B.C. politicians front and centre: Singh, Clark, others on federal stage

As the fallout from Justin Trudeau’s much-anticipated resignation announcement reverberates across Canada, at least two British Columbians will feature prominently in national politics in the coming weeks and months. 

The demands of leading the federal NDP have seen Jagmeet Singh spend a lot of time outside his Burnaby riding, and that could increase if he finds himself the leader of the official opposition. He’s already pitching himself to voters as an alternative to the two biggest parties.

“It doesn't matter who the next Liberal leader is, they've let you down, they do not deserve another chance,” he said at a virtual press conference on Monday. “And if you are worried about the cuts of Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, if you find it unacceptable, just simply wrong that the rich keep on getting richer and the middle class is falling further behind, stand with us.”

Observers speculate, however, that if Singh loses seats at a time the Liberals are on their back foot, his own political future could be in jeopardy.

Clark expected to seek Liberal leadership

While she hasn’t yet made it official, former B.C. premier Christy Clark, is expected to announce her intention to seek the federal Liberal leadership. Despite requests from CTV News, she wouldn’t speak publicly on Monday and instead relied on social media posts thanking Trudeau “for his service to the country that he so clearly loves.”

Clark is an underdog candidate, with several of Trudeau’s cabinet ministers posting higher approval numbers in opinion polls. However, her status as somewhat of an outsider without the baggage of the previous administration, may give her a fighting chance. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/who-should-lead-the-liberals-none-of-the-above-poll-finds-1.7103700

“She could perhaps offer an alternative, suggesting the Liberals have, in a sense, lost their way, lost touch with voters across the country and can offer that that sense of return to a connect with the grass roots of Canadians,” said Stewart Prest, a political scientist at UBC.

Pushback against Clark

In the years since she was ousted as premier, Clark has steadily raised her national profile with regular media interviews, often appearing on panels of political programs like CTV’s Power Play. As Trudeau’s struggles within his party have become more public in recent months, Clark has inserted herself more firmly into federal politics, often posting about rubbing shoulders with federal Liberals.

That hasn’t sat well with all members of the party, and Clark may find earning the support of longtime Liberals challenging.

“Clark hasn't been involved with the federal Liberal Party for a very long period of time and in fact, I think, has been much more closely associated with the Conservative Party over the past number of years,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, a supporter of Trudeau and current minister of energy and natural resources.

The North Vancouver-Capilano MP added that not only would he have a hard time supporting her, he’s considering a bid for the leadership himself.

No matter who throws their hat in the ring and comes out on top as Liberal leader, British Columbians will have a big role in determining who the next Prime Minister is, even if the election date is still up in the air. 

“B.C. is a crucial battleground in any federal election,” said Prest. “The elections of the last number of cycles have really been settled in the metro areas of the country around Toronto in the GTA and around Montreal, but just as much around Vancouver in the Lower Mainland.”