B.C. Conservative leadership candidate Iain Black is making his way around the Kootenays this week with stops in Castlegar, Nelson, Creston and Cranbrook.
While he is emphasizing his usual campaign priorities including his leadership experience and plans for the future, Black also revealed a philosophy that he has yet to speak of publicly.
While in the forest-sector dependent community of Castlegar, Black told Castlegar News that if he were eventually elected as premier, he would like to re-locate some bureaucrats from Victoria to the areas rich in the resource sectors they represent.
“Why is the chief forester of British Columbia in Victoria, why isn’t that office out where the forestry is?” asked Black.
“We need to get senior officials, that impact the livelihoods of our communities, out of Victoria and in offices elsewhere.
He also suggested moving agriculture leadership to somewhere like Abbotsford or Dawson Creek and oil and gas leadership to some place like Fort Saint John.
He says he is not interested in duplicating the bureaucracy, but rather just putting it where the resources are.
“I am a big believer in making sure we stay connected to the issues where the people are and I will structure the government to make sure that happens,” said Black.
Five candidates remain in the leadership race – Black, Caroline Elliott, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Yuri Fulmer and Peter Milobar.
Party members will vote May 23-29 on a preferential ballot where voters will rank their choices.
More information on the leadership race and the candidates can be found at conservativebc.ca.