Christy Clark clarifies her past statements about Conservative membership amid leadership bid considerations
Vancouver: Former British Columbia premier Christy Clark is in the spotlight after she admitted to “misspeaking” about her ties to the Conservative Party. She’s considering a run for the federal Liberal leadership and recently claimed she had never been a Conservative member.
During a chat on CBC Radio, Clark expressed her disappointment with the quick timeline for the leadership race. She also denied voting for Jean Charest in the 2022 Conservative leadership contest, which Pierre Poilievre won.
Clark, who identifies as a “lifelong Liberal,” stated she supported Charest to prevent Poilievre from leading the party. However, the Conservatives shared records showing she was an active member from June 2022 to June 2023.
On social media, she posted a facepalm emoji and acknowledged her mistake, but stood firm on her support for Charest. She emphasized that Poilievre is a divisive figure and that change is needed within the party.
Clark mentioned she had asked the Conservatives why she didn’t receive a ballot for the 2022 race, but no one responded. When questioned about her membership, she said she would have joined if she had received a ballot.
In August 2022, she spoke at a Conservative meeting, criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his comments on the “Freedom Convoy” protests. Later, she claimed she did receive a ballot and intended to vote for Charest, whom she believes would make a great prime minister.
The Liberal Party is set to announce a new leader on March 9 to succeed Trudeau. Meanwhile, Poilievre has been targeting Clark, labeling her as “carbon tax Clark,” referencing the carbon pricing implemented during her time as premier.
Clark defended her record, stating her government froze the carbon tax due to its impact on families and competitiveness. She plans to propose an alternative to the federal carbon tax if elected.
As the leadership race heats up, several prominent figures, including Anita Anand and Mélanie Joly, have opted out, while others like Mark Carney are gearing up to enter the fray.
