Saturday, February 26th marks the first time a leadership vote will take place in 17 years, a day sure to go down in history. Liberal British Columbians will have the unique opportunity to be involved in determining the future of the province.

Reflecting back on our government leadership over the last decade, the Liberals stepped in at a time when BC was suffering with one of the worst economies in the country. Jobs were being lost, businesses and people were relocating to other provinces, and overall confidence in the province was suffering. Gordon Campbell and his government were elected in 2001 and have brought stability to our government, and have positioned the province nationally and globally as not only a great place to invest and do business, but as an amazing place to live.

Here are some highlights of their achievements since 2001:

• BC’s economy moved from one of the worst performing in Canada to one of the strongest in North America.
• BC’s taxes were cut substantially and we now have some of the lowest in North America.
• Record investments have been made in health care, education and homes for the homeless.
• Federal relationships were built upon, resulting in millions of dollars being invested into BC

We faced global economic challenges head on and were able to keep the downturn to a minimum because of our strong economy. In every region of the province, billions of dollars were invested and thousands of jobs were created for large-scale projects like building hospitals, universities, highways, bridges, airports, ports and community infrastructure. Milestone projects such as the Canada Line, the Vancouver Convention Centre and the Sea to Sky Highway, will be lasting legacies for the province. And the impact and benefits of the 2010 Olympic Games, viewed by 3.5 billion people worldwide, will continue to evolve over time in a variety of ways from tourism and arts and culture, to economic and social development.

As Canada’s Pacific Gateway, BC has a unique opportunity to be the hub for investment, travel and trade with the Asia-Pacific region, particularly with China. Having said all of that, we still face many issues and challenges in the province so it is important that we continue to build on the strong foundations that have been laid. The question raised now is ‘How do we get there?’

To ensure the smooth transition, this province requires a passionate, intelligent and results-driven leader that can keep the economy strong and so my support is directed to Kevin Falcon.

MLA Kevin Falcon was first elected in 2001 to represent the riding of Surrey-Cloverdale, and was re-elected in 2005 and 2009. He was previously appointed Minister of Transportation on January 26, 2004 and initially served as Minister of State for De-regulation. Most recently, he served the province as Minister of Health Services from June 2009 until November 2010. During his time in Deregulation, Falcon spearheaded the reduction of government red-tape by over 33% in order to minimize the unnecessary burdens on business and stimulate economic growth across the province. As Minister of Transportation, Falcon led BC’s most aggressive infrastructure investment program in provincial history with key highlights including the 1.9 billion dollar Canada Line, the Kicking Horse Canyon Project, Sea to Sky Highway and William Bennet Bridge. From 2009 onwards as Minister of Health, Falcon oversaw key healthcare investments all over BC including the expansion of Surrey Memorial Hospital, the opening of new emergency departments at St. Paul’s Hospital, Invermere and District Hospital and Victoria General Hospital, and the construction of the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North.

Backed by the support of 15 MLA’s including 7 cabinet ministers and the public endorsement of over 100 business leaders, Falcon is an enthusiastic team player that has the energy, experience and vision to be the next leader and Premier of BC.

If you are already a Liberal member, you have the opportunity to be involved in helping shape the future of our province. On Saturday, February 26th, the power is at your fingertips.

Cameron McNeill

*To be eligible to vote, you must have been a registered member of the BC Liberal Party prior to February 4, 2011.