ELECTION ’24 – ‘My gut tells me now is the time to step back,’ says Stone

Long-time MLA Todd Stone is calling it a career — he announced today (Aug. 29, 2024) he won’t be running in the Oct. 19 provincial election.

It came a day after BC United leader Kevin Falcon made the bombshell announcement that he’s withdrawing the party from the election. Here’s the full text of Stone’s announcement:

My statement on the announcement today of my decision to not seek re-election in the upcoming provincial election:

In the fall of 2012, I stood in a meeting room within the tech company that I founded in Kamloops and announced that I was running for Christy Clark’s BC Liberals. I did it because I wanted to make a difference for my community, for my province, but above all else, for my kids. I wanted to do my part to ensure this province we love is always a place that all of our children can call home, where they can build their futures and raise their families.

I’m so proud of what we accomplished towards that goal – particularly during my time as Minister of Transportation. I helped secure funding for vital local projects that have enhanced our quality of life. From highway, airport and transit improvements to healthcare investments, my cabinet and caucus colleagues and I worked and delivered to address the issues that mattered most to the families of this great city, region, and the province. We didn’t get everything right, but we made a positive difference and moved BC forward.

But today after seven years of the NDP, we’ve gone backwards with everything from a higher cost of living, worsening access to healthcare, crime and safety, and the devastation the NDP have caused when it comes to what should be our thriving natural resources sector. The list goes on.

I am discouraged to see so many of our young people moving out of BC in record numbers because they can’t see themselves ever being able to afford to live here, let alone start a business here or raise a family.

Given all of that, I was fully committed to running again in this next election to stop the NDP and help get things back on track.

I have been involved with the BC Liberal Party, then BC United, for more than 30 years. First under Gordon Wilson, then Gordon Campbell, and then with Christy Clark as our leader. So, after three decades working to support our coalition, I can honestly say that experiencing what has happened over the past year has been amongst the toughest times in my political and professional life.

It has been obvious for some time that there needed to be a political reset on the centre-right. The only way to end the NDP’s reckless management was to come back together now, before the next election. That timing was incredibly important and as a veteran member of our team, I have been working hard for months to do everything I could to help make that happen.

Our coalition has always been one big tent and while we don’t always agree on everything, that’s okay. There needs to be compromise and respect for everyone across our coalition. Not only between those who consider themselves Liberals or Conservatives, but also between urban and rural British Columbians or those in different regions of the province.

What unites us and the better future we are fighting for is far greater than any differences we might have.

I firmly believe that there is a time for everything. It was the right time for me to seek office in 2013 and my gut tells me that now is the time to step back. So earlier this week I made the difficult decision that the best thing I could do right now to support our coalition was to take a step back and withdraw my candidacy in this next election.

As well, I will be supporting Ward Stamer, the BC Conservative candidate for Kamloops – North Thompson. I’ve known him and his parents Val and Derek for a lot of years. I know his commitment to British Columbia and I wish him well.

During my first election for MLA, my kids were 8, 6 and 4, so it’s fitting that tomorrow, the day after announcing my decision to not seek re-election, we’ll be driving our then 6 year old – and now 18 year old – Sydney off to UVIC to start her university journey. Next week, we’ll be driving our oldest daughter Hannah to university in Kelowna.

My family and in particular, my wife Chantelle – have made enormous sacrifices to allow me this opportunity to serve. Now feels like the right time to be there more for them and to start my next chapter, whatever that looks like.

Additionally, the task of bringing people together and healing wounds, while also getting our province back on track after seven years of the NDP will be a monumental one — and the BC Conservative caucus will need the right mix of experience and new blood. Each and every MLA will need to have the energy and that fire in the belly drive to do their part. I need to make room for that to happen.

I believe the toughest decisions we make are very often the most important ones. They take courage. This decision was a tough one, but I know it’s the right one. For my family, but also for our province.

Lastly, I’ve been privileged to have had an incredible staff and team around me. My caucus colleagues past and present (especially those in my immediate region – Peter Milobar, Jackie Tegart, and Greg Kyllo); the outstanding candidates who had stepped up to run; our constituency staff here in Kamloops (Samantha, Laurel, Shelley, Becky and Katrina) and the caucus staff in the legislature who work so tirelessly; and my riding association volunteers. And to everyone who believed in me and placed their trust in me as their MLA over the years, it’s been an honour to represent you. I cannot say enough how grateful I am. Truly.