Todd Stone’s recent announcement that he will not be seeking the BC Liberal leadership was a warning to other candidates to back off and let former minister Kevin Falcon be the BC Liberal King. Whether Stone’s announcement will have any bearing on others seeking to run for the leadership remains to be seen but party insiders know that challenging Falcon is off limits but of course the courageous and the deluded can still give it a shot. How many and who are in the field will most likely impact if Falcon officially declares his intentions to seek the leadership.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

Old BC Liberal Minister is ready for a comeback!

Behind the scene maneuvering and even a column in the Vancouver Sun recently, there is no secret that former BC Liberal strongman Kevin Falcon, who previously lost the leadership to Christy Clark, wants another crack at the top party job but insiders tell DESIBUZZCanada that this time, he doesn’t want any messy leadership contest, even with clowns like Jas Johal involved, and will only take the job if he is knighted by the party brass.

“With the COVID-19  and all the social distancing it entails as well as the current status of the party, it makes sense for Kevin to be acclaimed if the party truly wants a free enterprise, top notch candidate to lead the party back from one of the worst defeats it has seen in the recent election,” one insider told DESIBUZZCanada.

A clear sign that Falcon wants the leadership candidate coast cleared for this possible announcement for the leadership was evident in the backing off one of the top candidates expected to seek the leadership with a whole host of others for the vacated leadership following the defeat last October. 

Todd Stone, who was expected to seek the leadership after Andrew Wilkinson’s much early exit and Shirley Bond taking over the interim leadership, announced that he won’t be seeking the leadership even though he had been “carefully considering whether this was the right time for me to once again put my name forward” for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party.

“I focused on building out a core team and engaged with hundreds of British Columbians. A talented, growing campaign team, a strong fundraising group, and supporters in every corner of the province were at the ready to formally launch a campaign,” Stone said in a press release.

“However, after spending the holidays with my family carefully weighing the decision, I have decided that I will not be a candidate to be the next leader of the BC Liberal Party at this time. Thank you to the many friends, caucus colleagues, party members, and British Columbians who encouraged me to seek the leadership. I’m so grateful for their confidence, thoughtfulness, and support,” he said

In an open letter to BC Liberals recently, Stone outlined two things critical for the successful renewal of our party.

“First, as a party coming off our worst election result in three decades, we need to engage in a meaningful and transparent manner with British Columbians across the province and listen to what they have to say. This includes connecting with those for whom our party is no longer relevant. We must challenge ourselves to inspire more women and young people to join us, and to ensure our party reflects British Columbia’s incredible diversity. BIPOC members, LGBTQ members. Young and old, urban and rural, coastal and interior. If we want to be the party for all British Columbians, then all British Columbians need to know that their voices, their views, and their priorities are reflected in what we stand for,” he wrote.

“Second, we will be best served by having a broad and diverse group of candidates step up, launch credible leadership campaigns, put forward bold, new ideas, and ensure a vigorous debate about the future of our party and our province. We owe ourselves and all British Columbians nothing less.”

Stone’s announcement was a warning to other candidates to back off and let Falcon be the BC Liberal King. Whether Stone’s announcement will have any bearing on others seeking to run for the leadership remains to be seen but party insiders know that challenging Falcon is off limits but of course the courageous and the deluded can still give it a shot. How many and who are in the field will most likely impact if Falcon officially declares his intentions to seek the leadership.