Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman is now the interim leader of the opposition BC Liberals after Christy Clark announced her resignation.

The former Deputy Premier, Minister of Natural Gas Development, and Minister Responsible for Housing takes the position as of Friday.

Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad says losing Clark comes as sad news.

“She recognized that there’s some real challenges that we will have going forward as a party. We need to be strong going into the legislature.”

Rustad says the caucus decided Coleman has the right experience in opposition, as well as in government, to do the job.

“So what will happen now is the responsibility will be on Rich Coleman to work with us as a caucus to determine the critic roles. That hopefully will happen in the next week or so.”

He says the Executive Council of the Liberal party will also meet to decide on when election for a new leader will take place.

Clark will be stepping down as MLA of Kelowna-West on August 4th.