Christy Clark

Christy Clark
Clark in 2011
35th Premier of British Columbia
In office March 14, 2011 – July 18, 2017
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Steven Point Judith Guichon
Deputy	Kevin Falcon Rich Coleman
Preceded by	Gordon Campbell
Succeeded by	John Horgan
Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia
In office July 18, 2017 – August 4, 2017
Preceded by	John Horgan
Succeeded by	Rich Coleman
Leader of the BC Liberal Party
In office February 26, 2011 – August 4, 2017
Preceded by	Gordon Campbell
Succeeded by	Rich Coleman (interim)
Other offices held 9th Deputy Premier of British Columbia In office June 5, 2001 – September 20, 2004 Premier Gordon Campbell Preceded by Joy MacPhail Succeeded by Shirley Bond Minister of Education of British Columbia In office June 5, 2001 – January 26, 2004 Premier Gordon Campbell Preceded by Joy MacPhail Succeeded by Tom Christensen Minister of Children and Family Development of British Columbia In office January 26, 2004 – September 20, 2004 Premier Gordon Campbell Preceded by Gordon Hogg Succeeded by Stan Hagen Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Kelowna West In office July 10, 2013 – August 4, 2017 Preceded by Ben Stewart Succeeded by Ben Stewart (2018) Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Vancouver-Point Grey In office May 30, 2011 – May 13, 2013 Preceded by Gordon Campbell Succeeded by David Eby Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Port Moody-Westwood (Port Moody-Burnaby Mountain; 1996–2001) In office May 28, 1996 – May 17, 2005 Preceded by Barbara Copping Succeeded by Iain Black
Personal details
Born	Christina Joan Clark (1965-10-29) October 29, 1965 (age 59) Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Political party	Liberal (federal) BC United (provincial)
Other political affiliations	Conservative (2022-2023)[1]
Spouse	Mark Marissen ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2009)​
Education	Simon Fraser University (no degree)
Website	christyclark.com

Christina Joan Clark (born October 29, 1965) is a Canadian politician who served as the 35th premier of British Columbia from 2011 to 2017. Clark was the second woman to be premier of BC, after Rita Johnston in 1991, and the first female premier in Canada to lead her party to a plurality of seats in two consecutive general elections.

A member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, Clark was a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 1996 to 2005 and was deputy premier from 2001 to 2005 during the first term of Gordon Campbell's government. She left politics in 2005, and became the host of an afternoon radio talk show.^[2] After Campbell's resignation, Clark won the 2011 leadership election, becoming premier. She re-entered the legislature after winning a by-election on May 11 in Vancouver-Point Grey, the seat left vacant by Campbell. The Liberals were re-elected in the 2013 provincial election in an upset victory. In the 2017 provincial election, the Liberals were reduced to 43 seats—one short of a majority.^[3] Following a confidence and supply agreement between the NDP and Green Party, Clark's minority government was defeated 44–42, and NDP leader John Horgan succeeded her as the premier on July 18. Clark subsequently announced that she was resigning as Liberal leader effective August 4 and leaving provincial politics.

Following Justin Trudeau's announcement that he would resign as prime minister and as leader of the federal Liberal Party, Clark was considered a potential candidate to succeed him. On January 14, 2025, she declined to enter the race, citing her lack of French fluency and the short timescale of the race.^[4]