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They realized they were far behind, and that’s why they crossed the line

“They realized they were far behind, and that’s why they crossed the line, because they realized they had to pull out all the stops to catch up to the NDP.”

On Thursday, Deputy Premier Rich Coleman read an apology from Ms. Clark in the legislature, saying the leaked strategy document — which the Liberals say was a draft —appeared to cross the line.

“Some of the things that are in this thing are unacceptable. It blurs the lines, it goes beyond the lines,” Mr. Coleman said outside the legislature.

Mr. Coleman had said he should know within 24 hours what went wrong and how, but on Friday, the premier’s office issued only the terms of reference for the review.

In the political fallout, Ms. Clark has accepted the resignation of one of her closest long-time advisers, deputy chief of staff, Kim Haakstad, who sent out the document to several people working on a Liberal re-election plan.

Sources told the Vancouver Sun that many in both Ms. Clark’s cabinet and caucus feel she should be taking more responsibility, and showing more contrition over the issue.

But some B.C. Liberals heading into Sunday’s meeting told reporters they were supportive of the premier.

Mr. Coleman told media in front of the Vancouver cabinet offices that reporters were making more out of the meeting than it was. When asked about possible splits within the party over the document that planned to attract ethnic voters during the May election, Mr. Coleman stated there was “absolute unity.”