After losing the last two elections, British Columbia New Democrat Leader Carole James indicated a change in direction as she spoke to convention delegates Saturday.
While heavily criticizing the Liberal government as lying cowards, she promised a New Democrat government would end child poverty and focus on educating the almost one million children now enrolled in B.C. schools.
"As their knowledge grows, so will our capacity to realize new jobs and new growth, to leave behind the boom and bust economics."
James, 51, later told reporters that if anyone thought New Democrats wouldn't talk about the economy, they would be mistaken after the speech.
"We are going to put a greater emphasis on the economy," she said, adding both business and labour will be welcome at community forums she plans to hold on how to grow the economy.
The party has deep roots in the labour movement, and James admits not everyone will be happy with the direction.
But just before she spoke to the more than 600 delegates, B.C. Federation of Labour Leader Jim Sinclair expressed his opinion on how to grow the party.
He said the NDP's troubles don't have anything to do with having enough business leaders who don't like the party.
"The real challenge we have is we don't have enough working people on side."
While the Liberals get the money, Sinclair said the NDP's best advantage is ordinary working people, who are committed to building the province for their children.
"Frankly, sisters and brothers, we can't afford to lose another election," Sinclair said.
Recent polls favour the New Democrats over the government, just six months after the Gordon Campbell's Liberals won the election.
James focused part of her speech on what she called the government's "miscues and mismanagement."
"Most British Columbians have concluded the Liberals lied to them about the budget and about the HST," she said.
During the election campaign Liberals insisted the deficit would remain at $495 million and that they would not bring in a harmonized sales tax, blending the GST and provincial tax.
The deficit has since ballooned and the HST is effective July 1, 2010.
Recent statistics show B.C. has the highest child poverty rate in the country, something James promised an NDP government would end.
"I reject the cowardly Liberal agenda which leaves children and families behind," she said to a hearty applause.
Outside the convention, Liberal government House Leader Mike de Jong said name calling by the NDP leader is simply a way to divert attention from the fact the party has no solutions to improve the economy.
"These are serious times and people are facing some real challenges and they deserve to know what the choices are," he said. "We didn't see any of that from Ms. James today."
One of the resolutions before delegates at the convention is to hold a leadership convention in 2011, but long-time New Democrat and former MLA David Schreck believes James will easily win the support she needs to remain leader.
"There's always going to be an element in the party who will be disgruntled with the leader," he said. "I would say that 90 per cent or more of this convention is solidly behind Carole James."
