Clark will be hard to replace

Re: Clark quits as B.C. Liberal leader, July 29

Six and a half years as premier of B.C.; 16 years total in the B.C. Legislature. Five balanced budgets in a row, and a AAA credit rating for B.C. What more could the B.C. voters possibly expect from Christy Clark?

Of course, she was hard on the B.C. Teachers Federation, in negotiating contracts. After all, her job was to protect the public purse, and not to cave in to the excessive demands of the B.C.T.F.

She was very successful in this. It turned out she was too successful for the B.C. Supreme Court. She was a strong bargainer in the softwood lumber disputes with the U.S., and did the right thing by approving the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline, the Site “C” B.C. Hydro Project, and the proposed 10-lane bridge replacement for the George Massey Tunnel, under the Fraser River, that dams up commuter traffic for miles. All of these projects offer thousands of well-paying jobs for B.C., for Alberta, and for Canada, as well as building our economy. They are now in jeopardy under the new administration.

I am in full empathy mode with the replacement leader of the B.C. official Opposition, Rick Coleman, and so are many other B.C. residents. As stated by reporter Dirk Meissner: “An emotional Rick Coleman … said Clark stepped aside to allow the party to elect a new leader and begin a process of renewal.”

Christy Clark put the interests of the province ahead of the job she loved so much, being premier of B.C. Her big boots will be hard to fill. Fred Perry, Surrey, B.C.