Thursday June 18, 2020 ~ VICTORIA, BC
by Mary Brooke, editor ~ West Shore Voice News
The BC Green Party leadership contest is ramping up again following a three-month pause during which COVID-19 was a priority for all British Columbians.
The announcement was made yesterday June 17 by BC Green Party Provincial Council chair Sat Harwood.
Registered candidates may resume campaigning immediately. New candidate applications will be accepted from June 26 to July 27 and voting will take place September 5-13. The results of the leadership contest will be announced on September 14.
“The entire world has faced a harrowing pandemic that is not yet over,” said Harwood in a release yesterday. “But we expect some reprieve over the summer, and so, with caution and safety being our top priority, we will complete our leadership contest by mid-September.”
COVID-19 impacted the leadership contest timing:
“We are in unique and unprecedented times; we must continue to be adaptable to a changing world, while pushing the government for more progressive action,” said BC Green Party interim leader Adam Olsen in the release.
“This leadership contest is no longer just an opportunity to renew our party. It is an opportunity to renew our province and world. Bold, innovative leadership is badly needed, and I am certain that our next leader will rise to this challenge.”
“I offer my gratitude to all those who have patiently waited for the contest to resume: members, supporters, volunteers and particularly the candidates and their teams. I am also thankful for the work of our staff and Provincial Council, who redesigned the contest for our new reality.
Being guided through the COVID-19 pandemic:
Olsen has thanked BC Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry, recognizing and honouring her work.
“Without her calm, professional and compassionate leadership, vast segments of our society would not be reopening for the summer. It is with a heart full of appreciation that I say to all of you HÍSW̱ḴE.”
The BC Green MLAs themselves participated in various government committees and inputs around COVID-19, in a non-partisan way as the NDP-led government found its way through the pandemic in Phases 1 and 2. Phase 3 likely begins next week, said Premier John Horgan yesterday.
Two candidates so far:
As of contest relaunch June 17, there are two fully-registered candidates:
- Kim Darwin, mortgage broker and 2017 B.C. Green candidate for Powell River-Sunshine Coast
- Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley
The Leadership Contest Committee has revised some of the contest’s rules in light of a changed economic and social reality. Changes primarily relate to:
- A shortened summer timeline;
- Lowered candidate fees;
- Number of official debates reduced to one.
Candidates are limited to $300,000 in campaign expenditures. All updated leadership contest rules are online.
===== RELATED:
- Federal Green Party leadership race has 10 candidates, voting set for September 26, 2020 (June 14https://islandsocialtrends.ca/green-party-leadership-candidates-10-pack-in-2020/, 2020)
- In British Columbia, the BC Green Party does *not* require membership for anyone who wishes to vote for their leader. (December 21, 2019).