BC Liberal Leadership Race demands extension, #BCFloods

Seattle WA

25 November, 2021

1:44 PM

Description

VANCOUVER - A BC Liberal leadership candidate who commented on so-called "token diversity" in the NDP isn't backing down, despite being criticized for minimizing the impact of people of color in politics. B.C. politics: Candidates make their pitches for Liberal leadership All six candidates — Gavin Dew, Kevin Falcon, Michael Lee, Val Litwin, Renee Merrifield and Ellis Ross — acknowledged the need for change At a weekend event where all hopefuls had a chance to address Liberal party members, Renee Merrifield made the case for becoming leader and the need for more diversity in the party. She also took aim at the NDP. "They still have five – and no offence to anyone in the room – middle-aged white dudes controlling their entire party," she said. "They have a photograph of diversity, they have token diversity, but they don't have it real." "Renee has more guts than Ex Premier Christy Clark, a good challenger to NDP, who has failed in their responsibilities during #BCFloods, in healthcare and providing assistance in Interior and Native Lands" said Vikram Bajwa, former candidate for Mayor, Surrey. " At a breakfast meeting in New Westminster today, 58 Liberal members openly ask all BC Liberal Leadership candidates, Gavin Dew, Michael Lee, Val Litwin, Ellis Ross, Renee Merrifield and Kevin  Falcon and Chair and Leader of BC Liberal Party, Shirley Bond and Paul Barbeau, to extend the BC Liberal Leadership date to choose the leader to March 28,2022." said Sunny Dhaliwal and Greg Thoness. RELATED STORIES Who will be the next leader of the BC Liberals? 6th candidate joins raceBC Liberals: Former chamber CEO enters leadership contest, promises party restart A snippet containing those comments, clipped from a larger speech, was put out on social media, where several NDP MLAs including Niki Sharma spoke out against what Merrifield said. Merrifield insists her comments were not taken in context. "I never want diversity to be token. So I regret so much that it was understood that way," she said in an interview with CTV News. Asked several times how her words were misconstrued, considering she used the phase "they have token diversity," Merrified went on to insist she is a champion of diversity. Merrifield said that's the culture she wants to change. "I'm a champion of diversity, champion of different races, ethnicities, my friendship groups, my, you know, who I've surrounded myself with, who I've served with in terms of boards who I have, you know, built companies around, and my life's work," she said. "Do I apologize for, you know, a word that is taken out of context and if it was understood in that way? Absolutely."