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He said de Jong has the experience as finance minister and the respect of members to win the leadership.

Bernier denied that his decision was a funding issue, saying that he had the funds to continue. The party collects $10,000 upon approval as a candidate, $15,000 from each candidate before the first debate, and then a final $25,000 to be on the ballot.

“The decision for me to do this today has to do with the fact that I wanted to make sure we gave the party the respect that is needed going into the debates. I felt it was not fair to my family, my team, and my supporters if I actually went into the debate starting tomorrow and continued on if in my gut I felt that Mike de Jong is probably the best chance to win in the next election,” he said.

De Jong, who was also at the conference Saturday, said Bernier showed a lot of courage and welcomed him on his team. He said it’s going to be a tough race given the strength of all candidates.

“This campaign is going to be competitive, it is I believe going to come down to the wire, and I wouldn’t expect to see any one candidate sort of launch out in front,” said de Jong, who has served in the legislature for 23 years.

With Bernier out, there are now seven candidates: Mike de Jong; Michael Lee, the first-term MLA for Vancouver-Langara; former transportation minister Todd Stone; Terrace businesswoman Lucy Sager; Sam Sullivan, MLA for Vancouver-False Creek; Former Surrey mayor and South Surrey-White Rock MP Dianne Watts; and MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena Andrew Wilkinson.

The candidates debate is the first of six and will be held in Surrey on Sunday. Party members are expected to choose a new leader to replace former premier Christy Clark early next year.

Bernier, an education minister under Clark, announced his intention to run last month. The former mayor of Dawson Creek was elected MLA for Peace River South in 2013. He served as parliamentary secretary for energy literacy and the environment, before taking over the education portfolio in 2015.

ticrawford@postmedia.com