When should a political party start working toward the next election? The morning after the last one. That fact needs to be taken to heart by any New Democratic Party members who believe they have plenty of time to chart a course with the next provincial election more than three years away.

There is no time to waste. The party needs to establish itself as a reasonable, competent alternative to the Liberals as soon as possible if it hopes for victory in 2013.

It can start by setting out a clear agenda, laying out practical solutions for what is ailing the economy and the environment and convincing voters the NDP stands for more than just opposition to the Liberals.

Since we voted in May, the Liberals have fallen significantly in opinion polls, primarily because of questions about their competence on economic matters and their honesty in introducing the harmonized sales tax.

The New Democrats have a substantial lead, but that is based on anger at the Liberals rather than on faith in the NDP's plans. To be competitive in 2013, the New Democrats need to hold on to some of those temporary supporters by coming up with sound policies.

Last weekend's party convention could have given the party a healthy start, but it didn't provide a sense that there is a clear NDP vision for the future. The NDP could move toward that goal with four priorities.

• Developing an economic plan that would give voters a sense that there could be real prosperity for most. Make the wealthy -- the ones who help create jobs -- feel comfortable and make the minimum-wage earners feel the government is on their side, too. It's possible to do that, but it would mean getting rid of the us-versus-them mentality that is ingrained in B.C. politics.

• Embracing sustainability and the environment. The NDP once had the support of most environmentalists, but the party allowed the Greens and even the Liberals to steal those voters away. Even committed New Democrats are upset that the environment is no longer a real priority.

• Stressing social justice issues, but with a difference. Don't say we have to act for the people or because it feels good -- say that if we act, we will get a valuable economic payback through more jobs and lower costs for care.

• Proving that we are well past the miserable decade of the 1990s. The Liberals keep going on about what things were like when the NDP held power, to the point of silliness. But the New Democrats' decision to pick Moe Sihota, one of the most controversial cabinet ministers of the 1990s, as the party president, will bring renewed taunts from the Liberals, and for good reason.

Beyond those steps, the party needs to decide what it wants to be -- should it shift further left or to the centre? There are potential supporters in both directions, but heading in either direction could anger current members.

Ultimately, British Columbia needs a party that recognizes that a healthy economy is important because it will pay for social programs, one that values the roles of business and of labour. The choice does not have to be between left and right, good and evil or black and white.

The New Democrats have a chance to fill that role. But if that is what they would like to do, they had better get moving.