Former BC Energy Minister Bill Bennett leaves the BC Legislature after holding a media scrum in Victoria Wednesday afternoon after the BC Liberal Cabinet fired him earlier that day.Deddeda Stemler for the Globe and Mail
Outspoken MLA Bill Bennett has been welcomed back into the governing BC Liberal caucus, which exiled him last year over his scathing criticisms of Gordon Campbell.
"Forgiveness is always possible," Premier Christy Clark told reporters on Tuesday after a caucus meeting behind closed doors at an airport hotel at which, she said, the Kootenay East MLA apologized for his conduct.
"It was a difficult discussion we had, but we got there and I am glad that he is back with us."
There was no sign of Mr. Bennett, a former energy minister, as the Premier and caucus chair Ron Cantelon talked about his return.
Ms. Clark said the government needed Mr. Bennett as a voice for his constituents and rejected a reporter's suggestion the Liberals wanted Mr. Bennett on side in the face of a revived BC Conservative party.
The Premier said Mr. Bennett recently told her several times he had no interest in joining the BC Conservatives.
"He is someone who believes in [the BC Liberal's]coalition and always has," she said.
Mr. Bennett did not return calls seeking comment on Tuesday.
The provincial Conservatives, who, like the BC Liberals, have no connection to their federal counterparts , are in the midst of a renewal drive during which ex-Tory MP John Cummins is expected become leader next month.
Mr. Bennett has said the Conservatives are a force in his riding.
Mr. Bennett's cabinet colleagues voted to fire him late last year as energy minister after he said Mr. Campbell should appoint an interim leader and leave sooner than expected.
He then participated in a memorable scrum with reporters at the Legislature during which he called Mr. Campbell an abusive bully. Caucus kicked him out as a result.
Earlier Tuesday, Ms. Clark hinted at a strategy for dealing with the BC Conservatives, suggesting she will argue in the next election campaign that the BC Liberals and BC New Democratic Party are the only two governing options and the Liberals are the best of the two.
She said the BC Liberals have always been mindful of the provincial Conservatives, who observers say could split the centre-right vote.
"It's something we always have to be concerned about," she said.
Of Mr. Cummins, she said, "I wouldn't be disrespectful enough to write anybody off."
Ian Bailey