Surrey Liberals call for B.C. Premier's resignation
Emergency cabinet meeting called over ethnic scandal
CBC News
Posted: Mar 3, 2013 9:47 AM ET
Last Updated: Mar 3, 2013 10:13 AM ET
British Columbia Premier Christy Clark smiles as she speaks to the media after addressing the Board of Trade luncheon in Vancouver on Feb. 20, 2013. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)More than 100 B.C. Liberal party members called for the resignation of embattled B.C. Premier Christy Clark at a breakfast meeting in Surrey Sunday morning.
Members at the meeting said Clark must resign in order for the party to stage a comeback in time for the May provincial election.
"She must step forward, show her leadership qualities and resign," said Vikram Bajwa, a former mayoral candidate in Surrey who attended the Sunday morning meeting.
Clark has called an emergency cabinet meeting Sunday afternoon to speak to her team for the first time since a scandal erupted over a leaked plan to woo ethnic voters.
Some Liberal caucus members have resigned and openly criticized Clark over the proposed strategy. On Friday the premier was forced to accept the resignation of her deputy chief of staff, Kim Haakstad.
The paper that Haakstad wrote in January 2012 urged the Liberals to co-ordinate resources – including some funded by taxpayers – to focus on winning over ethnic voters. It was leaked last week by the NDP.
Clark issued a letter of apology which was read during question period on Thursday but she herself wasn't in the house.
Sunday's emergency meeting in Vancouver will be her first chance to clear the air with her cabinet before the legislature resumes Monday.
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