The New Democrats are campaigning for another term in British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 provincial election but without many of the familiar faces that have graced lawn signs of elections past.

About a quarter of the NDP cabinet ministers who held a portfolio when the election campaign kicked off in September wonB次元官网网址檛 have their names on the ballot when B.C. residents go to the polls on Oct. 19.

That includes veterans and high-profile politicians who spent decades in the legislature, and who held hefty portfolios. Their departures were announced when the NDP was considered a clear favourite, but the folding of the Opposition BC United campaign at the end of August has led to a tightening of the race with the B.C. Conservatives.

Harry Bains, Bruce Ralston, Katrine Conroy and Rob Fleming were all first elected in 2005 and have served five terms in the legislature, but will not be on the ballot this year.

Neither is George Heyman, first elected in 2013, Mitzi Dean elected in 2017, nor Murray Rankin elected provincially in 2020.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has used the departures as an attack point against NDP Leader David Eby, saying B次元官网网址渉alf of his cabinet has resigned and is not running.B次元官网网址� In fact, seven out of EbyB次元官网网址檚 27 cabinet colleagues are not standing again.

B次元官网网址淗e obviously does not have the confidence in his own team to do a cabinet shuffle and put people in position. What does that say about David EbyB次元官网网址檚 leadership?B次元官网网址� said Rustad over the weekend.

University of the Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford said even with the changes, the retiring heavy-hitters come mostly from ridings that are NDP strongholds and are likely to remain that way.

B次元官网网址淩ecruitment is easier when itB次元官网网址檚 a strong riding, because if you win the nomination, thereB次元官网网址檚 a pretty good chance youB次元官网网址檒l win the election. So, they can recruit good candidates,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hose candidates, of course, (itB次元官网网址檚 their) first campaign, new campaign teams, but theyB次元官网网址檒l be able to get the information from the old candidates, and because theyB次元官网网址檙e safe ridings itB次元官网网址檚 usually not too much of a problem.B次元官网网址�

Telford said such turnover is common ahead of an election campaign, and itB次元官网网址檚 not surprising that some ministers would choose to retire after decades on the job.

Ralston, who is retiring as forests minister after representing Surrey, said he felt now was a good time to pass the torch.

B次元官网网址�(My) only advice would be to keep the public interest in mind. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the most important thing. Respond to what people want and what people need,B次元官网网址� he said to would-be legislators ahead of the official campaign.

Environment Minister Heyman said his decision not to run for re-election in Vancouver came after more than a decade in politics and environmental and union leadership.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l be 75 years old when the electionB次元官网网址檚 held in 2024,B次元官网网址� he said in July. B次元官网网址淚 would like to slow down a bit and spend more time with my family.B次元官网网址�

Telford said that among the seats being vacated by sitting NDP ministers, the Kootenay riding of outgoing Finance Minister Katrine Conroy could be more at risk.

B次元官网网址淭here have been changes in the Kootenay riding boundaries for this time around, and thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be maybe a tougher one to hold. ItB次元官网网址檚 not as safe an NDP seat as say, those ones that have retired in Surrey or Victoria,B次元官网网址� he said.

Conroy told reporters on Sept. 10 she was comfortable with her decision to step away, even after the political shakeup when BC United Leader Kevin Falcon suspended his partyB次元官网网址檚 campaign and placed his support behind the provincial Conservatives.

B次元官网网址淲e also have some incredible bench strength coming in as candidates. The person whoB次元官网网址檚 running in my place is a mayor in our region who has had years of experience,B次元官网网址� she said referring to Steve Morissette, the mayor of Fruitvale who is running for the NDP in the new riding of Kootenay-Monashee.

B次元官网网址淵es, things have been turned on their head, but I think you just have to look at what weB次元官网网址檝e been doing since weB次元官网网址檝e been elected in 2017 and weB次元官网网址檙e going to continue to support people in this province. ThatB次元官网网址檚 our goal.B次元官网网址�

Telford said some of the ministers announced their plans not to seek re-election before the collapse of the BC United, at a time when polling suggested the NDP might B次元官网网址渞un the table across the province.B次元官网网址�

Since then, the race has become much tighter between the NDP and the B.C. Conservatives, but Telford said the change puts more pressure on Eby, rather than individual candidates.

B次元官网网址淲e know how campaigns go provincially, all the focus is on the leader, and so, itB次元官网网址檚 really going to be down to David Eby and his team. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 where the real risk comes for the NDP,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淒avid Eby is running his first campaign. He didnB次元官网网址檛 have to campaign hard to get the leadership of the party and now heB次元官网网址檚 running his first provincial election campaign, presumably with quite a few new advisers in place.

B次元官网网址淎nd I think thatB次元官网网址檚 probably more of a challenge than losing these cabinet ministers. Cabinet ministers are locally well known, but at the provincial level they are not especially household names.B次元官网网址�

Telford said removing the BC United Party as a contender could make it easier for the NDP to hold on to some of its strongholds.

B次元官网网址淎s long as theyB次元官网网址檙e solid NDP ridings, it should not be a problem, and it may have been more of a challenge in places if it had turned into a three-way race with (BC United), Conservatives and the NDP, because in a three-way race funny things can happen,B次元官网网址� he said.

In addition to the exiting ministers, at least five other sitting NDP legislators are not standing for re-election. Former cabinet minister Selina Robinson, who quit the NDP in March, citing antisemitism in the caucus, and now sits as an Independent but is not running again.

Fleming, the outgoing transportation minister, said he would continue to support the New Democrats after retiring from his riding in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚 never thought I would actually be a member of the legislative assembly for 20 years. That wasnB次元官网网址檛 the game plan,B次元官网网址� he said on Sept. 12.

B次元官网网址淪o, when is the right time for anybody in public life who still enjoys it, and I still do, to leave? I donB次元官网网址檛 know, but it felt about right.B次元官网网址�