Are you considering a run for leader of the BC Greens? ‘I’m solely focused on the work ahead in this session and representing my constituents’, he responded

BC Green Party leader Andrew
Weaver preparing to step down

While today's announcement from Green Party leader Andrew Weaver indicates he'll be stepping down from that role, Weaver says he will continue until a successor has been chosen by the party’s membership.

Sat Harwood, chair of the Green Party’s Provincial Council stated:

“We will miss him as our leader, but his legacy is part of every British Columbian who values clean water and clean air. He is leaving the B.C. Green Party well positioned to offer British Columbians a unifying and fair, sustainable and equitable option when they go to the polling station in 2021”. 

She continued, “I expect the leadership contest will culminate at the party’s 2020 convention to be held in Nanaimo from June 26-28, but details regarding the leadership contest, including a launch date, will be released in the coming weeks and months as they are approved by Provincial Council.”

Olsen, as many of you know, is a regular contributor to Thoughts on BC Politics and More. This afternoon I asked him about his experiences, in the Green Party, under Weavers leadership.

He responded saying, “I’ve worked closely with Andrew over the past six years. He’s moved the bar for the BC Greens over that time We’ve gone from a party on the outside of the political debate in our province to right in the middle”.

“I’m thankful for the work he has done to raise the conversation on climate change in British Columbia, culminating in the CleanBC program”.

“This was not an easy decision for him and now the party will have to work toward selecting another leader”.

So, who may or may not be considering a run for leader? 

Following the 2013 provincial election in the riding of Saanich North and the Islands, where he lost by just 379 votes to the NDP’s Gary Holman, Adam Olsen served as the party’s interim leader until the election of Andrew Weaver. Then in the subsequent 2017 election, Olsen went on to win the riding, taking it from the incumbent by a resounding 4,000+ votes.

Saanich North and the Islands
Green Party MLA Adam Olsen

Before that however, Adam was a former two-term Central Saanich Councillor, as well as a small business owner.

I asked the obvious question ... ‘are you considering a run the role as leader of the BC Greens ...’

“I’m solely focused on the work ahead in this session and representing my constituents”, he responded.

“Conversations about my future will happen in due course”, he went on to indicate.

Not a YES ... Not a NO.

A look at his MLA website indicates that ... the result of two decades in the service and communications sectors is the valuable experience in building relationships, connecting people, problems, ideas and solutions.

Many may already be pointing out to Adam that experience will be what is needed for the next leader of the Green Party, but as Adam stated to me ... my future will happen in due course ...

Stayed tuned.