NDP strategists gather for weekend meetings in advance of 2017 B.C. election

More than 500 members of British Columbia's NewDemocratic Party are in Kamloops for an event the party hopes willput it on the path to power.

NDP justice critic Leonard Krog says the meeting is being held inthe southern Interior because New Democrats believe the electionwill be won or lost in rural ridings.

He says seats from urban centres are important but party members believe the last election slipped through their fingers when rural, traditionally NDP seats, went to the Liberals.

Opposition Leader John Horgan says the weekend of closed sessionsand high-profile speakers will be a big step toward a New Democratgovernment for B.C. in 2017.

Participants will hear from several high profile speakersincluding Betsy Hoover who served as director of digital organizingfor the 2012 re-election campaign of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Premier Christy Clark's government currently holds 48 seats tothe NDP's 35 and the next general election is set for May 9, 2017.

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