B.C. Liberal campaign features cat fight

The B.C. Liberals cancelled the membership after learning about it from a reporter, but Abbott said the incident raises serious questions about the practices of Clark's team and about the integrity of the party's signup process.

"I don't think it's a joke," he said. "Potentially it's a serious breach."

Party officials learned Thursday that Olympia Marie Wawryk was actually the pet cat of volunteer Kristy Wawryk and the animal's name was on a party membership form, theoretically enabling it to vote in the leadership election Feb. 26.

Clark said it sounded like a bad joke, but knew it was no laughing matter.

"Somebody thought it would be funny," she said. "And of course, it's always funny until it actually happens, and it's not funny anymore, because you realize what a serious process it is."

The party already has an auditor on contract to review memberships, said the party's executive director, Chad Pederson.

But Abbott said that's not good enough.

"Obviously a situation where a cat is signed up under a human name is something that gives us significant pause, pardon the pun, around this issue," said Abbott.

Thousands sign up

Candidate Kevin Falcon also expressed concern.

"I think, frankly, the campaign of Christy Clark should take it very seriously and really disown this kind of behaviour and not pass it off as a prank," Falcon said.

Earlier Friday, Falcon's campaign announced it had signed up more than 17,500 new members.

"I'm honoured to have support from across the province, from so many people," he said in a release.

Contender Mike de Jong's campaign announced Thursday it had signed up more than 10,000 members.

The four other campaigns have not announced their totals.

The deadline for signing up new members to vote in the leadership contest was Friday at 5 p.m. PT.