Skeena MLA Ellis Ross gets the jump in the start for BC Liberal leadership race, confirming plans to enter the upcoming political contest

Skeena MLA Ellis Ross speaking in the Legislature last year
the MLA has announced his decision to seek the
leadership of the BC Liberal party

Like a basketball player taking the opening tip, Ellis Ross is now heading up the court in the race for the BC Liberal leadership, and with the support from some fellow BC Liberals is looking to  take the party into the future with an eye for a return to power.

The Skeena MLA confirmed his plans for his local paper the Northern Sentinel this morning, the now near four year veteran of the BC Legislature ready to take the next step of his political evolution, with one fellow northerner ready to help him on the path.

As part of today's notes on the entry to the race, Ross received praise from Nechako. Lakes MLA John Rustad who hailed the work of the MLA on a number of files in recent years.

So far the candidate is keeping his platform under wraps, not even making mention of his entry into the leadership race on his own social media platform.

As we outlined earlier today, the BC Liberal leadership was given a kick start yesterday when it was announced that Andrew Wilkinson had formally submitted his letter of resignation, that means that the party must select a new leader by February 16, 2022.

To this point, Mr. Ross would seem to stand as the only declared candidate, though more names will now come forward we imagine as the contest gets underway.

The organizing committee plans to outline how that process will move forward within the month.

In December the Skeena MLA was named to interim leader Shirley Bond's Shadow Cabinet, appointed to the position of Critic for Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

For a look at some of Mr. Ross' work at the Legislature see our archive page here.