B.C. Premier and Liberal Leader Christy Clark, right, greets Kyle Domaoan, 9, in Vancouver B.C., on Friday April 26, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

OAK BAY, B.C. - As the leaders of B.C.'s four main parties prep for a televised debate next week, Premier Christy Clark spent part of Saturday visiting a suburban Victoria family in Oak Bay, talking taxes and jobs.

Clark spent about an hour at a dining room table with Tony and Louise McGee, and joked about art projects and favourite singers with the McGees' two daughters, Ella and Tessa.

The McGees' home is located in the Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding, currently held by Ida Chong, the aboriginal relations and reconciliation minister.

Chong is believed to represent one of the few opportunities the Liberals have to hold on to at least one of the 13 available seats on Vancouver Island, but she's facing strong challenges from the New Democrats and Green candidate Andrew Weaver, a well-known environmental scientist.

"So, where are you guys at with taxes this year?" said Clark as she and the McGee family sat around a table.

"They are in. It's not easy," said Louise McGee, who works from home as a real estate appraiser. Her husband works for an engineering company.

Clark said low taxes allow families to do more with their own money. She said the Liberal government has cut personal income taxes since 2001.

She said the Liberals cut personal income taxes for a two-income family of four earning $90,000 by more than 40 per cent, which adds up to more than $3,000.

"What would you do if you had $3,000 less?" Clark said.

"We'd have to cut out a couple of things," said Tony McGee, adding his daughters play soccer, field hockey and take dance lessons.

At a news conference in the McGee backyard, Clark said she will keep pushing her message —that controlling spending and growing the economy helps B.C. families— in the May 14 election campaign.

Clark said the differences between her and New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix is "one of us stands for lower taxes, and the only way to make sure we are looking after families like Tony and Louise is to make sure we keep taxes low, and to make sure we can pay for the things that really matter. You don't get that by growing government."

Clark said she will continue to highlight her governing vision during Monday's televised leaders debate.

"Do we want to grow the economy and keep taxes low, or do we believe in big government, big taxes and big debt for our kids?" she said.

Clark said the spending programs outlined by Dix and the NDP during the campaign are "just going to drive this province into the ditch again."

Dix has defended his platform, which includes a potential three-year budget deficit. He has said the spending plans are the smallest platform the NDP has proposed in three elections, and that $2-billion in revenues will be spent over three years to fund welfare, education and health-care reforms.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2013