3 more B.C. NDP ministers say they won't seek re-election

Three veteran B.C. NDP cabinet ministers announced this week they won't seek re-election in October.

Rob Fleming, the MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake, made the announcement in a statement Thursday morning. Fleming is currently the transportation minister and previously oversaw the education file.

"While I am not seeking re-election this October, I remain deeply committed to working my utmost to re-elect Premier Eby and the B.C. NDP team," Fleming, 52, said in a statement.

Bruce Ralston, 71, the MLA for Surrey-Whalley and the forests minister, and Harry Bains, who represents Surrey-Newton and oversees the labour file, also announced this week they're not seeking a sixth term in office.

"While this decision was not made lightly, I have decided to not run in the next election and allow someone new to continue the work we have begun," Bains, 72, said in a statement.

That will leave the New Democrats without incumbents in two key battleground ridings in Surrey. An Angus Reid poll released last month showed the B.C. Conservatives under Leader John Rustad gaining ground on the governing NDP in areas of Surrey.

All three were elected in 2005 and served five consecutive terms in office. They join eight other MLAs —three of them also cabinet ministers—who will not run for re-election on Oct. 19.

They include Minister of Indigenous Relations Murray Rankin, Finance Minister Katrine Conroy, Environment Minister George Heyman, Doug Routley, Jennifer Rice, Katrina Chen, Fin Donnelly and Nicholas Simons.

For B.C. United, the Official Opposition in the legislature with 28 seats, 13 incumbents won't be on the ballot, including Elenore Sturko and Lorne Doerkson, who jumped ship to run for the B.C. Conservatives.

B.C. Green MLA Adam Olsen, the two-term MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, also announced last week he's not running again.