After visiting the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon, BC Liberal Party Leader Andrew Wilkinson paid a visit to the mycrestonnow.com newsroom on September 20, 2018.
Once addressed as the official opposition, Wilkinson did not hesitate to bring up the issue of electoral reform.
“It’s an interesting time,” says Wilkinson, “of course, we won the most votes and the most seats in the last election and the NDP are in government because they cut a deal with the Green Party. I was here today talking to people in Creston about proportional representation and how we think it’s actually going to make that situation even worse with regional interests being ignored in favour of big ethnic and geographic parties that don’t serve the interests of BC.”
Wilkinson goes in greater details as to why he believes proportional representation would not serve the interests of smaller communities.
“It would mean towns like Creston lose any contact with their MLA because the MLAs for the most part would be chosen by party bosses, far far from here.”
Homing in on the needs of the interior, Wilkinson warns British Columbians to keep an eye on the NDP.
“Their entire base is from Vancouver, Vancouver Island and two ridings here in the West Kootenays and two in Northern BC.”
Wilkinson gives his reasoning why people should be concerned about the spending habits of a government so far removed from from the interior.
“It’s no secret that the NDP have put their entire transportation budget into rebuilding a bridge in New Westminster and that takes all the transportation budget away from the rest of the province.”
Though born in Australia, Andrew Wilkinson was raised in Kamloops, B.C. His latest campaign trail is focused on earning the respect of British Columbians.
For the Full interview between Jensen Shields and Andrew Wilkinson, follow this link.
Quick Facts:
Before being elected Party Leader, Wilkinson served as the Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services for the BC liberals. He was then appointed as Minister of Advanced Education on December 17, 2014. He served as the Attorney General from June 12-July 18, 2017. His current seat is in Vancouver-Quilchena.
The current MLA in Nelson-Creston is Michelle Mungall (NDP). Mungall has served her riding since 2009 and is the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.