Christy Clark says it was “time to go”

Jul 31, 2017 | 12:04 PM

VANCOUVER —      Former B-C premier Christy Clark says she is stepping away from politics to allow the provincial Liberal party to renew itself.

    She says her decision to resign as head of the B-C Liberals and as an M-L-A will also allow her to spend more time with her teenage son.

    Clark served as B-C’s premier from 2011 until earlier this year, following a tight election race that ultimately resulted in an NDP minority government back by the Greens.

    Clark’s resignation takes effect Friday.

    Clark says she stayed around after the election to make sure the party was ready to carry on. She said she didn’t want to leave the party at a time of chaos.

    She says election night she thought she would probably step away, but it was at last week’s caucus meeting in Penticton that she really felt it was time to go.  

    Clark says she thought about quitting as leader of her party a few times since the election night and feels her departure will give the Liberal party a chance to renew itself.

    Clark told reporters today there’s nothing worse than a politician who doesn’t know when it’s time to go because they feel like they are irreplaceable.

    She says the timing is good for both her and her party, because she doesn’t believe there will be an election in the fall.

    Her son Hamish stood by her during the news conference and he says it’s going to be fun having his mom back, adding they have already purchased tickets to the theatre.

    She says she has no immediate job plans but would like to get some gardening done and adds she doesn’t anticipate going back to politics.