Ben Stewart has rejoined the B.C. Liberal caucus for a second term as 琉璃神社 West MLA, bringing the official opposition to 42 seats, one more than the governing NDP.
Stewart took his oath of office Tuesday in the B.C. legislature, after cruising to victory in a by-election Feb. 14 with twice the votes of his NDP rival Shelley Cook.
Stewart said he鈥檚 relieved to be back, after the constituency was left without representation following the resignation of former premier Christy Clark. Premier John Horgan waited until January to call the by-election, as the NDP-B.C. Green minority government set about governing.
鈥淚 was surprised by how much pent-up demand there was for people looking for an MLA, and it鈥檚 been a long six or seven months since we finally got down to the business of having a by-election,鈥� Stewart said.
鈥淪ome of the damage from last year鈥檚 flooding, a lot of it hasn鈥檛 been rectified and government hasn鈥檛 been very clear in terms of how they鈥檙e going to help repair community beaches, working with local governments and residents.鈥�
B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson said the return of Stewart, who served three years as B.C.鈥檚 trade representative in China after stepping down in 2013, changes the dynamic of the legislature.
鈥淭hat highlights the fact that the Green Party with its three members holds the balance of power, and as long as they continue to support the NDP, no matter how ridiculous the NDP鈥檚 policies are, the onus is on the Green Party to show why they鈥檙e doing this,鈥� Wilkinson said. 鈥淎nd if it鈥檚 simply the fact of staying in power, that doesn鈥檛 reflect very well on the Green Party, because the NDP will take advantage of them as long as they can.鈥�
Alberta鈥檚 sudden move to ban B.C. wine sales came during the by-election campaign, and Stewart said it ignited people鈥檚 interest in provincial affairs and Premier John Horgan鈥檚 opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
鈥淚 think that it spotlighted the fact that British Columbia and Alberta, although governed by the same party, really don鈥檛 see eye to eye in terms of how they move ahead on an economic opportunity that鈥檚 there,鈥� Stewart said. 鈥淐learly it brought a lot of attention to the fact that British Columbia had supported the federal government and the continuation of twinning that pipeline.鈥�
Related: Stewart to replace Christy Clark in 琉璃神社 West
Related: Final 琉璃神社 West byelection numbers
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