Kevin Falcon names BC Liberal critics, will run in byelection for legislature seat

The newly minted BC Liberal leader says he plans to run in the riding of his predecessor, as he seeks his seat in the Legislature.

Kevin Falcon was at his office in the Legislature for the first time Monday since being elected Saturday evening. Not yet a MLA, he says he will run for the Vancouver-Quilchena seat that will be vacated by former party leader Andrew Wilkinson.

The premier has up to six months to make the call to hold a byelection.

“I’d like to get back here as soon as possible,” Falcon said. “I would hope that the NDP would love to see me back here as soon as possible. I’m not sure that will be the case, but I always remain hopeful.”

In the meantime, Shirley Bond will continue as leader of the opposition in the house.

@shirleybond contniues as opp leader in house until @KevinFalcon runs in byelection for @Wilkinson4BC's seat
@bcliberals critics @toddstonebc-house leader@PeterMilobar-finance@ellisbross-LNG @MichaelLeeB– Indig Rel @ReneeMerrifiel3-env & climate chane#bcpoli @CityNewsVAN

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) February 7, 2022

“I’ll get to work, making sure I’m prepared to run in the upcoming byelection and also make sure I get to undertake the work that we need to do, getting to know the caucus, the staff, and of course getting the BC Liberal party rebooted, re-energized, and rebuilt,” Falcon said.

Falcon gave key critic positions to some of those who were also vying to be party leader. Skeena MLA Ellis Ross has been named LNG critic, Vancouver-Langara MLA Michael is assigned to cover Indigenous Relations for the opposition, and Renee Merrifield will handle Environment and Climate Change.

On Saturday, it took five rounds of voting for Falcon to beat six other candidates in the party leadership race. In the fifth round, Falcon garnered 52.19 per cent of votes from the party, while Ross picked up 33.65 per cent and Lee received 14.4 per cent.

Related: Kevin Falcon chosen as new leader of BC Liberals

Falcon previously served as Finance Minister and Deputy Premier under former premier Christy Clark’s BC Liberal government. He served as MLA in Surrey from 2001 to 2013.

He was the perceived frontrunner throughout the leadership campaign and one political expert believes Falcon was the governing BC NDP’s “secret favourite choice.”

“I think the NDP will enjoy trying to portray him as ‘yesterday’s man,’ attaching him to the Christy Clark and Gordon Campbell governments,” said Hamish Telford, an associate professor of political science at the University of the Fraser Valley after Falcon’s leadership win on Saturday.

"I think the NDP will enjoy trying to portray him as 'yesterday's man,' attaching him to the Christy Clark and Gordon Campbell gov'ts" – @HamishTelford on why he thinks @KevinFalcon was the BC NDP's "secret favourite choice" in #bclib22

Read more: https://t.co/VKHnxWJKHK #bcpoli https://t.co/tDn5PHELyb pic.twitter.com/osDs577nDE

— CityNews Vancouver (@CityNewsVAN) February 6, 2022

Falcon, 59, had left politics a decade ago to spend more time with his family and work at Anthem Capital, a private investment firm.