Westside-Kelowna MLA gives up seat for B.C. Premier Christy Clark

She lives almost 400 kilometres away, but Christy Clark will parachute herself into a provincial byelection in the riding of Westside-Kelowna.

Clark made the announcement, on Wednesday in Kelowna, with Ben Stewart, the MLA who is giving up his seat so that the premier can be in the legislature.

"I want to thank you Ben, you've put needs of our province first," she said.

"I'm humbled by your act of character."

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Last month, Clark's Liberals won the provincial election, but she failed to win her seat in Vancouver-Point Grey. As a result, she had to coerce one of her MLAs to step aside.

While reports from earlier this week suggested that there wasn't any volunteers, Clark said Stewart was just "one of a number of MLAs who offered" their seats.

"Kelowna is natural political home for me on the values that I believe him," the premier said, noting that she will have a second residence in Kelowna.

"This is the cradle of free enterprise."

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Stewart — first elected to the legislature in 2009 — captured 58 per cent of the vote in the May election. It’s expected he'll return to his business, the Quail’s Gate Winery.

While, the Liberals didn't announce any goodies for Stewart today, don't be surprised if he's rewarded with something in the days, weeks or months ahead.

As the Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer explained on Twitter, it's tradition across the country.

Clark suggested that the byelection will be called within a week and be held in mid-July.

In recent weeks, she's also made it clear that the government will recall the legislature this summer.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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