The B.C. Liberal Party has set a Feb. 12 vote to change the party's constitution to introduce a preferential ballot system to elect Premier Gordon Campbell's successor, which could give northern Liberals a bigger say in choosing a leader.
The system is meant to give more weight to regions outside the high-population Lower Mainland.
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad said Monday he likes the new proposal because it ensures that leadership contestants will need to pay attention to areas like northern B.C. "The real strength of this is that leaders will have to be out in the ridings, building a team across the province," said Rustad, whose riding is located just east of Prince George.
Rustad maintained the new preferential balloting system will give the "grass roots" at the local level a significant say, and make them feel less disenfranchised.
The proposed process calls for a weighted preferential ballot system to give every party member a chance to cast a vote, and weighing the results through a point system.
The first leadership contestant to get more than 50 per cent of the points allocated would be selected as the leader.
The new vote system - similar to those used by the federal Liberal and Conservative parties - needs a two-thirds majority to pass at the Feb. 12 Liberal session.
UNBC political scientist Jason Morris says, however, the new system wouldn't necessarily give regions like the North and central B.C. as much of a say as they might think. The 10 ridings comprising north and central B.C. - covering nearly two-thirds of the province - would still only make up 12 per cent of weighted voting, noted Morris. "Does it give you more power (in the North)? Maybe not," observed Morris.
No one has declared themselves as a candidate outright for the Liberal leadership, and Surrey mayor Diane Watts, considered a leading contender as an outsider not tainted by the HST, said Sunday she will not be seeking the leadership.
She also says the process whereby the B.C. Liberals "renew and refresh" their party must be internal, and she's also not interested in entering a political landscape "more about personal attacks and less about the issues."
Another popular choice for leader, former B.C. finance minister Carole Taylor, has also said she is not interested in the position.
When Campbell announced his resignation on Nov. 3, his personal approval rating was below 10 per cent and the Liberals were 20 per cent behind the Opposition New Democrats.
Campbell said his political unpopularity, due largely to his decision to introduce the HST, was overshadowing his government's plans to rebuild the struggling economy.
A referendum has been set on the HST for Sept. 2011, and Campbell had said he would abide by a majority decision of those who voted.
Rustad didn't necessarily see Campbell remaining as leader as a problem. He said the key is for caucus to work together through the transition period.
The last time the B.C. Liberals elected a new leader was 17 years ago when Campbell ousted former Liberal leader Gordon Wilson.
With Canadian Press.
