Kevin Falcon, as expected, launched his leadership campaign in Surrey this morning for the Liberal Party.
Later today, he will visit Prince George to help kick off his campaign.
Falcon, the health minister, called on all B.C. leadership candidates to join him in asking Premier Gordon Campbell and the executive council to ask Elections B.C. to move up the date of the referendum on the harmonized sales tax as soon as possible.
"Every generation gets a chance to define its future," said Falcon. "Today, the B.C. Liberal
Party and our province are at that moment. We have a chance to renew our Party and our province, and define not only our future, but also our children's future."
Added Falcon: "I believe the people of BC expect a leader to stick to three simple rules to guide us into the future: Listen to the people, learn from them, and then lead. Listen. Learn. Lead. In my nine years in government, which included overseeing the health and transportation ministries, I've come to see those three Ls as the true essence of leadership."
The leadership opened up when Premier Gordon Campbell announced suddenly more than three weeks ago he was stepping down halfway through his third term.
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.
George Abbott and Moira Stilwell, the other Liberal leadership candidates, have already said the referendum should be moved up.
