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Jun 22, 2021 4:04 PM -

Former B.C. chamber CEO enters Liberal leadership contest, promises party restart

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British Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Val Litwin addresses a news conference in Esquimalt, B.C., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner

The former chief executive officer at British Columbia's Chamber of Commerce is entering the B.C. Liberal leadership race.

Val Litwin says he wants to breathe new life into the Liberals with policies that support economic growth and opportunity for everybody.

The 43-year-old is the fifth candidate to enter the leadership contest, which includes former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon, legislature members Ellis Ross and Michael Lee, and entrepreneur Gavin Dew.

The Liberals are set to elect a new leader on Feb. 5, replacing interim leader Shirley Bond.

She replaced Andrew Wilkinson who resigned after last fall's B.C. election that saw the Liberals reduced to 28 seats in the 87-member legislature.

Litwin, who has never held elected political office, says the social, economic and political stresses related to the COVID-19 pandemic drew him into the leadership contest.

He says if he wins the leadership, he would support initiatives that attract people of all ages and backgrounds.

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