British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election, 2011
| Date | February 26, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Convention | Vancouver Convention Centre |
| Resigning leader | Gordon Campbell |
| Won by | Christy Clark |
| Ballots | 3 |
| Candidates | 4 |
| Entrance Fee | $25,000 |
| Spending limit | $450,000 |
The British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election of 2011 was prompted by Gordon Campbell's announcement on November 3, 2010 that he would be resigning as Premier of British Columbia and had asked the BC Liberal Party to hold a leadership convention "at the earliest possible date." The convention elected Christy Clark as the new leader of the party on February 26, 2011.
Upon announcing his resignation, Gordon Campbell did not state whether he would stay on as Premier and party leader until a new leader was chosen, or whether an interim leader would fill this role. However, Campbell soon made it clear that he would be staying on until a new leader was elected. "A smooth and orderly transition doesn't mean you have two or three leaders in a period of two or three months. So I'll be premier until the party selects a new leader. The new leader will then be sworn in as premier, and there will be a smooth and orderly transition."
On November 13, 2010, the Provincial Executive of the BC Liberal Party voted unanimously to call an extraordinary convention to approve new rules for the Party's leadership vote process. The "preferential ballot system" recommended by the Provincial Executive gives each party member a vote and then adjusts the results according to a regionally-weighted point system to ensure that each riding association counts equally. The first candidate to receive more than 50% of the regionally-weighted points in province-wide round of voting would emerge as the next Leader of the BC Liberal Party. These recommendations were approved by two-thirds of delegates at an extraordinary convention held on February 12, 2011.
The following candidates declared their intention to run for the leadership:
MLA for Shuswap (since 1996), Minister of Education (2005–09, 2010), Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (2009–10), Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.
Former MLA for Port Moody-Westwood (1996–2005), Deputy Premier (2001–04), Minister of Education (2001–04), Minister of Children and Family Development (2004).
MLA for Abbotsford West (since 1994), Attorney General and Government House Leader (2009–10), Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale (since 2001), Minister of Transportation (2004–09), Minister of Health Services (2009–10)
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