The B.C. Liberal Party has launched a leadership race that is longer and more expensive, while trying to close loopholes that some voters said prevented them from participating before.
The party announced Tuesday that the leader will be announced at a convention Feb. 4.
Voting will take place Feb. 2 to 4 to determine who replaces former premier Christy Clark as leader.
The leadership rules released Tuesday are similar to the 2011 process, which was used to elect Clark as leader.
“We looked to replicate the elements of the 2011 race that people were comfortable with and happy with and minimize some of the concerns that came up last time, in how we designed the process this time,” party spokesman Emile Scheffel said.
Each party member will have a vote and equal weight will be given to every riding.
Voters will rank their choices on a preferential ballot.
This year, the race is six weeks longer, in part to allow time for the long legislative session that runs from Sept. 8 to Dec. 10 and the holiday season, Scheffel said.
The party also raised the spending cap to $600,000 from $450,000 to reflect the longer race, he said.
It is also removing exemptions for personal expenses.
New this year, the party is replacing mail-out personal identification numbers. The party is putting together a request for proposals for a vendor who will provide an identification verification system, likely by phone and web.
“There are people in the North who say they never got their PIN and either had to jump through hoops or never got to vote,” Scheffel said.
The party is also tightening membership rules, including prohibiting payment by cash or prepaid credit card.
Former attorney general Geoff Plant will oversee voting arrangements and rules compliance, as chief returning officer.
Each declared candidate will take part in party-sponsored debates or forums in Vancouver, Surrey, Prince George, Nanaimo and the Thompson-Okanagan region, plus one organized by the B.C. Liberal Indigenous Network.
No one has officially declared candidacy.
Among those considering a run are Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier, Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong, Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone, Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Andrew Wilkinson and Conservative MP Dianne Watts.
