Former British Columbia premier Christy Clark, who is considering a run for federal Liberal leader, has backtracked on her claim this week that sheB次元官网网址檇 never been a member of the Conservative party.
Clark told CBC RadioB次元官网网址檚 The House that she is B次元官网网址渧ery seriouslyB次元官网网址� considering a leadership bid, but expressed disappointment with the short timeline for the race.
She also denied she voted for former Quebec premier Jean Charest in his bid to become Conservative leader in 2022, a race that was won by Pierre Poilievre.
Clark, who has called herself a B次元官网网址渓ifelong Liberal,B次元官网网址� said in the interview that despite publicly supporting CharestB次元官网网址檚 leadership run she never joined the party and never received a ballot for the race.
The Conservatives have provided a screen grab of their electronic records, showing Clark was an active member of the party from June 2, 2022 until June 30, 2023.
On social media late Friday, Clark posted a facepalm emoji and said she B次元官网网址渕isspoke,B次元官网网址� but says sheB次元官网网址檚 not backing away from her claim the she supported Charest to stop Poilievre.
B次元官网网址淚 have always been clear that I supported Jean Charest to stop Pierre Poilievre. HeB次元官网网址檚 the most divisive politician weB次元官网网址檝e seen in years,B次元官网网址� Clark said in a post on X.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 thinking carefully about running because he still needs to be stopped. But if we want to do that, our party has to accept change.B次元官网网址�
During her interview with CBC, Clark claimed sheB次元官网网址檇 asked the Conservatives why she hadnB次元官网网址檛 received a ballot for the Tory race in 2022, and that no one got back to her. The host then challenged her about why she would expect a ballot if she hadnB次元官网网址檛 joined the party.
B次元官网网址淚f I had gotten a ballot I probably would have been a member,B次元官网网址� she answered, noting she never quit the Liberals at the time.
Clark had been a keynote speaker at a meeting in Edmonton in August 2022 of Centre Ice Conservatives, an advocacy group that formed at the start of the ToriesB次元官网网址� leadership contest to encourage candidates to focus on issues like the economy.
During that meeting, she accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of dividing the country when he said the views of B次元官网网址淔reedom ConvoyB次元官网网址� protesters, who blockaded roads and highways the preceding winter to oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates, were unacceptable.
Clark later said she had received her ballot to vote in the Tory leadership contest and that she would be voting, adding she felt that Charest would be B次元官网网址渁 fantastic prime minister.B次元官网网址�
The Liberal party said the new leader will be named March 9 to replace Trudeau.
Poilievre has been attacking Clark as B次元官网网址渃arbon tax Clark.B次元官网网址� British Columbia implemented a price on carbon in 2008 under then-premier Gordon Campbell, which Clark kept when she became premier in 2011.
B次元官网网址淐arbon Tax Clark was pushing the carbon tax on gas, heat & groceries before Trudeau was even elected!B次元官网网址� Poilievre tweeted Saturday.
Clark told CBC her government froze the tax due to concerns it was affecting competitiveness and was hurting families, and she would scrap the federal one if elected.
B次元官网网址淚 think the Trudeau carbon tax isnB次元官网网址檛 working. ItB次元官网网址檚 very different than what we did in British Columbia,B次元官网网址� Clark said, adding she would have an alternative plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Liberal cabinet minister Anita Anand announced Saturday that she wonB次元官网网址檛 pursue a leadership bid. Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc have also said they will not join the race.
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney signalled through his campaign team Friday that he will launch a leadership bid late next week. Former Montreal MP Frank Baylis and Nepean, Ont., MP Chandra Arya have also said they plan to run.
