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letter from b.c.

Premier Christy Clark tees up a golf ball before a photo op at Council of the Federation meeting in Vancouver on July 20, 2011.JOHN LEHMANN

Will she or won't she?

As time begins to run out, the question of whether B.C. Premier Christy Clark will make good on her oft-repeated intention to call an election this fall is back on at the water cooler.

However, the Premier, just back from a few weeks off spent, as she told reporters, "doing what moms do, playing a lot of baseball and getting out in the boat," seems to be losing some of her ardour for an early trek to the polls.

Talk now is all about a "job-creation agenda" to be unveiled during the coming legislative session, coupled with references to her planned trip to China and India, which Ms. Clark said would likely take place during the second week of November.

These are not the statements of someone who is also preparing to fight a tooth-and-nails election in the next month or so against the rejuvenated NDP.

Ms. Clark is much more coy about the matter than she was once.

Asked point blank by CKNW talk-show host Sean Leslie whether there would be a fall election, the Premier replied: "I can't say yes or no ... but I do think we need to get focused on a job creation plan for the province. That's where I have been placing my energy."

Hmmmm....

Which brings us to poor Barry Penner.

While the Premier was off on her vacation, her Attorney-General, Mr. Penner, was also trying to enjoy his desperately desired holiday from the rigours of politics, with his wife and six-month old daughter, Fintry.

Alas for Mr. Penner and his family, it was not to be. Not only did issues in his portfolio keep getting in the way, Liberal Party officials wouldn't stop hounding him to be prepared, in case Ms. Clark does go to the polls, after all.

That was the last thing the affable Attorney-General wanted to think about on his summer break.

He ignored the party's demand to fill out nomination papers and other election-related requests. Finally, when ordered to name a campaign manager for an election that might not even be called, Mr. Penner snapped.

On Thursday, he abruptly resigned his cabinet post, cleared out his office and took off happily on a camping trip, pledging to spend much more time in the company of his family.

Mr. Penner's unexpected departure, in addition to being great news for daughter Fintry, further fuelled speculation that there are many within the Liberal caucus unhappy at the thought of facing another election barely more than two years into their four-year mandate.

As one MLA put it in a letter to constituents this month: "Whether or not we all feel like going to the polls is a fair question."

Christy Clark has never been a fan of backtracking. But this time, the Premier appears to be having very deliberate, sober second thoughts about fulfilling that early determination to submit the province to an election that few, including those within her own Liberal caucus, feel is necessary.

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