B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson

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Less than three weeks ago, Loren Dirksen wasn't even running for leader. Today he could be the next Premier of British Columbia. It's a bit of a, been a been, a bit of a bumpy ride. Today he, uh, dumped a Victoria candidate over a racist social media post. A leaked letter has put his plans for ICBC under the microscope, and David Eby is hammering him on a daily basis. Of course, we're in the middle of an election campaign. Mr. Dirksen is also pitching a $1,000 tax cut, a plan to supercharge the economy, and a promise to repeal DRIPA. So who is Loren Dirksen, and what would he actually do with all that power as premier? Loren Dirksen, leader of the BC Conservative Party, thanks for dropping by. Thanks for joining us.

So glad to be here, Jas.

Well, it's a bit of a Williams Lake reunion. I was hoping to have you here last week-

[laughs]

... with Rick Hansen, but, um, glad you could drop by. I know you're a very busy guy. But let's start with the news of today. Um, you cut your candidate for, um, the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill where they were running. Uh, the party, uh, has had problems before with candidates and MLAs who said things they shouldn't have in the past, before you were leader. Are you worried there are others, including people who sat in the previous caucus, who may be a challenge to you as leader? I think of Heather Mazds, who's commented on SOJI, uh, uh, in regards to grooming, and, uh, even Anna Kindi, who has commented about, uh, vaccines as well. Are you worried about what you've seen today may be replicated, uh, whether, uh, when you're in, in your caucus and these people speaking out as well?

Well, this, uh, first came to, uh, my knowledge actually while I was standing at a podium. And, uh, when I saw the content that, uh, was referred to, uh, it was terribly offensive, and, uh, he was immediately removed from our caucus. I think it was probably less than 15 minutes-

Mm-hmm

... from the time I left the podium. Uh, with respect to caucus members, look, we've had disagreement in the past. I'm sure David Eby doesn't, uh, agree with everything his caucus has, uh, suggested or, or, or shared in the past. And, um, a lot of those, uh, those comments, uh, obviously have been, uh, canvassed and, um, you know, talked about for, for a number of years.

Do you worry that they hinder you and your party, though, uh, in regards to reaching out to voters?

Uh-

And, uh, whether you call them distractions, offensive, whatever it may be, but it hinders the party in regards to ele- its electability.

Look, this was something terrible, and, uh, I just absolutely could not believe it when I saw it. And, uh, uh, the reality is that individual, uh, was relieved immediately. Does it hinder our chances going forward? Look, anything like this is, uh, concerning to me. I don't like this, uh, this kind of a, a message out there, of course.

Mm-hmm.

And I'm gonna act, obviously, swiftly. I, uh, I believe that we've got a lot of work to do in British Columbia, and,