If Clark loses, the results will be terminal for her, and the BC Liberals.

With the words, 'I don't think that British Columbian's want an unelected premier without a mandate,' Christy Clark set up the start for her return to the BC legislature – first though she'll actually need to win the by-election she's called for Vancouver Point Grey.

In calling the by-election for May 11, in the affluent riding of Vancouver Point Grey, which includes Kitsilano and UBC, Clark is challenging a 30-year tradition that has seen the party in government lose 17 straight by-elections. The last exception was in 1981 when Claude Richmond won in Kamloops for the Social Credit Party.

John Cummins has of course announced he is not going to contest the by-election. First he plans to be confirmed leader of the BC Conservative Party, and continue the work going on to prepare the party for a possible Fall general election, where he would run in his own riding. The other reason is that the BC Conservatives believe Clark should have the opportunity, as premier, to be in the legislature.

The NDP however, are contesting the riding. Remember that great half time show during the April 17^th NDP leadership convention that saw Adrian Dix elected … the singing karaoke sensation was none other than David Eby, who is the NDP’s candidate for the Vancouver Point Grey riding.

In the past Eby has gained a high profile in the media for his advocacy work for low income people in the Downtown Eastside, through his work as the housing coordinator for the Pivot Legal Society, and until taking a leave of absence to run for the NDP in the by-election, he was the Executive Director of the BC Civil Liberties Association.

So what are the things that interest Eby --- they are homelessness, issues of social equality and of fairness … as well as the environment and social justice.

In a recent interview with the Straight he said, “I’ve looked a little bit at the riding in terms of its electoral history and I know there have been a couple of very close races and I think it would be a very interesting race ...”

“... get out there and talk to the people of Point Grey and determine what’s important to them, but I know a lot of it would be about sending a message to the government about the concerns of the community.”

As Eby stated, “… this is a huge opportunity for Point Grey, to send a strong message to the government, and to be a part of that is really exciting and I just can't wait to get started".

If Eby does win for the NDP, it certainly is going to send a message to the Christy Clark Liberal government … a message that their time indeed is up – and change is on the way.  I for one am looking forward to that change --- and a change that I hope will in fact be led by John Cummins and the BC Conservatives.

Many political pundits believe we are headed for a Fall general election, but that won’t happen if Clark loses the by-election in the Vancouver Point Grey riding.  If Clark loses, the results will be terminal for her, and the BC Liberals. The next few weeks should be interesting.

I'm Alan Forseth, in Kamloops ... and those are the thoughts of one conservative.