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A former New Democrat is now the deputy leader of the B.C. Green Party.

Matt Toner’s appointment was announced Monday (January 18) by party leader and Oak Bay – Gordon Head MLA Andrew Weaver.

Toner joined the Greens in March 2015, and a month later, became critic for finance and the new economy, a role he will continue to perform.

In 2013, Toner ran unsuccessfully for the B.C. NDP in Vancouver-False Creek.

“The reason why I joined the B.C. Green Party is their commitment to creating a sustainable, diversified 21st century economy in British Columbia,” Toner said in a statement regarding his appointment as deputy leader.

Toner continued: “The creative and high-tech sectors are vital to that vision. For the past six months, Andrew and I have been actively engaging leaders in the high-tech sector. We will continue that process for the next fourteen months to create a 2017 election platform that will demonstrate how the B.C. technology sector can and will lead.”

The digital media entrepreneur previously sought the party’s nomination for the by-election in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, but withdrew to support Pete Fry.

The Greens are fielding Fry and Joe Keithley in the February 2 by-elections in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant and Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, respective.

“They offer a sustainable vision for our economy,” Toner said about Fry and Keithley. “Voters have an opportunity to choose MLAs who embody the future of our communities and province, and who truly represent their constituents.”

Weaver said that Toner is “integral” in the B.C. Green Party’s vision of a clean-technology economy – a 21st century economy”.

“Under the current B.C. Liberal government, the needs of the high-tech economy have largely been ignored as Premier Clark pursues a pipedream liquefied natural gas industry,” Weaver said. “Now with events like the B.C. Tech Summit, the B.C. Liberals are playing catch-up to herald and support a clean-tech and knowledge-based economy.”