Ever since it was barely re-elected, the BC NDP government has promised a renewed focus on growing the economy, creating jobs and generating new sources of revenue to backstop overwhelmed core services like health care and education.

So it is perhaps surprising to hear that since the Oct. 19 election, no cabinet ministers, nor the premier himself, have responded to requests to sit down and hear out a series of increasingly urgent concerns from the province’s top business leaders.

The absence left open a political opportunity for the new Opposition BC Conservative party, which seized upon the issue Tuesday to trumpet that it had sent not one, not two, but nine MLAs to a meeting with business groups in Vancouver.

“I think it’s quite notable we’ve made the effort to put together nine critics to go and meet with those folks and establish a relationship and get down to work on our approach to supporting private sector job growth,” said Gavin Dew, the new Conservative critic for jobs, the economy, development and innovation.

“It’s equally notable the NDP has not responded, and is totally silent, as to any indication of how they intend to shift direction.”

Premier David Eby has repeatedly said he heard economic growth was a key concern of voters in the October election, and the issue is tied hand-in-hand with cost-of-living help and affording expansion........

© BIV