Skip to content

Austin picks Horgan as best leader

Skeena MLA Robin Austin has decided who he’ll be backing in the NDP leadership race.

Skeena MLA Robin Austin has decided who he’ll be backing in the NDP leadership race.

“I’m very happy to endorse John Horgan for leader of the NDP,” he said, adding that there’s two main reasons he chose him over the two other main candidates, Mike Farnworth and Adrian Dix.

“I believe that of the three candidates, he has the best ability to communicate....an alternate vision to the current Liberal government,” Austin said of Horgan, an MLA representing Juan de Fuca in the suburbs west of Victoria.

“Part of the challenge of leading the opposition is not just the part of opposing things we don’t think the government are doing well, but to advocate and present a vision of how we would do things differently, and connect with enough British Columbians that they will give us the opportunity to form government,” he continued.

Austin said the second reason was Horgan had the greatest knowledge of what life is like rural B.C., and in particular, in northern British Columbia,” explaining Horgan’s background and job as critic for energy, mines and minerals critic had meant that he’d spent a lot of time travelling throughout the province.

“So wherever he goes, he understands the challenges of delivering public services to British Columbia, he understands the challenges on the environmental front,” Austin said, saying that he understands people in rural B.C. want jobs but also want to protect the environment.

“I’m hoping that if he is the person chosen, that he will be the best leader to figure out ways of delivering services out of Victoria in a way that recognizes the unique challenges of delivering these services in rural B.C.,” Austin said. “That’s why I’m going with him.”

Another northwest NDP MLA, Gary Coons, from the North Coast riding, is also supporting Horgan.

Coons said that while Horgan may come from an urban area, he’s taken the time to learn about rural issues.

 

All the leadership candidates will be in Terrace April 6 for a debate on jobs.