Christy ClarkB次元官网网址檚 reign as leader of the BC Liberal Party is set to come to an end next week.

In a statement released Friday morning, Clark said from the position, effective Aug. 4. This follows an election that granted her a minority government, but was stripped away by a in the Legislature in June.

B次元官网网址淪erving as premier and serving the people of British Columbia for the past six and a half years has been an incredible honour and privilege,B次元官网网址� Clark wrote.

B次元官网网址淚 am so proud of everything our BC Liberal team has accomplished. From working to make British Columbia CanadaB次元官网网址檚 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 ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 gift to the world, the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest.

B次元官网网址淚 am certain that British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 best days lie ahead. Because British Columbians can, through hard work, determination and perseverance, achieve anything they set their minds to.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址業 was very emotionalB次元官网网址�

Former deputy premier and acting party leader Rich Coleman told reporters he was B次元官网网址渆motionalB次元官网网址� from ClarkB次元官网网址檚 announcement outside the Penticton Lakeside Resort where the BC Liberals were holding a caucus meeting Friday.

B次元官网网址淚 was very emotional. Surprised, absolutely,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ecause I loved her as a leader. SheB次元官网网址檚 been the greatest person that IB次元官网网址檝e worked for.B次元官网网址�

Coleman said the whole party, which thinks B次元官网网址渢he world of her,B次元官网网址� was disappointed by the announcement, adding that it wasnB次元官网网址檛 an easy decision for Clark, either.

B次元官网网址淪he was struggling with what she wanted to do. I mean, she really does B次元官网网址� at some point in time, I guess you come to the conclusion itB次元官网网址檚 time for you to move on and she has,B次元官网网址� Coleman said B次元官网网址淲e will be forever grateful.B次元官网网址�

Coleman said he believed it was hard on Clark to take a minority government and lose it within a couple of months, which may have influenced her decision.

B次元官网网址淵our life changes pretty dramatically. I think she found a whole lot more time for her son and her family, as a result of this period of time, and reflected about what was really important,B次元官网网址� Coleman said.

He noted it was her decision not to wait and see how the Green Party-NDP coalition fared, adding Clark had the full support of caucus at the time of her resignation.

B次元官网网址淚 think she just thought, B次元官网网址業 want to give these guys a chance to renew,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

Surprised by resignation

Political scientist Hamish Telford said he was surprised by the timing of ClarkB次元官网网址檚 resignation.

B次元官网网址淚 thought that she would stick around, see if the NDP can pass a couple of budgets,B次元官网网址� the University of the Fraser Valley professor said. B次元官网网址淭hey have to do a budget quickly in September, then in the spring.B次元官网网址�

Clark has likely to pass legislation, as she plans to step down from her MLA seat as well. It also likely gives them more time to govern, as the Liberals wonB次元官网网址檛 want to vote down the NDP election and trigger an election, while they have an interim leader.

I want to thank for her many years of service on behalf of British Columbians. I wish her and her family the very best. 1/2

B次元官网网址� John Horgan (@jjhorgan)

While we represented 2 different parties, we are united in our belief that our job is to work every day to build a better province. 2/2

B次元官网网址� John Horgan (@jjhorgan)

Telford said he had expected Clark to take a lesson from Jim Prentice who resigned as leader of the Progressice Conservatives in Alberta and as an MLA on the same night he lost an election, a move he said B次元官网网址渓ooked very sour.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淸He] said: B次元官网网址榃ell, if I canB次元官网网址檛 be premier, IB次元官网网址檓 not going to be anything.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Telford said former Prime Minister Stephen Harper took that to heart and left and B次元官网网址済ave a respectable amount of timeB次元官网网址� before announcing his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party and MP.

Clark had said she was , after the NDP and Green Party announced their plans to topple her government. A last minute shift in policy to include key points laid out in election platforms of both the BC NDP and BC Greens did nothing to alter public perception , which paved the road for a non-confidence vote.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one thing to say that when youB次元官网网址檙e still the premier, but when the reality hits, obviously the feelings change itB次元官网网址檚 either the reality of being opposition leader hits and it hurts,B次元官网网址� Telford said.

He said the nearly 50 per cent cut in salary from about $200,000 as premier to $100,000 as MLA was also likjely a factor in her choice to resign. She can make a lot more money in the private sector, Telford predicted.

Leaving politics will also likely give her more time with her son.

B次元官网网址淚 think all of these things confronted her and she decided it would be to announce early, rather than hang on.B次元官网网址�

Telford said he to call a by-election in her Kelowna West riding B次元官网网址� a BC Liberal stronghold B次元官网网址� very quickly. They are required by law to hold one withing six months of her stepping down.

Going forward, Telford predicts a quick leadership race to replace Clark, perhaps as early as this fall. The precarious NDP government and likely new election looming will probably entice a number of strong candidates to throw their hats into the ring, he said.

Andrew Weaver statement

The leader of the BC Green Party released a statement shortly after news of ClarkB次元官网网址檚 resignation as Leader of the BC Liberal Party and MLA for Kelowna West became public. Weaver struck a deal with new Premier John Horgan and the BC NDP in late May.

B次元官网网址淚 want to thank Christy Clark for her years of service to British Columbians, both as an MLA and as Leader of the BC Liberals,B次元官网网址� said Weaver. B次元官网网址淪he has been a fierce advocate for British Columbia, here at home and around the world.

B次元官网网址淎 highlight of my time in the Legislature was working directly with Christy Clark to implement sexualized violence policy legislation for BCB次元官网网址檚 post-secondary institutions. Her leadership and willingness to work across party lines on this vital issue has made universities and colleges across this province safer for our students - and for this I am grateful.

B次元官网网址淭his experience illustrated what we can achieve when members of this house work together. I wish Christy Clark well in her future pursuits and look forward to developing a productive relationship with the next Leader of the BC Liberal Party.B次元官网网址�

Picking a new leader

Coleman said he appreciated Clark stepping down, so the party could move more seamlessly to finding a new leader without bitterness from Clark.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 got so much class that sheB次元官网网址檚 decided sheB次元官网网址檚 going to do this for us, give us an opportunity to go through a leadership situation without acrimony or issues,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e can actually get it done as a party going forward.B次元官网网址�

The party now has 28 days to call a meeting to start the process of picking a new leader, and Coleman said that could come as soon as three months from now or as long as a year.

B次元官网网址淚 told the caucus this morning I have no intentions at this time to seek the leadership, and if I ever did change, I would step down,B次元官网网址� Coleman said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 plan on stepping down.B次元官网网址�