B.C. Education Minister George Abbott is expected to announce his not-so-secret candidacy for the Liberal leadership today.
Abbott has called a news conference for 11 a.m. in Vancouver, but had already been dropping hints he was entering the race soon.
Abbott would be the second candidate to officially declare. Regional Economic and Skills Development Minister Moira Stilwell, a rookie MLA and cabinet minister, became the first Liberal leadership contender Monday.
"I think it's exciting. I think it will be a very exciting time over the next 90 days," said Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell. "I look forward to seeing what are the key policies, what is their vision for forestry for B.C.," said Bell, the forests minister.
Bell noted that one challenging issue for him and Prince George-Mt. Robson MLA Shirley Bond, the transportation minister, is that they are friends and colleagues of the candidates expected to declare. He noted that you can only support one candidate, adding that, although he and Bond have had discussions on the topic, it is too early to say if they would endorse someone.
The list of inside contenders for the leadership also includes Health Minister Kevin Falcon, Solicitor General Rich Coleman and Attorney General Mike de Jong.
Outside candidates, who were considered by political observers to have a better chance of giving the battered B.C. Liberals a fresh face, have declined so far to enter the race. That list includes Surrey mayor Diane Watts and former-finance minister Carole Taylor.
Bell said he would not rule out an outside contender, but added the reluctance of those not already involved in B.C. politics to enter the fray may have something to do with the rough ride normally given the province's premiers.
Another policy issue emerged this week, with Stilwell saying the government needs to take immediate action to help the province's neediest families and that means increasing the minimum wage.
Moira Stilwell says the current wage of eight dollars an hour is the lowest in Canada and hasn't been increased since 2001.
She says the wage should be increased to 10 dollars an hour over a two year period and there should be similar increases in B.C.'s six dollar training wage for first time workers.
Stilwell says most minimum wage earners are young people who often struggle to make ends meet and they need help, so bringing B.C.'s minimum wage into line with what's being paid in the rest of Canada is a step in the right direction.
Her call came the same day an anti-poverty group demanded the province increase the wage in an effort to combat child poverty.
Premier Gordon Campbell, who announced suddenly three weeks ago he was stepping down halfway through his third term, has steadfastly opposed increasing the minimum wage.
In stepping down, Campbell had acknowledge he had become a lightning rod for public anger over the harmonized sales tax.
A successful initiative petition has forced a province-wide referendum on the HST, scheduled for Sept. 24, 2011.
Both Stilwell and Abbott has raised the possibility of moving up the date of the referendum.
With files from Canadian Press.
