VICTORIA B.C. – Sat Harwood, Chair of the B.C. Green Party Provincial Council, announced today that the party was immediately suspending its leadership contest.

“The B.C. Green Party Provincial Council has unanimously voted to postpone our leadership contest for the foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 crisis,” Harwood said. “We are facing a global pandemic that requires all hands on deck. It is more important than the political processes of the B.C. Green Party. No decision has been made on when the contest will resume, but we will be monitoring the situation on an on-going basis.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to MLA Adam Olsen (Saanich North and the Islands) for agreeing to stay on as interim leader until the leadership contest has been completed. I also want to acknowledge the commitment of Kim Darwin, MLA Sonia Furstenau (Cowichan Valley) and those who had planned to launch their campaigns imminently.

“The party’s annual convention, originally scheduled for June 26-28, has also been cancelled, and staff will examine ways to hold the party’s annual general meeting online.”

“The COVID-19 crisis has impacted our lives in countless ways,” Olsen added. “A leadership contest in the midst of a pandemic cannot embody Participatory Democracy, one of our party’s six core principles. Instead, we must put our efforts into taking care of one another. The work of the B.C. Green Party continues in supporting emergency legislation, distributing essential information and getting people the support they need.

“My heart goes out to all those who are ill, have been laid off or are suffering financial hardship. I am also mindful of those who are facing mental health challenges without access to many support networks. You are not alone; resources are available online at HereToHelp.bc.ca. And I raise my hands to healthcare workers, helping professionals and others providing essential services in this time of need.

“Finally, I urge every single British Columbian to think of one another’s wellbeing, and to act accordingly. In particular, that means physical distancing. Our communities are depending on you.”

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