January 25, 2011 – Vancouver – John Cummins, leader of British Columbia’s Conservatives today appointed John Martin and Christine Clarke as the first members of his shadow cabinet.
 
“I am delighted to appoint John Martin as the BC Conservative Party’s Justice Critic and Christine Clarke as our critic for Municipal Affairs and Transit,” said Cummins.  “John and Christine are excellent candidates and will be holding the Liberal government to account in their new roles.”
 
Both John Martin and Christine Clarke are the BC Conservative party’s candidates in the upcoming Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam by-elections.  Clarke will be responsible for issues dealing with municipal government and TransLink. Martin will shadow both the ministries of the Solicitor General and Attorney General.
 
“I am excited to take on this role and hold the Liberals and NDP to account for their support of the new gas tax that we will pay this spring,” said Clarke, a long-time resident of the Tri-Cities.
 
“This Liberal government has failed British Columbians on the justice file. They have starved the justice system and now thousands of criminal prosecutions could be thrown out,” said Martin, a professor of criminology and newspaper columnist in Chilliwack.
 
“It’s great to have Christine and John on our team. The BC Conservative party is the only alternative to the special interest parties that have given average BC families the highest tax burden west of Quebec,” said Cummins.

Media Contact:
Jim Mitchell
604-355-8152
conservatives@bcconservative.ca