150 people, maybe more – I didn’t count. A great backdrop, Spirit Ridge – a nice welcome from Chief Louie and native dancing with Caine Kruger.

It was however the Premier that was the star attraction – Christy Clark starting with a basketball story about her 14 year old son Hamish – who is big on playoff action on the TV.

She talked to the never ending request of “I need new shoes” which can be very expensive.

Her retort – “yours are new enough and we can’t afford newer ones.”

This story in part about her opposition – the NDP and her governance policy.

Balanced budgets – prosperity makes it possible for more wants once the money is in the government’s treasury – not before.

Not just the demand for more-more-more. She called the NDP an unhappy lot

Which brings us back to Osoyoos where the Premier said she was met with sunshine and happy faces.

Glad to be here.

Yes this was partisan – fans, supporters, local politicians, chamber reps, community and health organizations – people representing many occupations – farmers, ranchers, wine makers and the retail trade. All the usual suspects. People from the Similkameen, others from the Boundary country.

No media present – so a bit of a privilege to photograph and write about a happening.

I know a number of cabinet ministers and gravitated to brief discussions and mentioned that I was honoured to be invited. “You are known as fair” they said.

Premier Clark talked about why her cabinet is in Osoyoos this week. A bit of a retreat, a time to reshape priorities. Clark said that most of the promises of the past have been met, not all, but a lot…. and it was time to sit down and plan for the next decade.

That plan is about LNG and the importance of starting projects, attracting foreign capital, partners and ideas that could create thousands of jobs and provide the provincial revenue for the next 100 years.
She said more will be in the plan including the government delivering on a ‘Grown in BC’ food policy and other initiatives.

Clark says BC is the envy of Canada with reports on credit ratings, position in Canada’s economy, jobs rate and reputation as a Pacific Rim portal for so much international trade.

The Premier spent much time lauding the work of local MLA Linda Larson – a friend she said.

“We live in a big province built on big ideas” but much of government is small things that must be
handled the right way. Clark told the story of how Linda arranged to get a helmet in Kelowna and deliver it personally to a senior in Rock Creek. “Linda supports us on the big projects but is very busy looking after the small things that people need in her riding.”

Now …the elephant was in the room. YES – NO mention of the National Park question. Both sides well represented in winery owners and ranchers from all parts of the riding but it might have come up – only in private conversations across the patio table as the flock sipped on fine wine and quality food from Spirit Ridge.