Former British Columbia premier Christy Clark said Tuesday she will not run in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the federal Liberal Party.
In a statement, Clark thanked the volunteers who had expressed interest in her potential candidacy and organizers who mobilized “on very short notice,” but said there wasn’t enough time for her to mount a successful campaign.
“I have made the difficult decision to step back,” Clark said.
“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.”
Global News had previously reported that Clark had been taking French lessons ahead of a potential entry into federal politics.
Clark was previously seen as a potential contender in the race to succeed Trudeau, who announced last week he would resign after the Liberals chose a new leader. The party has outlined rules for a leadership race that will see a winner declared by early March.
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Clark said Tuesday that timeline did not leave enough time for the Liberals to “build a process that will renew and grow our Party.”
She also took swipes at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who will face the next Liberal leader in an election that could launch as early as this spring.
“Our Party must still find a way to generate new momentum and energy,” Clark wrote. “To open itself up to a broader group of Canadians who have felt left out, but who can’t abide the snarling, sneering politics of Pierre Poilievre or the unrealistic approach of the NDP.
“I won’t be in this leadership race but I won’t stop fighting.”
Clark’s statement comes days after she was forced to walk back her claim this week that she’d never been a member of the Conservative party.
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