In 22 elections the NDP has only won three times (1972, 1991, and 1996) with leaders most would consider to be moderates.

Adrian Dix -- NDP Leader

Adrian Dix grew up in Vancouver, one of three children to parents who ran a small business. He graduated from the University of British Columbia, and is married to writer and arts advocate Renée Saklikar.

Before being elected as an MLA in 2005, Adrian Dix spent 5 years as the BC Yukon Branch Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French, and also served as the Chief of Staff to former NDP Premier Glenn Clark from 1996 to 1999.

In 2005, he was was elected as the MLA for Vancouver Kingsway. In the six years since then he has been the Opposition Caucus Deputy House Leader, and served as Opposition Critic for Health. Adrian has extensive experience as a non-profit director, education community leader, government strategist and media commentator.

Now, the two time MLA adds to his resume, Leader of the BC NDP, and Leader of the Opposition. It took three ballots, but Adrian Dix eventually won out over rival Mike Farnworth in the race to replace former leader Carole James. The final vote count saw Dix with 9,772 to Farnworth's 9,095.

What kind of leader will he be, will he be tough? In a recent interview with the Straight he said, “Will the NDP caucus work harder if I’m leader? You bet, because I work hard. I’m going to set the pace.”

In selecting Adrian Dix as their leader, the NDP have chosen some one on the left side of the political spectrum, as opposed to runner up Mike Farnworth who was understood to be more to the centre, and closer the the Liberals.

Following his election Sunday Dix said, “It’s time to get down to work and defeat the BC Liberals” He also stated that while the Liberals would fight the next election using the personality of Christy Clark, he said premier-designate Christy Clark was “probably the worst cabinet minister we’ve had in 25 years”.

During his campaign to lead the BC NDP, Dix laid out an agenda that would see taxes raised on banks and big corporations to finance social programs – an approach he said will sharply define the party from its Liberal rivals. Keep in mind that in the past 22 elections the NDP has only won three times (1972, 1991, and 1996) with leaders most would consider to be moderates in terms of NDP leaders.

With the election of Adrian Dix as the leader of the NDP, an interesting question of policy direction for them, and the BC Liberal party will now be looked at more closely. Each party is now going to be required to clearly identify what they stand for, and the direction and policies they plan to put forward to voters.

Meantime the BC Conservative Party has already clearly made their positions known – they plan to focus on the major issues facing the people of BC today – and in the future – through the following core values:

• Small, Accessible & Transparent Government
• A Competitive Free Enterprise System
• Responsible Tax Reform
• Protection of Private Property Rights
• Patient - Centered Health Care
• Student Focused Education
• Resource Management ... Balancing Environmental and Economic Issues
• Law and Order ... with a Focus on Victims

I look forward to the up-coming challenges ahead for small 'c' conservatives in British Columbia --- and for a John Cummins led BC Conservative Party. It has been many years since the people of our province have had, or will have, three clearly defined set of principles and beliefs around governance.

That is something which has clearly been missing, and has allowed for the arrogance that has been shown through both the NDP and the BC Liberals in the governments they have led.

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