“We were all very, very disappointed,” says Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart, describing the moment when, at a caucus meeting at the end of July, former B.C. premier Christy Clark announced that she was resigning as leader of the B.C. Liberal Party, and leaving politics altogether, as of August 4, 2017. “It was a sad day, and there were many tears.”
The announcement means that there must be a by-election in Clark’s riding of Kelowna-West within six months, and leaves the governing NDP-Green Party alliance with a two-seat majority over the Liberals for the time being.
“I understand it is her right to make that decision,” says Tegart. “I truly believe that Christy Clark would have looked at what is best for the province, what is best for the Liberal Party, and also personally what is best for her and her family.
“I think it’s important to note what an incredible leader she was. People were incredibly disappointed that her decision was to leave.”
Tegart notes that Clark was the first female premier in the country elected for a second time, and calls her an incredible visionary for the province of B.C., and an extremely hard worker. “When you have that, sometimes you pay a huge price in your personal life. She has a young son, who said that he only remembers his mom as a premier.”
There was surprise, says Tegart, that Clark decided to leave politics altogether, but said that sometimes leaders step aside to allow for renewal within a party, and that the decision has to be made as to whether to stay with caucus or not. “You weigh whether to stay or go, and her decision was that renewal would be better if she moved on.”
Asked about the timing of Clark’s decision, and whether it was the “right time” — as Clark described it — Tegart says she was such a supporter of Clark that she’s sad there was a right time. “When you look at politics in the big picture, we’re going into a session in September with a new government, and likely a budget in February. When you look at timing, better to do it now with the opportunity to have a leadership race and have a new leader in place in the next three to 12 months, rather than to find ourselves a year-and-a-half down the road and thinking that a leadership race would be appropriate at that time.
“Now that Christy has made her decision, there is a lot of interest in the leadership. It’s an opportunity for us to redefine and renew the BC Liberal party.”
When asked if a new leader would be tied to the policies put forward by Clark in her last Throne Speech, Tegart says that that speech reflected what the Liberals heard on doorsteps and what they believed the message was from the people of British Columbia.
“I believe the new leader will have lots of opportunity to put their stamp on the party and where we’re going. But the Throne Speech reflected a party that was listening, and admitted that perhaps we didn’t get it right. I think there’s great opportunity coming in the next 12 to 24 months.”
The Journal gets no further than “I have to ask you this… .” before Tegart replies, “No, I’m not running. I was recently re-elected a caucus chair, and I believe that’s a critically important position during this transition. I have indicated to my colleagues that in that position I will be staying absolutely neutral in the leadership race, and will commit to bringing that neutrality to the caucus chair.”