Premier Christy Clark in Port Moody March 22, 2012.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail
B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she will seek re-election in the Vancouver-Point Grey riding she narrowly won in a by-election last year.
Ms. Clark had been non-committal about another campaign there in the May, 2013 vote, leading to speculation that she might seek another seat.
However, she told the CKNW radio station Tuesday she will seek the nomination for Vancouver-Point Grey.
"My plan is, for sure, to run in Vancouver Point-Grey," Ms. Clark said in an interview from Halifax where she is attending the annual meeting of premiers.
The Premier ran in the seat last year because she had returned to politics by winning the B.C. Liberal leadership and needed a seat in the legislature. The seat was previously held by Gordon Campbell, her immediate predecessor as premier.
Ms. Clark won with 49 per cent of the vote compared to 45 per cent for her nearest rival – David Eby of the B.C. New Democrats – in the May, 2011 by-election.
No Conservative contested the by-election, thereby eliminating a split in the centre-right vote that might have hurt the Liberals.
However, B.C. Conservative Leader John Cummins said Tuesday his party sat out the by-election as a "courtesy" to Ms. Clark as the newly elected leader of a provincial party.
"In an election, we will be there," said Ms. Cummins. "Obviously, we'll be in it to win."
Mr. Eby, executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, was not immediately available for comment on whether he will run again for the NDP.
A spokesman for the provincial party said Mr. Eby has not yet filed any nomination papers.
Ian Bailey