B.C. Liberal Leadership

B.C. Liberal leadership hopeful Moira Stilwell pledges earlier HST referendum

by Yolande Cole on November 22nd, 2010 at 2:42 PM
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      Moira Stilwell says she wants to move up the date of the provincial referendum on the harmonized sales tax.

      “When I’m sworn in as premier, one of the first things I will do is approach the chief electoral officer to discuss the mechanics of moving the referendum forward,” the first-term Vancouver-Langara MLA told the Straight today (November 22) by phone.

      This morning, Stilwell became the first candidate to enter the B.C. Liberal leadership race. She has resigned from her cabinet post as minister of regional economic and skills development.

      Stilwell said that she supports the HST, but the launch of the tax was “bungled”.

      “People are angry,” she said. “I take many lessons from that, and I think we need to get it done.”

      If she becomes party leader, Stilwell said, she will also focus on education and on increasing the minimum wage. She plans to release more details about her leadership agenda over the coming days and weeks.

      Stilwell hopes that being a political rookie will give her an advantage in a leadership race that is expected to draw more experienced cabinet members.

      “The advantage of less experience is I’m less rehearsed, I’m less spun, I have less baggage, I have less debt,” she said.

      Before she was elected to the legislature in 2009, Stilwell worked as a radiologist and nuclear medicine physician, and was head of nuclear medicine at St. Paul’s Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital, and Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Clinic.

      Before the cabinet shuffle in October, Stilwell served as minister of advanced education and labour market development.

      No other candidates have come forward yet in the race to replace Gordon Campbell as premier and B.C. Liberal leader.

      Independent MLA Blair Lekstrom announced today he will not be vying for the position.

      B.C. Liberal Party members will vote on a new leader on February 26, 2011.

      Comments

      12 Comments

      Island Man

      Nov 22, 2010 at 4:49pm

      “When I’m sworn in as premier, one of the first things I will do is approach the chief electoral officer to discuss the mechanics of moving the referendum forward,”

      If that position is acceptable to caucus then why don't they move on it right now? Why wait?

      Petey J

      Nov 22, 2010 at 5:51pm

      Phony !

      Mike Grant

      Nov 22, 2010 at 10:54pm

      I think we are looking at a sacrificial lamb here.

      Ted

      Nov 23, 2010 at 4:39am

      Yes Petey J I have to agree with you, it is very sad to see no matter who they bring forward they all look Phony. She is just trying to save her self from recall. dont let them fool you. They "All" stood up and said "yes" to the HST, even though they were surrounded by the anger of over a million BC voters. Its amazing they just kept moving ahead with it.

      They (the liberal party) needs to be "eliminated" in its entirity, its the only to be "absolutely sure" we are clear of this disease.

      Ted

      NDB

      Nov 23, 2010 at 5:35am

      Anything short of simply scrapping the HST and stopping the wasteful referendum is simply continuing the game of gordon campbell. No one wanted the referendum. People signed the petition to table the legislation immediately, not go through a lengthy referendum process to simply say again what everyone already wants.

      This lady (like the rest of the Liberals) simply just doesn't get it. BTW, why is she against the HST now? Why didnt she speak up before?

      Bruce

      Nov 23, 2010 at 6:37am

      The downside of lack of experience is that she has no flippin clue what she is doing. That pretty much trumps the upside.

      In addition Ms. Stilwell is another parrot for the HST. She obviously has complete contempt for voters and demonstrated that through her support for the HST in the face of public opposition.

      If this is the best the Liberals can offer Ms. James may as well start picking new drapes for the Premier's office.

      RonS

      Nov 23, 2010 at 6:48am

      First of all Moira you don't have a major money backer. That means you still haven't been "bought". You haven't got a hope in H__L of ever becoming Premier in that party unless your "bought". Second, who are you? Third, if your not "bought", who will pull your "bobble head" string?

      W

      Nov 23, 2010 at 8:50am

      At least we are not Ireland. Maybe we should send the Zalm there. Imagine cutting the minimum wage and increasing taxes while decreasing spending. Radical ...and the idea that minimum wage impacts employment....should just print more money....shades of the Weimar Republic.

      "The Irish government is expected to announce it will cut the minimum wage, social welfare spending and the number of public employees and add a new property tax and higher income taxes in a package intended to shave 6 billion euros off next year's budget, and 15 billion off the annual budget by 2014.

      The IMF said in a paper released on Monday that Ireland should gradually lower unemployment benefits and cut its minimum wage to boost employment."

      ernie57

      Nov 23, 2010 at 10:05am

      She supports the HST...mmm You think they might have learnt something from Campbells resignation.Not a very bright group.

      Ron S

      Nov 23, 2010 at 11:30am

      W, we preceded Ireland. That's why Gordo went for a holiday with the Bilderberg group. The IMF, GATT, World Bank, WTO, and all the other "world" management groups are, wait for it..... The Bilderberg Group, just masking themselves under phony names.