Who is Christy Clark

Christy Clark was born and raised in Burnaby by her mother Mavis, a family counselor, and her father Jim, a school teacher and guidance counselor.

Clark was first elected to the legislature in 1996 as MLA for Port Moody-Burnaby Mountain. During the next five years, she served as the Official Opposition critic for the environment, children and families and for the public service. 

When the BC Liberals formed government she was appointed Minister of Education and Deputy Premier in 2001, became Deputy Premier at the time of the privatization of BC Rail, and in 2004 was appointed Minister of Children and Family Development.

In 2005 Clark left government to take a break and to spend more time with her family.  That was short-lived however as she sought the nomination of the Non-Partisan Association (NPA) to run for Mayor, which she lost to councillor Sam Sullivan who was subsequently elected Mayor of Vancouver.

In 2007, she began the “Christy Clark Show” on CKNW radio.

What Christy Clark has had to say:

·         While Clark says BC is fairing well under what she calls the worst recession in 27 years, the BC Liberal government had little control on its impact.   “Could we do better? Absolutely,” she says

·         "it's time for the British Columbia's government to be more open and responsive to the citizens of the province."   Clark, who has been out of politics for more than four years, said the implementation of the harmonized sales tax was "fatally flawed from the outset" and had undermined the public's trust in the B.C. Liberal government.

·         Clark praised outgoing Premier Gordon Campbell, saying that "he deserves our gratitude for the incredible effort that he has put in."

What others have had to say:

·         George Abbott: "Her latest flip-flop on the HST once again proves she has no credible plan to lead the province or our economy." (Globe and Mail, Feb. 3, 2011)

·         Kevin Falcon: "I think there is a little bit of a 'ready, fire, aim' approach that's sort of taking place" (Vancouver Sun, Feb. 3, 2011

·         When asked about Clark’s weaknesses, Joy McPhail answers that it was her constant defense of Campbell’s agenda. “I know that sounds funny to say that’s a weakness, but when the leader required a good talking-to rather than blind loyalty I suspect Christy leans more toward the loyal side.

What do I have to say:

BC Conservatives, and BC Conservative policies, can stand on their own.  That said however, I believe the best thing that could happen for the conservatives, and conservative minded people, would be for Christy Clark to get the nod as the next leader of the BC Liberal Party.

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops …