Trevena seventh NDP cabinet minister who won’t seek re-election

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130 ) — A seventh B.C. NDP cabinet minister announced Sunday that she won’t be seeking re-election as speculation continues to swirl about a provincial election in the fall.

North Island MLA Claire Trevena announced her decision in a statement.

“I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election in the next provincial election. It is time to move on and take on new challenges,” says Trevena.

“It has been a great privilege to be the representative of the North Island for 15 years and to have the trust of people across the constituency. It has also been an extraordinary honour to be part of John Horgan’s government as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.”

Trevena follows Judy Darcy, who announced Thursday she won’t be running again.

The other six ministers are: Carole James, finance minister; Shane Simpson, minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction; Judy Darcy, minister for Mental Health and Addictions; Michelle Mungall, minister of Jobs and Economic Development; Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development; and Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

Trevena was first elected in 2005, then re-elected three times.

“For four terms I have worked on behalf of — and with — people in communities from Campbell River to Kingcome Inlet. Together, we have achieved much. Among our successes, we fought and won the battle to keep the new hospital in Campbell River, we successfully argued for expansions to provincial parks, we brought much needed childcare into communities, and we have much needed new public housing,” Trevena says.

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“As a minister, I have had an incredible team dedicated to making B.C. better. We’ve put the public interest at the heart of the ferry system, we’ve invested in a solid public transit system, we’ve developed an active transportation strategy to get people out of their cars, and we’ve introduced the safest system for ride-hailing on the continent.

In May, Trevena said the pandemic will not affect the replacement of the Massey Tunnel and the timeline has not changed.

She says she is also proud of the work the province has done on CleanBC, as well housing, healthcare, and education.

“We’ve changed government’s approach to our foundational industry, forestry, we’ve brought together Indigenous communities and aquaculture companies to chart a way forward for the fish farm industry.”

She also thanked her husband, Mike.

“Without him, his support, his understanding, his insight and his humour, I would not have even taken the first step in this incredible journey.”

Premier John Horgan — the most popular provincial leader in Canada, according to a recent poll, has been asked repeatedly in recent weeks whether or not he will call an election this fall.

On Thursday, after unveiling B.C.’s $1.5 billion economic plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Horgan again said he hasn’t decided about calling an election.

Last week, the Green Party selected Sonia Furstenau as its new leader.

The NDP and Greens signed an agreement after the last provincial election resulted in the first minority government in B.C. in 65 years.

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