Liberal candidate for Kelowna-Mission Renee Merrifield.
(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)
August 01, 2021 - 1:30 PM
Renee Merrifield will be hitting the road this summer to drum up support for her bid to become the leader of the BC Liberal Party.
Merrifield, MLA for Kelowna Mission and B.C.'s official opposition critic for health, was elected last year after longtime MLA Steve Thomson retired.
Rob Murphy, who ran her last election campaign, said Merrifield will be speaking about her decision to make a run for leadership and offer more on her objectives later in the week. In the meantime, her website offers some insight into her campaign.
"Renee is not a career politician, having been elected as an MLA in 2020. For 21 years, Renee has been building successful businesses in BC, thinking creatively, empowering her team, working hard and never giving up," her website states.
"She has felt the stress of needing to make payroll, and successfully navigated the 2008 economic crisis. She understands what business owners are facing in these uncertain times and has the experience and leadership necessary to unleash our economy and build a stronger future for BC."
The BC Liberal leadership vote is set for Feb. 5, 2022.
The search for a new BC Liberal leader began after the resignation of former leader Andrew Wilkinson following last year’s election, where the party won only 28 seats in the BC Legislature compared to the NDP’s 57.
Merrifield will be the sixth candidate vying for the job. Others include former transportation minister Kevin Falcon, business consultant Gavin Dew, Vancouver-Langara MLA Michael Lee, Skeena MLA Ellis Ross, and former BC Chamber of Commerce CEO Val Litwin.
The BC Liberal party scheduled its first live-streamed debate for Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.
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