Christy Clark香蕉视频直播檚 reign as leader of the BC Liberal Party is set to come to an end next week.

In a statement released Friday morning, Clark said from the position, effective Aug. 4. This follows an election that granted her a minority government, but was stripped away by a in the Legislature in June.

香蕉视频直播淪erving as premier and serving the people of British Columbia for the past six and a half years has been an incredible honour and privilege,香蕉视频直播� Clark wrote.

香蕉视频直播淚 am so proud of everything our BC Liberal team has accomplished. From working to make British Columbia Canada香蕉视频直播檚 leading economy and creating more than 200,000 new jobs, to helping thousands of single parents go from welfare to work through the single parent employment initiative, to British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 gift to the world, the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest.

香蕉视频直播淚 am certain that British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 best days lie ahead. Because British Columbians can, through hard work, determination and perseverance, achieve anything they set their minds to.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播業 was very emotional香蕉视频直播�

Former deputy premier and acting party leader Rich Coleman told reporters he was 香蕉视频直播渆motional香蕉视频直播� from Clark香蕉视频直播檚 announcement outside the Penticton Lakeside Resort where the BC Liberals were holding a caucus meeting Friday.

香蕉视频直播淚 was very emotional. Surprised, absolutely,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ecause I loved her as a leader. She香蕉视频直播檚 been the greatest person that I香蕉视频直播檝e worked for.香蕉视频直播�

Coleman said the whole party, which thinks 香蕉视频直播渢he world of her,香蕉视频直播� was disappointed by the announcement, adding that it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 an easy decision for Clark, either.

香蕉视频直播淪he was struggling with what she wanted to do. I mean, she really does 香蕉视频直播� at some point in time, I guess you come to the conclusion it香蕉视频直播檚 time for you to move on and she has,香蕉视频直播� Coleman said 香蕉视频直播淲e will be forever grateful.香蕉视频直播�

Coleman said he believed it was hard on Clark to take a minority government and lose it within a couple of months, which may have influenced her decision.

香蕉视频直播淵our life changes pretty dramatically. I think she found a whole lot more time for her son and her family, as a result of this period of time, and reflected about what was really important,香蕉视频直播� Coleman said.

He noted it was her decision not to wait and see how the Green Party-NDP coalition fared, adding Clark had the full support of caucus at the time of her resignation.

香蕉视频直播淚 think she just thought, 香蕉视频直播業 want to give these guys a chance to renew,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� he said.

Surprised by resignation

Political scientist Hamish Telford said he was surprised by the timing of Clark香蕉视频直播檚 resignation.

香蕉视频直播淚 thought that she would stick around, see if the NDP can pass a couple of budgets,香蕉视频直播� the University of the Fraser Valley professor said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey have to do a budget quickly in September, then in the spring.香蕉视频直播�

Clark has likely to pass legislation, as she plans to step down from her MLA seat as well. It also likely gives them more time to govern, as the Liberals won香蕉视频直播檛 want to vote down the NDP election and trigger an election, while they have an interim leader.

I want to thank for her many years of service on behalf of British Columbians. I wish her and her family the very best. 1/2

香蕉视频直播� John Horgan (@jjhorgan)

While we represented 2 different parties, we are united in our belief that our job is to work every day to build a better province. 2/2

香蕉视频直播� John Horgan (@jjhorgan)

Telford said he had expected Clark to take a lesson from Jim Prentice who resigned as leader of the Progressice Conservatives in Alberta and as an MLA on the same night he lost an election, a move he said 香蕉视频直播渓ooked very sour.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淸He] said: 香蕉视频直播榃ell, if I can香蕉视频直播檛 be premier, I香蕉视频直播檓 not going to be anything.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Telford said former Prime Minister Stephen Harper took that to heart and left and 香蕉视频直播済ave a respectable amount of time香蕉视频直播� before announcing his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party and MP.

Clark had said she was , after the NDP and Green Party announced their plans to topple her government. A last minute shift in policy to include key points laid out in election platforms of both the BC NDP and BC Greens did nothing to alter public perception , which paved the road for a non-confidence vote.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 one thing to say that when you香蕉视频直播檙e still the premier, but when the reality hits, obviously the feelings change it香蕉视频直播檚 either the reality of being opposition leader hits and it hurts,香蕉视频直播� Telford said.

He said the nearly 50 per cent cut in salary from about $200,000 as premier to $100,000 as MLA was also likjely a factor in her choice to resign. She can make a lot more money in the private sector, Telford predicted.

Leaving politics will also likely give her more time with her son.

香蕉视频直播淚 think all of these things confronted her and she decided it would be to announce early, rather than hang on.香蕉视频直播�

Telford said he to call a by-election in her Kelowna West riding 香蕉视频直播� a BC Liberal stronghold 香蕉视频直播� very quickly. They are required by law to hold one withing six months of her stepping down.

Going forward, Telford predicts a quick leadership race to replace Clark, perhaps as early as this fall. The precarious NDP government and likely new election looming will probably entice a number of strong candidates to throw their hats into the ring, he said.

Andrew Weaver statement

The leader of the BC Green Party released a statement shortly after news of Clark香蕉视频直播檚 resignation as Leader of the BC Liberal Party and MLA for Kelowna West became public. Weaver struck a deal with new Premier John Horgan and the BC NDP in late May.

香蕉视频直播淚 want to thank Christy Clark for her years of service to British Columbians, both as an MLA and as Leader of the BC Liberals,香蕉视频直播� said Weaver. 香蕉视频直播淪he has been a fierce advocate for British Columbia, here at home and around the world.

香蕉视频直播淎 highlight of my time in the Legislature was working directly with Christy Clark to implement sexualized violence policy legislation for BC香蕉视频直播檚 post-secondary institutions. Her leadership and willingness to work across party lines on this vital issue has made universities and colleges across this province safer for our students - and for this I am grateful.

香蕉视频直播淭his experience illustrated what we can achieve when members of this house work together. I wish Christy Clark well in her future pursuits and look forward to developing a productive relationship with the next Leader of the BC Liberal Party.香蕉视频直播�

Picking a new leader

Coleman said he appreciated Clark stepping down, so the party could move more seamlessly to finding a new leader without bitterness from Clark.

香蕉视频直播淪he香蕉视频直播檚 got so much class that she香蕉视频直播檚 decided she香蕉视频直播檚 going to do this for us, give us an opportunity to go through a leadership situation without acrimony or issues,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e can actually get it done as a party going forward.香蕉视频直播�

The party now has 28 days to call a meeting to start the process of picking a new leader, and Coleman said that could come as soon as three months from now or as long as a year.

香蕉视频直播淚 told the caucus this morning I have no intentions at this time to seek the leadership, and if I ever did change, I would step down,香蕉视频直播� Coleman said. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 plan on stepping down.香蕉视频直播�