Kelowna-West voters heading back to the polls — again — to elect Christy Clark's replacement

FILE PHOTO Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Graham Hughes

July 28, 2017 - 8:00 PM

WEST KELOWNA – Sometime within the next six months West Kelowna voters will take to the polls for the fourth time in less than five years.

Kelowna-West MLA Christy Clark announced today, July 28 that she would resign as both MLA and Liberal Party Leader early next month.

Ben Stewart was re-elected to the riding in 2013 but gave up his seat to premier Clark later that year after she lost her home riding of Vancouver-Point Grey. She was re-elected this year.

Elections B.C. spokesperson Andrew Watson says the riding's fourth election since 2013 must be called within six months of a vacancy in the assembly.

“They could decide to call it sooner,” he says. “The six months starts from when the warrant is received.”

All calls to the Kelowna-West constituency association of the B.C. Liberals were directed to the B.C. Liberal communications department who were unable to explain how the association would proceed with nominations for the vacant seat.

Meanwhile, the vacant seat for the B.C. Liberals means the ruling NDP-Greens are no longer in danger of a non-confidence vote in the B.C. Legislature. Before Clark announced her resignation, the NDP-Green parties held a 44 to 43 seat lead, meaning every MLA would have to be in the legislature to avoid defeat of the government. Without Clark, the NDP-Green hold a two-seat cushion.

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