Victoria – After two bouts of Cancer and now cancer free, the fatigue has taken its toll. BC Premier John Horgan will step away as Premier in the fall after a leadership convention. Horgan will not be running in the 2024 provincial election. He will stay on as MLA for Langford – Juan de Fuca.
Horgan said the decision was health based an not on the recent controversy over the proposal for a full replacement of the Royal BC Museum and Archives.
FVN and chillTV have reached out to Chilliwack MLA Dan Coulter and Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon for comment.
Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement:
“Over the last couple of days, our cabinet has met to seek solutions to the challenges people face in British Columbia.
“These include the high cost of living and the stresses on primary care. Working to make life better for people is why we are here and that continues to be my focus.
“As we reach the mid-point of our second term, it is clear the tasks ahead of us are enormous and will require a leader focused on the next two years and beyond. A second bout with cancer and dozens of radiation treatments has led me to take stock.
“I am proud to say I’m cancer free. While I have a lot of energy, I must acknowledge this may not be the case two years from now.
“Therefore, I have decided not to run again in the next election.
“Once again, I want to thank the health-care professionals who helped me through this journey. They do incredible work under difficult circumstances.
“I also want to thank the many British Columbians – from every walk of life and from all political persuasions – who offered their best wishes.
“I will stay on as Premier until my successor is chosen. I will continue to do my level best to make politics work for people. This includes pushing the federal government to fund their fair share of health-care costs so we can make our public health-care system work better for everyone.
“I am looking forward to reconnecting with my neighbours as the MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca.
“Being Premier is not a job I ever expected to have, yet it’s been the honour of my life.
“In the last five years, we’ve accomplished a lot by working together and caring for each other. The work continues.”
Former Chilliwack MLA John Martin:
“I want to wish Premier John Horgan all the very best as he steps away from public life. How decent a guy is Horgan? One day my constituency assistant was attending Question Period in Victoria with his wife and three kids. I sent John a note asking if he could make himself available for a quick photo with my guests. I knew it was a long shot because this was the day of the Proportional Representation Debate to be held later in Vancouver and of course he’d be busy in rehearsal with advisers, consultants, coaches etc. Being the over the top class act he is, John sent me a note telling me to bring them all over to his office for a chat. That’s right, on such a politically crucial day with so much at stake Horgan entertained my guests for a full 15 minutes no doubt infuriating his senior staff who wanted more time for debate preparation. Thank you John for your many years of service and sacrifice to BC.”
Statement from BC NDP President Aaron Sumexheltza
Today Premier Horgan informed British Columbians that he will not be leading the BC NDP into the next election in 2024. He has asked the Party to initiate a leadership race, but until a new leader is chosen, John will stay on and continue his work making life better for people.
Since he was first elected as an MLA in 2005, John has embodied our BC NDP values of putting people first and working every day to address the real challenges they face. As Leader of the BC NDP, he has assembled an incredibly skilled and diverse team of MLAs who fight to make life better for everyone. And as Premier, he has shown what is possible to accomplish with a government that’s focused on people.
In the coming days, our Provincial Council will meet to ratify the rules and timing for a leadership election, as outlined by our BC NDP Constitution. We will provide an update on that process as soon as possible.
On a personal note, it has been an honour and a privilege to be elected as the first Indigenous president of a political party under John’s leadership.
