B.C. NDP health critic Adrian Dix has made official what's been expected for weeks — he's running for leader of the provincial party.

Dix kicked off his campaign just before 6 p.m. Monday at Sir Guy Carleton Elementary School in his riding in East Vancouver.

He promised to scrap the HST, work for social and economic justice and help eliminate child poverty.

"I think this is an important time, a crucial time for our province," Dix told the CBC's Stephen Smart earlier Monday. "We simply cannot have four more years of this government.

"They found the money for their priorities, which were cutting taxes for the banks, a roof on the stadium and the HST. I don't think those were the priorities of British Columbians."

Past problems

B.C. Liberals could try to use Dix's past against him, according to Lesli Boldt of Boldt Communications.

Adrian Dix was backed by hundreds of supporters Monday when he declared his candidacy for the B.C. NDP leadership. (CBC)"A huge part of the Liberals' opposition to the NDP is to really align Mr. Dix with [former premier] Glen Clark, with fast ferries."

Dix was chief of staff to Clark and a key player in many of the unpopular NDP decisions of the day, including the scandal that toppled the Clark government.

Boldt said that the NDP's past could hamper all leadership candidates, but it doesn't have to.

"There's a whole generation that don't remember the NDP government. So, there is an opportunity for the NDP to reposition themselves. Whether or not they're going to take advantage of that is another question."

Deadline looms

Three B.C. NDP MLAs, two MPs and a long list of political and social activists are supporting Dix's leadership bid.

Dix joins the five candidates other declared candidates who have entered the leadership race: Mike Farnworth, John Horgan, Harry Lali, Dana Larsen and Nicholas Simons.

Dix announced his candidacy just hours before the deadline for membership sign-ups at midnight tonight PT.

All the leadership hopefuls have been facing a tight timeline, having only four weeks to sign up new members before the deadline.

The new NDP leader will be selected on Apr. 17 to replace Carole James.

With files from the CBC's Stephen Smart and Jeff Davies