Gordon Campbell's B.C. Liberal leadership could come up, but is not on the caucus agenda for a meeting this week, a spokesman says. (CBC)

Members of B.C.'s Liberal government will meet later this week in Vancouver, but the caucus chairman was adamant Monday that the meeting will not focus on gripes about Premier Gordon Campbell.

Campbell's popularity has plummeted into the single digits since the government introduced the harmonized sales tax, and even members of the tightly disciplined Liberal ranks have publicly complained about the premier and the tax.

The three-term premier will face a leadership review at the annual party convention in Penticton Nov. 19-21, which will signal how the party rank and file feel.

Contrary to some reports, caucus chairman Ron Cantelon said the meeting this Thursday is not an emergency meeting to take the internal temperature on Campbell's continued leadership.

'He's proud. He doesn't want to go unless he really thinks he has no chance of recovery.'—University of Victoria political scientist Dennis Pilon

"No, it's one of our regular meetings," Cantelon said. "We realize it would be timely to gather the troops together before we go to convention in Penticton. There's been a lot happening."

Cantelon said the caucus will want to discuss how to build on Campbell's televised announcement last week that he will cut personal income taxes by 15 per cent in January.

Campbell also shuffled his cabinet last week, prompting criticism from Energy Minister Bill Bennett who said the changes were made with minimal consultation. Bennett saw his ministry duties reduced as Campbell restructured the forests ministry to include Forests, Mines and Lands and he created a separate Ministry of Natural Resource Operations.

Issue could be raised

Cantelon said he expected the caucus would discuss some of the cabinet changes. He also suggested there may be some discussion of internal matters but he wouldn't elaborate on the topics.

"We have pretty open caucus meetings, I can tell you," he said. "If anybody wants to bring anything up, we can do that, too."

Some pundits, along with former Liberal cabinet minister Blair Lekstrom, say the time has come for Campbell to retire but Cantelon said he doesn't anticipate the premier is about to comply.

"He hasn't told anybody that he's leaving," said Cantelon.

Lekstrom quit the Liberal cabinet last June, saying constituents in his Dawson Creek riding were deeply opposed to the way the government proceeded with the HST.

More than 500,000 voters to signed a petition calling for the repeal of the tax, forcing a provincewide referendum on the future of the tax set for next September.

Still, University of Victoria political science Prof. Dennis Pilon said he's not yet convinced Campbell is on his way out as Liberal leader.

Pilon said he believes Campbell is still considering his options, and has yet to decide if his recent tax cut announcement and the coming convention signals his slow march back to power or his exit.

"He's proud. He doesn't want to go unless he really thinks he has no chance of recovery. But this is a man who's been down for the count a number of times and he's always recovered," said Pilon.