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Wednesday is turning into a day of endorsements for the race to lead the BC New Democrats with Mike Farnworth racking up four while John Horgan announced one.



Mr. Horgan announced a prominent backer. He said fellow MLA Harry Lali, an outspoken former NDP cabinet minister who ended his own bid for the leadership because he said he could not raise the $215,000 he deemed necessary for a credible race, was rallying behind him.



"John knows how to encourage discussion and debate and I am confident he will include all British Columbians in his government - not just special friends and insiders as we have seen in the last ten years," Mr. Lali, MLA for Fraser-Nicola said in a statement.



But Mr. Farnworth said two MLAs, one key former NDP cabinet minister and a Richmond city councillor were backing him.



He announced the support of current MLAs Guy Gentner of Delta North and Saanich South's Lana Popham as well as former NDP cabinet minister Corky Evans. Richmond's Harold Steves is also in Mr. Farnworth's corner as New Democrats prepare to choose a new leader on April. 17.



"What it really means is, I've got the support from current MLAs, past MLAs, bringing people together who want to win the next election," Mr. Farnworth said in an interview.



He noted, in a statement, that he had rallied the new declarations of support due to his policy ideas for agriculture, including a commitment to boost from five to 14 per cent the provincial reinvestment of agricultural GDP into the sector. Ms. Popham is the party's agricultural critic.





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