Former British Columbia premier Christy Clark has announced she will not run for the leadership of the Liberal Party, just days after sparking speculation about her potential candidacy.
In a statement released Tuesday, Clark said she made the “difficult decision” to step back due to time constraints and insufficient French proficiency to effectively connect with Francophone Canadians.
“There isn’t enough time to mount a successful campaign,” she said. “While I’ve been working on my French, it’s not where it needs to be.”
Clark’s announcement comes shortly after she walked back a controversial claim that she was never a member of the Conservative Party. In an interview aired Saturday on CBC Radio’s The House, Clark denied previous Conservative ties, despite endorsing Jean Charest in the 2022 Conservative leadership race and expressing her intention to join the party to vote for him.
A Conservative Party spokesperson later provided a record contradicting Clark’s denial. Clark responded with a candid social media post, saying, “Well, I misspoke. Sh*t happens. Lesson learned.”
Clark’s decision not to run narrows the field in the race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Liberal Party will select its new leader—and Canada’s next prime minister—on March 9, with candidates required to declare by January 23.
Several prominent Liberals are expected to announce their bids this week:
- Karina Gould, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, is set to launch her campaign, potentially making her the youngest contender at 37 years old.
- François-Philippe Champagne, the Innovation Minister, is expected to confirm his candidacy during a speech Tuesday in Toronto.
- Chrystia Freeland, former finance minister and deputy prime minister, is anticipated to formally announce her bid within the week, before Donald Trump’s swearing-in as U.S. president.
- Mark Carney, former Bank of Canada governor, will likely declare his candidacy Thursday, according to insiders.
Other contenders, including Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, remain undecided.
Three candidates have already entered the race: Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste, Ottawa-area MP Chandra Arya, and former Montreal MP Frank Baylis.
In her statement, Clark took a swipe at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, writing, “Pierre Poilievre would rather attack Canadians than call out Donald Trump. He’s a bully at home and a pushover for MAGA Republicans. We don’t need Governor Poilievre; we need the Liberal Party at the top of its game.”
As the Liberal leadership race gathers momentum, all eyes remain on key players and their visions for Canada’s future.