Christy Clark drops out of Liberal leadership race
Liberal members will select a new leader, and ultimately a new prime minister to serve until the next general election, on March 9.
The former BC Liberal premier cited a lack of time and her questionable French language skills as her reasons to not officially enter the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after a rough week where her credibility was called into question on multiple occasions.
Clark made the announcement on her X account:
I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers across Canada who’ve pledged their support for me over this past week. We’ve put together an amazing team on very short notice.
— Christy Clark (@christyclarkbc) January 14, 2025
But, friends, I have made the difficult decision to step back.
While we have come a long way, in a…
"I have made the difficult decision to step back. While we have come a long way, in a short time, there is simply not enough time to mount a successful campaign and for me to effectively connect with Francophone Canadians in their language. I have worked hard at improving my French but it’s not where it needs to be, today. I won’t be in this leadership race but I won’t stop fighting. Pierre Poilievre would rather attack Canadians than call out Donald Trump. We need the Liberal Party at the top of its game."
Clark was plagued by her distant relationship with the truth and a flip-flop on the carbon tax, leaving her campaign with a failure to launch.
Christy Clark signed up to vote in the last Conservative Leadership race on June 2, 2022 https://t.co/tWxBaaOtit pic.twitter.com/9X2GQrXmu9
— Jenni Byrne (@Jenni_Byrne) January 10, 2025
Clark denied ever being a member of the Conservative Party twice in interviews, however, the Conservative Party produced proof of membership for Clark sold through the failed leadership campaign of Jean Charest in 2022.
Lie after lie after lie. It’s pathological and seems to come easy for Carbon Tax Christy pic.twitter.com/la29WzjBVI
— Jenni Byrne (@Jenni_Byrne) January 12, 2025
Clark previously championed the carbon tax, even deriding Trudeau for not going far enough in his efforts to climate tariff all things that move, grow, run, and heat in Canada.
Carbon Tax Clark cannot be trusted.
— Shannon Stubbs (@ShannonStubbsMP) January 13, 2025
She's bragged about imposing the harshest carbon tax in North America.
But now, she claims to oppose carbon taxes.
More Liberal lies. Carbon Tax Clark is just like Justin. pic.twitter.com/lP7IR1ZPFe
Carbon Tax Clark bragged about having imposed on BC the *highest* carbon tax in North America.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 11, 2025
Even higher than Trudeau’s carbon tax on gas, heat and groceries.
She’s Just Like Justin: https://t.co/uh9m6h0N1e pic.twitter.com/EnTHojgMBA
However, in an interview with CBC, Clark walked back her carbon tax support, saying if she were chosen to replace Trudeau, she would, like Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, axe the tax.
CTF's @kris_sims on the significance of Liberal leadership hopeful Christy Clark vowing to "scrap" the carbon tax as PM:
— Western Standard (@WSOnlineNews) January 13, 2025
"This is huge because it tells us ... the carbon tax is wildly unpopular with Canadians."#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/w3ygcrCWhG
Liberal members will select a new leader, and ultimately a new prime minister to serve until the next general election, on March 9. Leadership hopefuls have to come up with a $350,000 entrance fee.

Sheila Gunn Reid
Chief Reporter
Sheila Gunn Reid is the Alberta Bureau Chief for Rebel News and host of the weekly The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid. She's a mother of three, conservative activist, and the author of best-selling books including Stop Notley.

COMMENTS
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Bernhard Jatzeck commented 2025-01-15 00:44:37 -0500I’m so old I remember who the Electric Prunes were.
I’m always suspicious whenever someone quits so suddenly. -
Bruce Atchison commented 2025-01-14 19:49:36 -0500More rats leaving the bad ship Liberal. In fact, the Liberals might be left with just Carney running. It’s like that line in “Circus Freak” by The Electric Prunes. “No one dares to win.”