As Gordon Campbell prepares to hand over the reins of the BC Liberals -- and the province -- to a successor, the premier is reflecting on the ups and downs of 17 years in provincial politics.

The road was sometimes bumpy for Campbell. His years in power saw a drunk-driving arrest in Hawaii, labour strife, economic woes and most recently, the hated harmonized sales tax.

But voters forgave him at the polls, and Campbell says his motivation never changed.

"What's always motivated me is to try and do the things that I think were best for the province and do, as I've said before, what was right," he told CTV News Friday.

Campbell was first elected as MLA in 1994, marking the beginning of a career that would see him win three straight elections as premier.

He says his legacy isn't something concrete, like the Winter Olympics, but a deeper feeling he believes is shared across the province -- and the country.

"I feel best that British Columbians feel good about themselves. I feel best about the fact that British Columbia plays clearly a new role in Canada, as someone who actually drives the country forward and into the 21st century in the leadership position," he said.

Still, Campbell is leaving sooner than he expected; the unpopularity of the HST and other political stumbles made hanging on untenable.

But the premier says he has no regrets, and is looking forward to having more free time, including the freedom to babysit for his young grandchildren.

He's also looking ahead to new careers paths.

"I'm getting on with other parts of my life. I hope that there's still some things that I can contribute to public life. I'd like to do whatever I can for Canada; I think Canada is on the verge of some great stuff. I think there's opportunities for me in the private sector," Campbell said.

"It's a real opportunity. Will it will be an adjustment? Of course it will be an adjustment -- I've been in public life for 27 years."

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty

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