By Dharm Makwana

A quartet of byelection candidates served as a backdrop for provincial party leaders who opened a war of words over British Columbia's economy yesterday.

Opposition leader Carole James demanded Premier Gordon Campbell call the legislature back to session to debate government spending and possible cuts as global markets grow increasingly turbulent.

"Gordon Campbell and the finance minister seem to be the only people who are saying, 'Don't worry, be happy,' " James claimed after stumping for candidates Jenn McGinn and Spencer Herbert in the Vancouver-Burrard riding .

Across Robson Street, Campbell introduced Vancouver-Fairview candidate Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid and Arthur Griffiths before boasting about his economic record.

"It was a lot of hard work to dig ourselves out of the hole that was put there in the 1990s but we are now at ground level and we're not going to start digging again," he said. "The opposition sounds like they're going to be digging again."

Dharm Makwana reports for Vancouver's 24 Hours.