What I Look For In A Premier

With Choices on the Horizon, Here’s What I Look For in a Premier:

As British Columbians look toward important decisions ahead, and the conservative party sets out to find a new leader, I find myself reflecting on the kind of leadership I believe will truly serve our province well. Titles and talking points matter far less than character, judgment, and an understanding of responsibility.

At its core, leadership is not about control—it’s about responsibility.

A strong Premier sets a clear direction and articulates shared values, but also respects the independence, judgment, and regional realities of the people they lead. British Columbia is not a single community with a single set of needs. It is a diverse province of cities, small towns, rural regions, and Indigenous communities—each with its own challenges and strengths. Good leadership recognizes that reality rather than trying to flatten it.

That kind of leader welcomes debate and encourages honest disagreement. They understand that unity is not something imposed through discipline or enforced silence, but something earned through trust, respect, and openness. Healthy democracies depend on disagreement being allowed—not feared.

A Premier must also be rooted in reality. That means understanding the lived experience of families trying to make ends meet, small businesses navigating uncertainty, farmers working under tight margins, and resource communities that have built this province for generations. Leadership detached from those realities quickly loses credibility.

At the same time, being grounded in reality requires genuine empathy. A strong leader listens to those who are marginalized or less fortunate, not out of obligation, but out of conviction. They recognize that some voices are too often ignored or spoken over, and they make space to listen with humility rather than assumption.

Accountability and transparency matter deeply to me. I value a leader who tells the truth even when it is uncomfortable, who owns mistakes instead of deflecting blame, and who governs with humility rather than ego. Trust in public institutions is fragile, and it is strengthened—or weakened—by how honestly leaders conduct themselves.

A Premier should empower others, not centralize power. MLAs, volunteers, local governments, and community leaders must feel free to speak openly, advocate fiercely for their constituents, and bring forward solutions without fear of reprisal. Leadership works best when people are trusted to contribute, not managed into compliance.

Compassion and competence are not opposing values. In fact, they depend on one another. Compassion without competence can fail those it intends to help, while competence without compassion loses sight of the people it serves. British Columbia deserves leadership that understands both.

Above all, I look for a leader who puts British Columbians first—who respects democratic institutions, protects property rights and personal freedoms, and understands that lasting success comes from collaboration, competence, and courage. Not command-and-control politics.

That is the kind of leader I will support.