Local MLA Adam Olsen says family commitments were probably the primary reasons for not running for the leadership of the B.C. Greens.
B次元官网网址淚 have a 12-year-old and a 7-year-old, and they are just getting right into that time of life, where they are going to need to have their parents around,B次元官网网址� Olsen said Sunday.
B次元官网网址淚 have a really busy life, and taking a look at what the requirements of leadership are and the expectations of going around the province doing the work to build a party, I donB次元官网网址檛 want to add those duties onto the workload I already have.B次元官网网址�
Olsen, Green MLA for North Saanich and the Islands, made these comments after the party recently announced on Dec. 20 the rules for their leadership campaign, as well as OlsenB次元官网网址檚 appointment as an interim leader, a position that prevents him from running for the partyB次元官网网址檚 leadership. Olsen also held the title of interim leader in 2015.
The B.C. Greens are selecting a new leader after Andrew Weaver had announced his decision that he would step down as leader. The leadership race itself starts Jan. 6 and the party expects to announce its new leader June 27 following voting between June 15 and June 26. The party has scheduled a convention in Nanaimo June 26 to June 28.
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Olsen said it was a relief to make FridayB次元官网网址檚 announcement. B次元官网网址淲e have been talking about this through the fall session, and I became quite comfortable in more recent days that this [not running for the leadership] was the right decision to make,B次元官网网址� he said.
Writing on his website, Olsen said earlier that he has B次元官网网址渄eep respectB次元官网网址� for the requirements of the job. B次元官网网址淢y life is busy, I have a strong commitment to my constituency and legislative work and continuing to grow into my role as a Member of the Legislative Assembly,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚n addition, I have a young family and so when I added up all of these considerations, including the sage advice to be patient, I knew this was not my time.B次元官网网址�
This said, Olsen did not rule out a leadership run in the future.
Looking ahead to the actual contest, Olsen said the rules of the contest offer the party an opportunity for growth, as all British Columbians aged 16 and up are eligible to participate in the leadership process if they declare themselves party supporters without joining the party itself.
Olsen said this new category of supporter reflects the reality that political parties are changing, with fewer people formally joining political parties. This way, people from across British Columbia can express their support for the party, without becoming members, he added. B次元官网网址淚t is just a recognition that we want this to be an inclusive process and attract the diversity of the province, but also recognize that people donB次元官网网址檛 necessarily want to be members of a political party,B次元官网网址� he said.
Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and a yet-to-be-determined location elsewhere in British Columbia will each host one of the three leadership debates to take place after April 30.
OlsenB次元官网网址檚 pending interim leadership marks the second time he had held that role.
B次元官网网址淲e are definitely in a different situation than they were the last time I was the interim leader,B次元官网网址� he said. Compared to 2015, the party has expanded its presence in the provincial legislature and its provincial outreach.
B次元官网网址淔rom my perspective, I am looking at the race overall, and I am hopeful and I believe that we will attract a number of candidates,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here will be a good debate and good discussion about the vision they will have for the province, and how we as an organization can support and grow that.B次元官网网址�
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