I can hear her now on election night … “I’ve been saying all along, we’d lose those by-elections”

Chilliwack - Hope Electoral map

You have to dig to find stories on the up-coming by-elections for Port Moody – Coquitlam, and Chilliwack - Hope, but today I thought I would take a look for what I could find regarding Chilliwack - Hope.   

I especially wanted to track the comments of Christy Clark as we went from the pre-writ period … through to her comments in recent days.

As you will see in the following snap-shots from stories, there seems to be a distinct pattern in her opinion of the BC Conservatives, and the role she expected they would play.

She first began by declaring the BC Conservatives to be a “spoiler”, going so far as to be “dismissive” of the party.  Then came talk of the possible “disastrous consequence” if Liberal candidates were to lose.

Premier Clark then said she was “stubbornly optimistic” as she has begun to “temper expectations” knowing that the BC Liberals will have a “tough time keeping both seats”

Here’s that snapshot of the stories I found, where these comments were made:

BC Conservatives could be 'spoiler' in coming Chilliwack by-election

Chilliwack Progress – Dec 21^st

"Governments almost always lose by-elections," BC Premier Christy Clark said … "Nevertheless, we're going to have an outstanding candidate … it's a two-way race between the BC Liberals and the NDP … the BC Conservatives can only act as a spoiler."

As Christy Clark calls two by-elections, she looks ahead to 2013

Globe & Mail – March 22^nd

Clark focused her remarks on the NDP and mentioned the Conservatives only when asked.   “We have to make sure our coalition stays together,” she said.  Ms. Clark was dismissive of the Conservatives …

BC by-elections could prove crucial to Liberals

Globe and Mail – March 26^th

Ms. Clark is stubbornly optimistic and talks of another Vancouver-Point Grey outcome. “I hope we will win both. We’re going to work really hard to win both,” she said.

Premier Christy Clark warns Chilliwack-Hope voters against voting NDP

Chilliwack Times – April 4^th

Clark went on to warn of a near-disastrous consequences if the BC Liberals do not retain power in the Chilliwack-Hope riding … and dismissed the Conservatives.

Clark back in the ’Wack to pitch job creation

Chilliwack Progress – April 4^th

“I’ve been coming to Chilliwack a lot because it’s really important that Laurie Throness get elected out here,”  … the Premier shrugged off a recent poll that suggested the small-c conservative vote has already split between the BC Liberals and the BC Conservatives.

Premier not over confident going into by-elections

News 1130 – April 10th

The premier appears to be tempering expectations for her party as advance voting begins Wednesday in a pair of provincial byelections.  The premier is letting you know the government will have a tough time keeping both seats in the legislature

So … Premier Christy Clark went from stating the by-elections would be a two way race between her governing Liberal Party and the NDP … to now stating that the government will have a tough time keeping both seats. 

Riding of Port Moody - Coquitlam

And what, we should ask, would lead her to be saying that?  

It seems, and appears, that she is no longer feeling that same confidence she once had.

Is she sensing a train-wreck now in the making?

I can hear her now on election night, massaging and re-working what she said prior to voting day.

Perhaps something like, “I’ve been saying all along, I knew we wouldn’t win those by-elections”

One things for sure, we won't have long to wait to find out because voting day for residents in the riding's of Port Moody – Coquitlam, and Chilliwack – Hope, is Thursday April 19^th.  In just 8 more days we’ll see what the voters decide is the fate of each of the parties and candidates; and who they wish to have represent them in the BC Legislature.

PLEASE NOTE ... In Chilliwack Hope, advance voting will be held from Wednesday April 11, to Saturday April 14, between the hours of 8am and 8pm at the following locations:

• Agassiz Agricultural Association Hall, 6800 Pioneer Avenue in Kent
• Canyon Lanes Bowling Alley, 47585 Trans-Canada Hwy in Boston Bar
• Royal Canadian Legion 228, 344 Fort Street in Hope
• Twin Rinks Arena, 5745 Tyson Road in Chilliwack

In Port Moody – Coquitlam, advance voting will be held from Wednesday April 11, to Saturday April 14, between the hours of 8am and 8pm at the following locations:

• Coquitlam College, 516 Brookmere Avenue in Coquitlam
• Port Moody Recreational Complex, 300 Ioco Road in Port Moody

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.