B.C. Green to seek party leadership as federal Green leader attends announcement

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s lone Green Party member of the legislature is set to officially announce his bid to run for party leader.

Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Andrew Weaver will announce his candidacy Tuesday at the University of Victoria, where he will follow his leadership announcement with a speech.

Adam Olsen has been serving as interim party leader since late 2013 after former leader Jane Sterk retired.

Weaver made history in the 2013 provincial election when he defeated former Liberal cabinet minister Ida Chong to become the first Green elected to the B.C. legislature.

Despite the current standings in the legislature, with 49 Liberals, 34 New Democrats and two independents, Weaver manages to make himself heard in many debates, especially those involving climate policy.

Federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who is the party’s lone elected federal member, will attend Weaver’s candidacy announcement.