” said Merrifield, who managed former Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson’s campaign in 2018. “It’s indicative of the ballot system itself.” She said Falcon’s move to the private sector after he left politics makes him a better candidate, with more depth. Political observer and NDP insider Bill Tieleman said that Falcon is yes-
terday’s man. “It strikes me that a leader of the BC Liberal Party who was first elected in 2001 – 21 years ago – and talking about renewal, and talking about the bad old NDP, is out of touch,” Tieleman said. Tieleman then praised Falcon as a shrewd political operative who could be a formidible opponent. “I don’t think the NDP should be popping any Champagne corks, or feeling overconfident at all, because Kevin Falcon is a good campaigner,” Tieleman said. “He’s learned from his period in the private sector – clearly getting out of politics for a while I think is a good idea for any politician in any party – and he’s not to be underestimated.” Jordan Bateman, who is president of the Langley East riding association, shrugged off Tieleman’s assertions that Falcon is yesterday’s man. He said that Falcon is not yet 60 years old, unlike some power brokers in the NDP government, such as Premier John Horgan and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth. Bateman worked on Falcon’s 2011 leadership campaign, when Falcon lost to Clark. “He’s a better candidate today than he was 11 years ago, and I think that’s why the NDP are so terrified,” Bateman said. “He’s smarter. He understands private-sector issues better, and understands better the impact of government, good and bad. He certainly has a much deeper understanding of the housing and affordability files, which I think are absolutely key to rebuilding the party in urban areas. So he’s going to be a very strong candidate.”
Falcon plans to run for legislature, names critic portfolios; Falcon plans to run in a byelection later this year in Vancouver-Quilchena, which would be called after former leader Andrew Wilkinson officially resigns his seat, Falcon told media on Monday. Wilkinson has agreed to resign his seat, Falcon said. Once that happens, the NDP government must call a byelection within six months. Falcon also listed some key appointments at a press conference. Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond will continue in her role as the leader of the official opposition in the legislature, while Falcon seeks a seat in the house. Bond is also the Liberals’ critic for health, seniors services, and long-term care. North Peace MLA Dan Davies remains in his role as the official opposition critic for social development and poverty reduction. South Peace MLA Mike Bernier is the official opposition critic for housing. Kamloops South MLA Todd Stone is the party’s new house leader, and will also be the critic for jobs, economic recovery, trade and innovation. Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar is the party’s new finance critic. Falcon has appointed Skeena MLA Ellis Ross, who came second in the leadership race, as critic for energy and LNG. Vancouver-Langara MLA Michael Lee, who placed third in the race, wil be critic for Indigenous relations. Renee Merrifield, who came sixth in the race, will be critic for the environment and climate change. —Business in Vancouver
MP Zimmer supports Poilievre in race for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has launched his bid to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, with other members of Parliament already pledging their support, including local MP Bob Zimmer. Poilievre is the first candidate to announce his intention to run for the party’s top spot after MPs forced Erin O’Toole out of the position only three days earlier. In a three minute video released on social media on Saturday night, Poilievre criticizes government spending and says he wants to make “Canadians the freest people on earth.” Seated at a desk in front of a bookshelf with soft music playing over his words, Poilievre doesn’t mention the Conservative party by name or the contest in his announcement, saying only that he wants the job as prime minister. “Smaller government makes room for bigger citizens,” Poilievre said. “Our destination is a Canada where our government is servant, not master.” Poilievre’s announcement was quickly followed by many MPs throwing their support behind his candidacy. “Canadians need a leader who works for them and I believe you are that leader,” said MP Zimmer in response to Poilievre’s announcement.
“I’m with Pierre,” tweeted Ontario MP Melissa Lantsman. “No question — Pierre is the right answer to a strong (and) united Conservative Party.” Longtime Conservative Manitoba MP James Bezan also endorsed Poilievre, saying in a tweet that he has the communication skills, work ethic and “strong conservative values” to defeat Trudeau. Many Conservatives regard the 42-year-old Ottawa-area MP a natural front-runner in the race. He currently serves as the party’s finance critic and was first elected to the House of Commons back in 2004 at the age of 24, serving in for-
mer prime minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government. Throughout his time in Parliament, Poilievre has built up a reputation as as fiery performer in the House, who is deeply steeped in conservative values and thinking. He enters the race with a considerable social media following and during last year’s election struck out with his own campaign videos and slogan, separate than that of the party’s or leader’s. Candice Bergen has been named the party’s interim leader after MPs voted to remove Erin O’Toole from the position last week. Bergen, who served as a minis-
ter of state in former prime minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, was chosen by her colleagues last Wednesday evening out of nine candidates running for the interim job of leader. “I have known Candice for over ten years and have supported her in the past for interim leader,” MP Bob Zimmer said in a statement. “Candice brings strong leadership, principles and determination to the job and I was happy to support her once again.” MPs met virtually earlier in the day on Wednesday to cast secret ballots after about one-third of them signed a notice that triggered a leadership review, voting 73-45 to remove O’Toole as leader of the party. “Leading a national party is never easy and I want to thank Erin and his family for the years of public service they have given to Canadians,” said Prince George-Peace RiverNorthern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer in a statement. “Now it is time for us to move forward, united,” Zimmer continued. “I will continue to remain focused on ensuring that the voices of our hard-working Northeastern BC residents are heard here in Ottawa and defeating the Liberals in the next election.” —with CP files
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A12 | NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022
Hudson’s Hope to set memorial standards Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca
CALL TO END MANDATES Students at North Peace Secondary School in Fort St. John staged a walkout over the noon hour on Monday to protest COVID-19 measures and to call for an end to all mandates.
The District of Hudson’s Hope is drafting a new policy for memorial benches, with six sites earmarked at the Garden of Peace and Pioneer cemeteries, the town’s local parks, and open spaces. The topic was sparked by requests from residents looking to place benches near loved ones at Garden of Peace and other districtowned public spaces. Mayor Dave Heiberg says the policy is intended to establish a standard for the types of memorial benches used, ensuring they match in style and quality of materials. The policy has yet to be approved, with public works currently reviewing critique from council. “What we’re trying to do is get some standardization
around quality and design, for not just our cemeteries but all of our open spaces,” said Heiberg. “The idea is to build an inventory of having them available for people to purchase from a supplier that has a certain quality. We wanted to get away from using plastics, like we’ve done at Beattie Park.” The benches would be completely public-driven, with six available to purchase through the district, which has set aside $10,000 for the first set. Benches would be set in place for a 15-year term, with residents required to provide the memorial plaques for public works staff to install. If residents decide not to renew a contract for the benches, they would then become available for other residents to purchase. -Local Journalism Initiative
Lottery raises funds for cutting edge eye care system February 1 marked the launch of the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s very first 50/50 community cash lottery. Participants will have until noon on March 14 to purchase online tickets for a chance to win up to $10,000. The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation is raising funds to purchase a new Stellaris Vision Enhancement System ELITE to continue providing cutting edge eye care for patients in Fort St John and surrounding area. The Fort St. John Hospital’s ophthalmology services provide Northern residents with access to vision corrective surgeries,
primarily cataract surgery. With the current equipment available at the Hospital being over 10 years old, current wait times have escalated. The purchase of the new Stellaris ELITE will address those wait times directly as it will allow the amount of surgeries to increase from 12 to 16 daily. Shorter wait times, of course, ensure better outcomes for patients, as well as reducing the need to travel to receive treatment. Tickets for the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s 50/50 cash lottery can be found on their website: www.fsjhospitalfoundation.ca
Funding set up for TR kidney donor Rob Brown editor@dcdn.ca A Go Fund Me account has been set up for a man who has offered to donate his organs. It is for Terry Willbern – a Tumbler Ridge resident diagnosed with ALS recently featured in the Dawson Creek Mirror after he offered to donate his kidneys to a former area resident, Patrick Schile. Patrick and Lynette Schile say Willbern’s offer was one of a lifetime – and they cannot thank him enough. The pair have set up the account for Willbern. “It was so out of the blue. it is important to have a record and memory of this story and what he has done,” says Schile. “In a world so disjointed, it is heartwarming to hear a love story so deep it defies imagination,” notes the Go Fund Me account. “Terry has made it clear any extra funds will go to help someone else in need.” OFFER OF A LIFETIME Lynette Schile was selling Willbern a pair of couches in a Dawson Creek store when Willbern joked about not having much time left. The pair struck a chord when talking about ex-
tended warranty work Willbern noted he wouldn’t need a warranty on much because he didn’t expect to live long with an ALS diagnosis. Willbern offered to donate both his kidneys to Lynette’s husband Patrick – who had been a failing kidney patient for more than half a decade. “We (Lynette and I) were going back and forth wondering if it was just something he said, of if he was serious. Then we went back and forth on whether to call him or not,” says Patrick. The couple now live in Southern Alberta. “We stood on it for about a month before we reached out.” “Terry and I have not been tested yet which we are going to be tested to see if we are a match this month,” says Schile. “If he happens not to be a match, his kidneys will go to someone else so I can get a match right away.Kidneys only last for so longer - but Terry is saving three people - me, as well where his two kidneys go.” Willbern lives in Tumbler Ridge. “It was so out of the blue. It is important to have a record and memory of this story and what he has done,” says Schile.