Sonia Furstenau says she's stepping down as the leader of the B.C. Green Party.
Furstenau made the announcement in Victoria on Tuesday (Jan. 28). Her announcement comes after a decade in elected office, first as a director for the Cowichan Valley Regional District and then as an MLA for the B.C. Green Party. She became leader of the party in 2020.
Furstenau said she was "feeling a great sense of accomplishment."
"Did we get everything we wanted, i.e., our whole platform? Nope," she said with a laugh. But she added she is confident the two Green MLAs, Rob Botterell and Jeremy Valeriote, and the "extraordinary caucus team" will hold the government accountable.
Valeriote, the MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, is the interim leader. He said he does not have plans to run for leadership, adding that it's not the right time in his life.
Botterell said he also will not be seeking leadership.
Furstenau said this is the end of politics and public life for her, calling herself a "reluctant politician."
"This is it for politics. It was fun 鈥� mostly."
Furstenau highlighted hers and the B.C. Greens accomplishments in recent years, including being one of the three Green MLAs to sign the 2017 confidence-and-supply agreement with the B.C. NDP. She added that she and former MLA Adam Olsen were the only two MLAs to sign not one, but two, confidence-and-supply agreements, referring to the latest one with the B.C. NDP.
鈥淭he historian in me can鈥檛 help herself."
Furstenau was first elected as an MLA in 2017 in the Cowichan Valley. She was re-elected in 2020.
In the 2024 election, Furstenau switched her riding to Victoria-Beacon Hill. She was not re-elected.
Asked if she regrets her decision to run in Victoria, she said she "can't look back and regret the thing she had control over," which is how hard she worked, how hard she tried.
Furstenau added she is leaving politics "with my integrity with me," adding she is very comfortable and proud of what she's done in the last 10 years.
More to come.
