Former Premier Christy Clark, pictured here on a visit to Oliver, announced Friday that she is stepping down as the B.C. Liberal Leader effective Aug. 4. (Richard McGuire file photo)
Former B.C. Premier Christy Clark is stepping down next week as the leader of the B.C. Liberal Party.
Clark made the announcement Friday, saying her resignation is effective next Friday, Aug. 4. Clark is also stepping down as the MLA for Kelowna West.
Clark stepped down as premier at the end of June when her government was defeated by the NDP and B.C. Greens in a non-confidence vote. This ended 16 years of B.C. Liberal government.
Her party elected 43 Liberal MLAs in the May 9 provincial election — one short of a bare majority.
Clark was elected as party leader in February 2011 and was sworn in as premier the following month, succeeding Gordon Campbell.
“I am so proud of everything our B.C. Liberal Team has accomplished,” Clark said in a statement Friday. “From working to make British Columbia Canada’s leading economy and creating more than 200,000 new jobs, to helping thousands of single parents go from welfare to work through the Single Parent Employment Initiative, to British Columbia’s gift to the world, the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest.”
Deputy Leader Rich Coleman, MLA for Langley East, will serve as the interim caucus leader. Meanwhile, the party executive will meet within 28 days to set the rules for a leadership election process.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
