B.C. premier, cabinet members sworn in, head straight to first meeting

VICTORIA – Smiling broadly Premier Christy Clark was officially signed in as British Columbia's premier, swearing an oath of office and oath of allegiance during a ceremony this morning at government house in Victoria.

Clark and her cabinet, which was named Friday, moved from the swearing-in ceremony to their first meeting at the legislature.

The premier has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon where she is expected to announce a recall of the house, allowing the government to debate and pass the budget introduced in February.

Clark said last week she wants to return to the legislature as soon as possible, even though she can't sit on the front benches with her ministers.

The premier must run in a byelection after being defeated on election night in her Vancouver-Point Grey riding.

She has decided to run in Westside-Kelowna after Liberal Ben Stewart stepped aside in the safe Liberal riding, although a date for the byelection has not yet been announced.