Former BC Liberal cabinet minister Kevin Falcon officially announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Party at a virtual launch event in Vancouver where his wife, Jessica, and two daughters, Josephine and Rose joined him. Meanwhile the NDP took the opportunity to paint a picture of the potential future Liberal leader as bad news for BC and even worse news for workers and families, saying if elected Falcon will bring back breaks for the top 1% and hard times for everyone else. NDP said for 12 years, Falcon helped the BC Liberals give huge tax breaks to the richest British Columbians while cutting services and raising costs on everyone else.

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor-Founder DESIBUZZCanada

VANCOUVER — Former BC Liberal cabinet minister Kevin Falcon officially announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Party at a virtual launch event in Vancouver where his wife, Jessica, and two daughters, Josephine and Rose joined him.

"I'm honoured to be putting my name forward to be the next leader of the BC Liberal Party," said Falcon. "The British Columbia I know is about opportunity, hard-work, and compassion. While BC was once a leader in this country — and the world — we need to work together to ensure that bright future for generations to come. I'm running to be a leader for a simple reason: my daughters. I want the opportunities that I grew up with to be available to them, their friends, and your children."

Meanwhile the NDP took the opportunity to paint a picture of the potential future Liberal leader as bad news for BC and even worse news for workers and families, saying if elected Falcon will bring back breaks for the top 1% and hard times for everyone else.

NDP said for 12 years, Falcon helped the BC Liberals give huge tax breaks to the richest British Columbians while cutting services and raising costs on everyone else.

NDP said Falcon himself took dozens of actions to make life harder for people, including:

*Increased MSP premiums (as both Finance and Health minister);

*Increased BC Hydro and ICBC rates while raiding ICBC; 

*Put tolls on the Port Mann;

*Led the failed effort to defend the HST, which would have shifted the tax burden from corporations to people;

*Started the surplus land sale program that sold off $1 billion in public land - much of it to BC Liberal donors and for less than its assessed value.

NDP said ss a developer in the private sector, Falcon has opposed the Speculation Tax, despite CMHC analysis that says it’s working;

In July 2020, he said people who make over $220,000 a year pay too much tax; 

In October 2020, he affirmed his support for tolls on the Port Mann bridge. 

In 2017, he even backed Maxime Bernier’s racist campaign for federal Conservative Leader.

 “For 12 years, Kevin Falcon helped the BC Liberals give tax breaks to the richest British Columbians,” said NDP MLA Garry Begg. “To pay for it, he increased MSP premiums, Hydro, and ICBC. He put tolls on the Port Mann bridge. Now, he wants to cancel the speculation tax and give a break to the wealthiest 1%. British Columbians will pay the price with service cuts and higher costs, just like last time.” 

Falcon is the former MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, and held cabinet roles as the Minister of Transportation, Minister of Health, Minister of Finance, and Deputy Premier. After he left politics to care for his family, he worked as the Executive Vice President of Anthem Capital.

Falcon’s campaign will be co-chaired by previous leadership loser Dianne Watts, the former mayor of Surrey and Puneet Sandhar, a lawyer and community leader and a losing candidate who was defeated by Jinny Sims, who subsequently beat another perennial loser Gulzar Cheema.

"I've known Kevin for many years both professionally and personally — and I can say that he is the best person to lead the BC Liberals into the next phase of our party," said Watts, former mayor of Surrey, former Member of Parliament for South Surrey-White Rock, and Co-Chair for the Kevin Falcon Leadership Campaign. "His experience and commitment to getting things done will benefit the members of our party and the people of British Columbia."

"During these difficult times for British Columbians, we need hope now more than ever," said Puneet. "Kevin is focused on issues that impact women, racialized communities, vulnerable communities, and British Columbians across the province. I believe he is the most capable leader to set the agenda as we grow and attract more British Columbians to join our party."

"I look forward to laying out my vision for BC over the coming months – from regaining our leadership on climate change, to providing better outcomes for our most vulnerable, to delivering on big projects that create jobs and grow the economy," Falcon concluded. "Together, we can lead BC with bold, visionary ideas that will put us on the map as leaders, once again. Let’s go!"

The BC Liberal Leadership Election is scheduled for February 3-5, 2022 with the deadline to join the party on December 23, 2021.