AFTER former B.C. premier Christy Clark’s false claim on CBC that she had never been a member of the federal Conservative party had been exposed in the media last weekend — Clark said she “misspoke.” — it had been expected that she would quit the Liberal leadership race after coming up with a face-saving excuse.
On Tuesday, Clark announced that she had “made the difficult decision to step back,” adding: “while we have come a long way, in a short time, there is simply not enough time to mount a successful campaign and for me to effectively connect with Francophone Canadians in their language. I have worked hard at improving my French but it’s not where it needs to be, today.”
She said: “The timing of the Prime Minister’s resignation just did not leave enough time for the Party to build a process that will renew and grow our Party. Our Party must still find a way to generate new momentum and energy. To open itself up to a broader group of Canadians who have felt left out, but who can’t abide the snarling, sneering politics of [Conservative Leader] Pierre Poilievre or the unrealistic approach of the NDP.”
Clark lashed out at Poilievre: “I won’t be in this leadership race but I won’t stop fighting. Pierre Poilievre would rather attack Canadians than call out Donald Trump. He’s a bully when he’s here at home and a pathetic pushover for the MAGA Republicans. We don’t need Governor Poilievre. We need the Liberal Party at the top of its game.”
Meanwhile, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne has announced that he will not run in the Liberal leadership race.
As reported in The VOICE last Saturday, Transport Minister Anita Anand said she will not enter the leadership race and will not be seeking re-election as an MP.
Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly have already announced their decision not to run in the leadership race.
Right now, it appears that the race will be primarily between former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and ex-finance minister Chrystia Freeland.
House Leader Karina Gould, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon are also considering whether they will enter the leadership race.
Candidates must register by January 23. They can sign up new members until January 27. The winner will be announced on March 9.