Christy Clark's LNG dreams to be tested in rare fall legislative session

Governing Liberals to introduce legislation outlining tax, regulatory framework for LNG export industry

B.C. Premier Christy Clark's LNG dreams will be put to the test during this fall's sitting of the legislature, which begins on Monday. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)

The B.C. Legislature convenes on Monday for what has become something of a rare event — a fall legislative session — where Premier Christy Clark's liquefied natural gas dreams will be put to the test of public scrutiny.

Although B.C.'s legislative calendar always marks off dates for a fall sitting, it has become increasingly uncommon. There has only been one other fall session since Clark became premier in 2011.
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Instead of appearing in the people's house to be held accountable in question period or answer to reporters in the hallways of the legislature, Clark has generally chosen instead to appear at select public events where her staff can mostly control the message.

The fact that Clark's government is having a fall session this year suggests the importance of the subject matter — and given her government's almost singular focus of late, it's not surprising that subject is liquefied natural gas.​The premier has talked for years about the potential of LNG to drive B.C.'s economic future.