News Release

Abbott Congratulates Party Executive and Members on

Regional Constitutional Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2010

Vancouver, BC – George Abbott is congratulating both BC Liberal Party Executive and

members on an expanded regional voting system for the upcoming constitutional
convention which will help delegates from ridings across British Columbia’s regions have
an equal voice in changes to rules for the upcoming leadership selection vote.

“This morning, I learned that the BC Liberal Party Executive has decided to include up to
10 regional locations for the February 12 constitutional convention so that delegates
from all ridings and regions can more conveniently exercise their right to participate in
this important vote without traveling great distances or incurring significant costs,” said
Abbott in an email to all party members.

This constitutional convention will include a vote by delegates on changing the rules for
the February 26 leadership selection vote by allowing for the adoption of a weighted
voting model that will give equal representation to every riding in the province.

Abbott, who is a candidate to become the leader of the Party and the next Premier of
BC, congratulated the party executive on this important decision following his December
13 letter to the party executive advocating for this change.

“Most importantly, I want to congratulate and thank the members of our party from all
across BC, who made their voices heard about the importance of an inclusive process
for all regions of our province. Your concern has been acknowledged by the party
executive and, as a direct result, our leadership process is now more accessible and
democratic for all members.”

Representatives of regional ridings had expressed significant concern about their ability
to participate in the vote in one central location such as Vancouver due to cost, time and
seasonal risks with travel. As a result, many ridings outside the Lower Mainland said
they would not be able to send delegates to participate in this important vote.

“I am hopeful that we can look at new ways to utilize technology so that future
leadership votes are even more accessible and engaging for all members of our party,”
said Abbott.
George Abbott announced on November 25, 2010 that he was running to be the new
leader of the BC Liberal Party and Premier of BC. George was elected to provincial
government in 1996 and is a five-time cabinet minister whose portfolios have included
health, the environment, aboriginal affairs and communities. Prior to being in cabinet,
George was a college instructor, a regional district chair, and ran a berry farm in his
hometown of Sicamous.

For more information, visit www.georgeabbottforbc.ca.

Text of the letter to the BC Liberal Party President and Executive is appended.

- 30 -

Media Contact:
Karen Cook
Tel: 604-551-9074
or
Mark Masongsong
Tel: 778-773-1867
or
media@georgeabbottforbc.ca
 ATTACHMENT

December 13, 2010

Mickey Patryluk
President, BC Liberal Party
PO Box 21014, Waterfront Centre
Vancouver, BC V6C 3K3

Dear Mickey,

I am writing today to lend my support to the growing number of MLAs, riding presidents,
and BC Liberal Party members who are expressing concern about the current approach
to extraordinary constitutional convention being held on February 12, 2011.

As you well know, the most important item of business at this extraordinary convention is
a vote on a constitutional change allowing for the adoption of a riding-weighted voting
model to be used in the upcoming leadership selection vote.

This new weighted model has been endorsed by the Party Executive, and has been
supported by every current candidate seeking the leadership, because it is seen as the
best way to ensure fair and balanced regional representation in selecting a leader.

I believe this constitutional vote on how we select our leader to be just as important as
the leadership selection vote itself when it comes to pursuing the democratic renewal
and rejuvenation of our Party.

Therefore, like many other MLAs and riding presidents, I was very concerned to learn
during Saturday’s meeting of the Provincial Council that it was the position of the Party
Executive that the constitutional vote itself may be conducted under status quo
practices, whereby ridings would have to send voting delegates to physically cast their
votes at a singular convention location in Vancouver.

Several members stood up on Saturday and voiced their grave concerns about this
model significantly disadvantaging ridings outside of the Lower Mainland due to the
costs, time, and seasonal risk associated with delegate travel.

I am writing today to say that I wholly support these concerns raised by fellow
colleagues and members.

The decision to proceed with the status quo approach will result in a number of ridings
and delegates being inadvertently excluded from exercising their democratic rights in the
Party – a scenario that is completely unnecessary when 21 st century technologies clearly
offer valid and legitimate mechanisms to conduct such votes from remote locations.

As a Party, we cannot afford to have a single party member feel like they cannot be part
of decision-making. To accept a status quo approach that even unintentionally restricts
any riding from participating in a fundamental constitutional vote is simply wrong, and it
is a step backwards for our Party at a time when we need to move forwards.
Therefore, I am urgently requesting that the Party Executive immediately review
and give serious reconsideration to their current position, and endorse and
implement an alternative voting approach that can be utilized on February 12.

I have no doubt that a reasonable accommodation for our rural and regional delegates
can be achieved that will remain consistent with our obligations under the Party
constitution.

In closing, let me just that I believe February 12 th and February 26th will be two of the
most important days in our party’s history.

They will be days that we, as a party, stand up and say that we value every riding and
every region of this province and that everyone in our party deserves an equal voice.

We have the opportunity to see our members and our Party through these historic times
with the utmost integrity and inclusiveness.

Thank you,

(original signed by)

George Abbott
MLA, Shuswap and Candidate for Leader of the BC Liberal Party

cc: BC Liberal Party Executive