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Green MLA Olsen not running in fall B.C. election, cites mental and physical health

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Jun, 2024 03:05 PM

One of the two Green Party members in British Columbia's Legislature has announced he will not seek re-election in this fall's provincial vote.

Adam Olsen, who represents Saanich North and the Islands, says in a statement that he is stepping down because "it's the responsible and ethical thing" to do when he cannot "commit fully to the job for the next four years."

“My commitment is to make sure that the next candidate for Saanich North and the Gulf Islands is successful. That’s my commitment.” - @AdamPOlsen
— BC Green Party (@BCGreens) June 25, 2024

Olsen's departure will leave Greens Leader and Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau as the party's only legislative member who will be defending a seat this fall.

“For Adam and for me, the seat is not the destination, the seat is the vehicle for service. For me, one of the greatest gifts of the last seven years was Adam’s friendship.” - @SoniaFurstenau
— BC Green Party (@BCGreens) June 25, 2024

“Adam is a true model of what MLAs can and should be.” - @drlisagunderson
— BC Green Party (@BCGreens) June 25, 2024

Olsen won his seat in 2017 then strengthened the Greens' hold by taking more than half of the district's votes in 2020.

In his statement, Olsen says his own mental and physical well-being, as well as his children going through major milestones in education, contributed to his decision to step down.

“The reality that Silas [my son] is now a young man and my daughter is starting high school. They don’t know a man who hasn’t served in politics.” @AdamPOlsen
— BC Green Party (@BCGreens) June 25, 2024

The statement says Olsen will be the B.C. Green Party's new campaign chairman.

Olsen was the B.C. Greens' interim leader twice, from 2013 to 2015 and again before Furstenau was elected in 2020.

The party has not announced its candidate in Saanich North and the Islands.

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