B.C. Conservative leadership hopeful and former Pattison Food Group President Darrell Jones says people are the reason he’s making a run at becoming Leader of the B.C. Conservatives.
“I am a huge believer in people, people are the greatest asset that this province has and that this country has,” he said while speaking to reporters in Prince George today (Wednesday).
“We have to have a government that’s going to focus on the people, not on ideology, not on politics, but on the needs of the people.”
Jones started his career in the food industry as a grocery clerk in Cranbrook, moving through many stores to being the President of Pattison Food Group.
“I have a business background that’s maybe not totally unique, but not a lot of people into politics have that kind of a background, and I worry about young people,” he said.
“I look at the fact that we have 16 to 17 per cent of young people that can’t find work. I look at the fact that young people between the ages of 18 and 35, only 25 per cent can even afford to purchase a home anywhere, and then I look at my grandchildren, I have five, and I think about them, and what’s the future going to be like for them?”
Jones said he’s stepping forward because he feels it would be “dismal” if we stay on the path we are currently on.
“I believe we need a leader in this province that’s going to be able to effect real change that we need in order for the people of the province to feel good about being here again, as opposed to saying things are tough,” he said.
Jones said one of his priorities will be to speak with companies running industries on North Central BC, and find out what the province would need to do to to allow them to be as successful as possible.
“Often they’ll say, you have to eliminate bureaucracy, you have to eliminate red tape, all that can be eliminated and then, that allows us to cut taxes, because people can’t afford to pay the taxes they’re seeing now, the taxes on fuel, even provincial income tax.”
The B.C. Conservatives said the results of the leadership election will be announced on May 30th.
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