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Perhaps it's a coincidence.

Just two days after Green candidate Paul Manly won a decisive victory in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith by-election, the first-term Liberal MP in West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country has announced that she will not seek reelection.

Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, issued a written statement declaring that she feels a "need to spend time closer to home, particularly with my parents". They are both quite elderly.

"I believe in Prime Minister Trudeau and in our Liberal team," the former West Vancouver mayor emphasized. "Going into the next election, I will do all I can to help ensure we have an outstanding candidate and the Liberal Party continues to have a strong voice in western Canada."

In the Nanaimo-Ladysmith by-election, Liberal candidate Michelle Corfield only attracted 11 percent of the votes, compared to 37.3 percent for Manly.

In 2015, Liberal candidate Tim Tessier received 23.5 percent, coming in second, whereas Manly was back in fourth place with 19.8 percent.

This suggests that many former Liberal voters in Nanaimo-Ladysmith supported the Greens in the by-election.

In her message to constituents, Goldsmith-Jones made no mention of the rising strength of the Greens nor the Liberal government's controversial purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline system for $4.5 billion.

Instead, she focused on how British Columbians have "led in putting a price on carbon pollution, legalizing cannabis and introducing medical assistance in dying".

"Our $1.5 billion investment in the Oceans Protection Plan, adoption of derelict and abandoned vessels legislation and restoration of $1.4 billion to the base budget of DFO are significant improvements to marine safety and ocean health and reflect effective representation from the west coast," Goldsmith-Jones wrote.

She also highlighted various initiatives in her riding, including the Lions Gate wastewater treatment plant, a Bowen Island arts centre, an accessibility project at the Kay Meek Centre in West Van, supportive housing and a public market in Gibsons, renewal of downtown Pemberton, and the Ts'zil Learning Centre in Mount Currie.

"We have accomplished a lot together," she noted. "Strong relations with local and regional government, the province and First Nations has ensured that our investments reflect local priorities."