Ben Stewart has rejoined the B.C. Liberal caucus for a second term as Kelowna 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 he91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚 was surprised by how much pent-up demand there was for people looking for an MLA, and it91裸聊视频檚 been a long six or seven months since we finally got down to the business of having a by-election,91裸聊视频� Stewart said.
91裸聊视频淪ome of the damage from last year91裸聊视频檚 flooding, a lot of it hasn91裸聊视频檛 been rectified and government hasn91裸聊视频檛 been very clear in terms of how they91裸聊视频檙e going to help repair community beaches, working with local governments and residents.91裸聊视频�
B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson said the return of Stewart, who served three years as B.C.91裸聊视频檚 trade representative in China after stepping down in 2013, changes the dynamic of the legislature.
91裸聊视频淭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 NDP91裸聊视频檚 policies are, the onus is on the Green Party to show why they91裸聊视频檙e doing this,91裸聊视频� Wilkinson said. 91裸聊视频淎nd if it91裸聊视频檚 simply the fact of staying in power, that doesn91裸聊视频檛 reflect very well on the Green Party, because the NDP will take advantage of them as long as they can.91裸聊视频�
Alberta91裸聊视频檚 sudden move to ban B.C. wine sales came during the by-election campaign, and Stewart said it ignited people91裸聊视频檚 interest in provincial affairs and Premier John Horgan91裸聊视频檚 opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
91裸聊视频淚 think that it spotlighted the fact that British Columbia and Alberta, although governed by the same party, really don91裸聊视频檛 see eye to eye in terms of how they move ahead on an economic opportunity that91裸聊视频檚 there,91裸聊视频� Stewart said. 91裸聊视频淐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.91裸聊视频�
Related: Stewart to replace Christy Clark in Kelowna West
Related: Final Kelowna West byelection numbers
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