The B.C. Green Party has suspended its leadership race due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial council chair Sat Harwood announced on Friday.

B次元官网网址淲e are facing a global pandemic that requires all hands on deck,B次元官网网址� Harwood esplained. B次元官网网址淚t is more important than the political processes of the B.C. Green Party. No decision has been made on when the contest will resume, but we will be monitoring the situation on an on-going basis.B次元官网网址�

The partyB次元官网网址檚 annual convention, originally scheduled for June 26-28, has been cancelled, and staff are looking into ways to hold the meeting online.

Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau and Kim Darwin, who ran for the Powell RiverB次元官网网址揝unshine Coast seat in the last provincial election, had announced their intentions of seeking the leadership position, which has been vacant since Andrew Weaver stepped down in January. Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen has been serving as interim leader, and will remain in that position until a new leader has been selected.

B次元官网网址淭he COVID-19 crisis has impacted our lives in countless ways,B次元官网网址� Olsen said. B次元官网网址淎 leadership contest in the midst of a pandemic cannot embody participatory democracy, one of our partyB次元官网网址檚 six core principles. Instead, we must put our efforts into taking care of one another. The work of the B.C. Green Party continues in supporting emergency legislation, distributing essential information and getting people the support they need.B次元官网网址�

Furstenau agreed with the decision to suspend the leadership contest.

B次元官网网址淎t this stage, there remains a lot of uncertainty regarding the full impacts of COVID-19 on British Columbians,B次元官网网址� she said in an official statement. B次元官网网址淚t is clearly inappropriate to continue aggressive campaigning and fundraising in light of the stresses and pressures people are facing. In the past few weeks, we modified our campaign to a digital strategy with a sole focus on listening to and supporting people. Hundreds of people have contributed time, energy and resources to my campaign and I am deeply grateful for their support. I would particularly like to thank my campaign staff who have worked incredibly hard to build fresh excitement around the party and who now face great uncertainty regarding their futures.B次元官网网址�

Darwin also issued a statement supporting the decision.

B次元官网网址淲e know our members and supporters are all dealing with the far-reaching, and as yet unpredictable, effects of COVID-19 in varying degrees,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥ur hearts go out to those affected, whether physically or economically, and those who are caring for loved ones.

B次元官网网址淧roviding additional time for our members and supporters to focus on choosing our next leader shows compassion and understanding to those who may be struggling with all the extenuating circumstances related to COVID-19.

B次元官网网址淲e look forward to a spirited race in the near future, but our priority right now is to allow British Columbians time to focus on flattening the curve.B次元官网网址�