Only elected B.C. Green won’t be interim leader, but may seek leadership later

VICTORIA – The first-ever Green party member elected to the B.C. legislature says he’s not interested in taking over leadership of the party — for now.

Andrew Weaver was elected in the May provincial election in what was a historic breakthrough for the Greens, and the announcement that party leader Jane Sterk will retire next week has raised questions about whether Weaver will replace her.

Weaver has issued a statement saying leading the party is itself a full-time job and that he is not interested in becoming the interim leader.

However, Weaver says if he is still the only elected Green member going into the next election in 2017, it would make sense for him to run for the leadership then.

Weaver’s statement notes interim leaders cannot seek to become permanent leaders of the party.

Sterk announced on Twitter that she would retire after the party’s annual general meeting next Saturday, explaining the time had come to make way for new leadership.