National

BC United's Michael Lee, once a leadership candidate, won't seek re-election

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Jul, 2024 12:06 PM

British Columbia's Opposition BC United is losing another elected member just ahead of the province's fall election.

Michael Lee, a former party leadership candidate and the Vancouver-Langara representative in the legislature for the past seven years, says he's heading back to the private sector and will not seek re-election on Oct. 19.

I have an important announcement to share. Please read my letter below. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/vZD3WXLu9G
— Michael Lee (@MichaelLeeBC) July 11, 2024

Lee says in a statement on social media he will take a job in October as the chief strategy officer at UrbanLogiq, an artificial-intelligence company.

Lee, who served as Opposition critic for the attorney general, transportation, and Indigenous relations, says he has great respect for BC United Leader Kevin Falcon and is grateful for their friendship.

BC United announced today community leader Jaime Stein will instead be the party's candidate in Vancouver-Langara.

BC United has lost representatives Elenore Sturko and Lorne Doerkson, and candidate Chris Moore, to John Rustad's B.C. Conservatives, while Ellis Ross and Mike de Jong plan to run for the federal Conservatives in the next general election.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Richmond, B.C., council votes to back safe consumption site after fractious meetings

Richmond, B.C., resident Edward Cheung says many community members feel they know exactly what will happen if a supervised safe consumption drug site is established in the city. Cheung, whose parents live close to a supportive housing complex that opened in 2019, said in an interview on Wednesday that the neighbourhood has dealt with a spike in petty crime since then, and he is worried something similar would happen with a safe consumption site.

Richmond, B.C., council votes to back safe consumption site after fractious meetings

More upgrades to improve flood resilience in Abbotsford, B.C., after 2021 disaster

Premier David Eby says his government will provide almost $80 million to help upgrade Abbotsford's Barrowtown Pump Station, which was nearly overwhelmed in 2021 by atmospheric rivers that set off catastrophic flooding in the Sumas Prairie. The area is a key bread basket for B.C., and Eby says the flooding on the Sumas Prairie could have been much worse had the pump station failed.

More upgrades to improve flood resilience in Abbotsford, B.C., after 2021 disaster

Charges in crash that killed mom of 4

A 56-year-old man has been charged after a fatal crash near Trail, B.C., in October 2022 that killed a mother of four and injured her children. BC Highway Patrol says Terry Jackson faces three charges, including the most serious allegation of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

Charges in crash that killed mom of 4

Carbon price rebates rising in most provinces April 1

The federal carbon price will increase April 1 to $85 per tonne, up from $60. British Columbia and Quebec are the only two provinces that do not use the federal carbon levy as they have their own equivalent systems.

Carbon price rebates rising in most provinces April 1

Veteran B.C. politician Mike de Jong to leave legislature, mulls federal run

Veteran British Columbia politician Mike de Jong has announced he will leave the legislature after a 30-year career in government and opposition. De Jong, who was first elected as a B.C. Liberal in a Fraser Valley byelection in 1994, says the time has come to leave the provincial legislature, but it may not be the end of his days in politics.

Veteran B.C. politician Mike de Jong to leave legislature, mulls federal run

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Whistler, B.C., for Invictus Games training camp

The purpose of this week's training camp is to support nations taking part in the Games to build year-round adaptive sports programs. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are scheduled to join the participants during some of the events at the camp today and Thursday in Whistler and on Friday in Vancouver.