B.C. Liberals to kick off Penticton convention

B.C. Liberals are gathering for a biennial convention that gets underway Fridaythe first such gathering without former leader Gordon Campbell in attendance since 1993.

Party members were set to convene in Penticton latelast November when Campbell's sudden resignation Nov. 3 forced the party to postpone the convention to this weekend.

Now they meet with new leader Christy Clark at the helm, who's enjoying a fresh byelection victory in Vancouver-Point Grey.

Clark edged B.C. NDP candidate David Eby Wednesdayin what turned out to be a tight race in Campbell's former riding.

"We are reinvigorating the B.C. Liberal party," a confident Clark said Thursday.

Clark is still pushing ahead with the HST, the issue that ended Campbell's political career.

But she's promised measures to improve the tax, with details to come sometime before this summer's binding mail-in referendum on the tax.

Campbell tribute put off

In the meantime, Clark said there would be open policy debate at the Penticton meeting.

"She's made it clear to me that she wants to make sure we're there listening," said Liberal MLA Ben Stewart, who is organizing the convention.

A tribute to Campbell that might have been expected at February's leadership convention also will not be held in Penticton.

A reported scheduling conflict prevented the former premier's attendance this weekend.

Party members say the man who had led the party and the province since 2001 will be honoured by B.C. Liberals at a later date.