B.C. politicians are returning to the legislature Wednesday after a turbulent period of political rejuvenation that produced two new party leaders and put the province on election watch.

Premier Christy Clark, elected Liberal leader in February, will lead her government troops from the legislature sidelines until at least May 11 -- the date of a byelection in the Vancouver-Point Grey riding where she is seeking a seat.

If Clark captures the seat held by former premier Gordon Campbell, she could take her place in the legislature as an official member of the legislative assembly for at least a few days of the session, expected to end June 2.

"She would probably be in the house for the last week," said Liberal House Leader Rich Coleman.

Adrian Dix, elected New Democratic Party leader last weekend, makes his debut as the Opposition leader after gaining a reputation as a fierce and dogged critic of the three-term Liberals.

Dix promises to lay out an NDP agenda that gives British Columbians an alternative to the Liberals -- prompting Clark to suggest Dix wants to return the province to the economic malaise of the 1990s when the NDP was in government.

Coleman said he expects the session to end with the passage of the budget that was first introduced in February and the introduction of several new pieces of legislation.

He said the legislature will not sit on May 2, the date of the federal election.

Coleman said he could not discuss specific legislative proposals until the legislation is presented in the legislature. But he did say his agenda does not contain anything to do with election dates.

B.C.'s fixed election date has the next election set for May 2013, but Clark has suggested she may call one earlier, saying two years is a long time for her to govern without getting a mandate from voters. If she does call an election earlier, the law would have to be changed.

As for timing, Clark has only said an election won't be before British Columbians have voted on the future of the harmonized sales tax, set to be decided in a provincewide referendum this summer.

Ballots for the mail-in HST vote will start going out on June 13 and the result of the vote is not expected until sometime in August.

Coleman said he expects Clark to be in the legislature for parts of the session, but not the entire time because premiers are traditionally engaged in other duties or travelling.

Independent MLA Bob Simpson said he will attempt to steer the debate towards reworking B.C.'s election laws and examining the province's finances.

Simpson, who was booted from the NDP caucus last fall after criticizing former leader Carole James, said he will ask why both the Liberals and New Democrats used preferential ballots in their leadership votes, but British Columbians aren't able to do the same in a provincial election.

In referendums, British Columbians have twice turned down the chance to change their voting system to a form of preferential balloting.

Simpson said he expects Dix to battle the Liberals at every opportunity to set the stage for the coming election.

Simpson also said he expects Clark to take on Dix in the legislature as soon as she's able.

"She's a warrior like Adrian is," he said.

"She'll love to roll up her sleeves and go toe-to-toe with Adrian."