Premier Christy Clark will be able to take her seat in the legislature after winning the byelection in Westside-Kelowna on July 10.
The BC Liberal Party Leader won by a landslide with 63 per cent of the vote (10,666 votes) compared to NDP candidate Carole Gordon’s 30 per cent (5,045), trailed by BC Conservative Sean Upshaw at 989 votes and five other candidates, including four independents.
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says the premier not only won, but did so by an “astounding” margin of 5,621 votes.
“That says the people of the constituency want Premier Christy Clark as their MLA, and that they strongly support the platform of the B.C. Liberals.”
The Okanagan constituency has always been “right-wing/Socred” since the 1950s-’60s when W.A.C. Bennett ruled, constructed his namesake dam and “built the province” right along with it, she notes.
Barnett also points out Clark has two close colleagues based in the Okanagan – Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson (Kelowna-Mission) and Parliamentary Secretary Norm Letnick (Kelowna-Lake Country) who will also strengthen the Interior’s voice.
Despite living elsewhere, the premier will do a good job for Westside-Kelowna, Barnett says, adding former MLA David Zirnhelt didn’t live in the constituency when he represented Cariboo South, and several other MLAs currently do the same.
Barnett notes the overall atmosphere in Victoria is “even more upbeat” than it has been already since the May election win.
As BC Liberal Party Leader, Clark was considered the premier, but could not participate in the legislature.
Barnett says she is happy the issue of finding a seat for the premier can now be “put to bed.”
While Elections BC must complete its final count (beginning July 17) before Clark can return to a seat in the legislature, Barnett explains once that happens there will be a “hustle” on it to get her back in position.
“It can take a day or two … the House is expected to rise on July 25. I am very pleased that we now can move on.”
