Premier Christie Clark after winning the Westside-Kelowna ridding by-election at her victory party in Kelowna July 10, 2013.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail
B.C. Premier Christy Clark is making plans to set up house in her new riding of Westside-Kelowna after getting a resounding show of support from voters in Wednesday's byelection.
The Premier took in 62 per cent of voter support in the byelection, allowing her to enter the legislature after losing in her home riding of Vancouver-Point Grey in the May general election.
In Kelowna on Thursday, Ms. Clark said she has already been on the Internet looking for a home but would also like to hear from anyone in real estate about a home that requires low maintenance.
"I have a cat, but I won't be bringing her. So no pets, no smoking and low maintenance," she said.
The Premier told reporters at her victory party on Wednesday night that she didn't want to be "presumptuous" and start looking for a house while she was campaigning, but she's getting serious now.
"I think the market's good, it's a buyers market. And you know the riding is really getting stoked again, so I want to make sure I get in before prices start to rise."
Ms. Clark said she thinks her perspective may change with the change in location and said it was important to have a premier from outside the Lower Mainland.
"I think it really changes the way we govern, and that's been a real learning experience and I hope it will be an important change in how I govern in the next four years."
Also on Thursday, Ms. Clark made a $1-million funding announcement for improvements to a stretch of road on the west side of Okanagan Lake.
The winding road snakes around the westside of the lake and can be dangerous.
"We're going to keep working until we can say that Westside Road is as safe as it is scenic," she told reporters who had gathered for a news conference.
The Premier said the funding was on top of the $10.3-million already spent on the road's improvements since 2008.