Vaughn Palmer: If every minister were as on top of his ministry as Adrian Dix, the NDP would be living up to the premier’s vow to 'hit the ground running'.

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VICTORIA — The B.C. Conservatives got ahead of the New Democrats this week in meeting with seven industry associations over concerns about economic growth and private sector employment.

The Business Council of B.C., B.C. Chamber of Commerce and five other industry associations raised those issues in an open letter to the government on Oct. 30.

They flagged the loss of manufacturing jobs, the lag in private sector employment and affordability.

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The New Democrats, continuing a slow-motion approach to their postelection agenda, have yet to set up a meeting with the seven or release a formal response to the letter.

Nine Conservatives, led by Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission and the party’s critic on jobs, economic development and innovation, met with the business organizations on Tuesday.

“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,” Dew told Rob Shaw of the Orca online newspaper.

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