B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming announced Thursday he won’t be on the ballot in the fall provincial election, joining two other NDP cabinet ministers who said this week they won’t seek re-election.
Labour Minister Harry Bains, who represents Surrey-Newton, and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston, who represents Surrey-Whalley, both said they won’t run again. All three were first elected in 2005.
Fleming, 52, who represents Victoria-Swan Lake, said it wasn’t an easy decision.
“I still have a lot of work to do in a busy, complex ministry, but I had to make a decision and it feels like the right one,” he said.
Fleming ruled out a run at federal politics. “I don’t intend on seeking elected office of any kind, certainly not in the immediate future, at all.”
In a statement, he didn’t hint at his next career, saying only:
“I hope to continue to be able to contribute to solving challenges in a different capacity in the future.”
In all, about 11 NDP MLAs won’t be on the ballot come Oct. 19: Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA and Indigenous Relations Minister Murray Rankin, Finance Minister Katrine Conroy, Environment Minister George Heyman, Katrina Chen, Doug Routley, Jennifer Rice, Nicholas Simons and Fin Donnelly.
In the capital region, two-term Saanich North and the Islands Green MLA Adam Olsen announced last week that he won’t be running this fall.
Fleming called Olsen a “tremendous” MLA and said he was one of many colleagues who became friends.
“Politics is about people, and that’s the part I’ve enjoyed the most, and probably will miss the most, and getting things done in the community, and when you’re a minister getting things done for people in every region around the province,” said Fleming. “I’m just thankful I work with so many talented public servants, great political staff, very interesting and thoughtful colleagues, and two great premiers. It’s really nothing but gratefulness I would say I’m feeling at this point.”
Fleming thanked constituents “for their trust and support through five provincial elections” along with volunteers.
Fleming was first elected at age 33 in the riding of Victoria-Hillside in 2005, after serving two terms as a Victoria city councillor from 1999 to 2005. He had run for council after graduating from the University of Victoria, where he served as president of the UVic Students’ Society.
He went on to be re-elected in what became the Victoria-Swan Lake riding in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020.
Fleming worked in Opposition under NDP leaders Carole James and Adrian Dix, as well as in government under premiers John Horgan and David Eby. He served as minister of education from July 2017 to October 2020 and is currently minister of transportation and infrastructure, appointed in November 2020.
Fleming said he’s proud to be a part of a government that is building an affordable childcare system, helping to reduce child poverty through the Family Tax Credit program and building more affordable homes. He also cited the government’s elimination of MSP premiums as one of its achievements.
The former education minister pointed to speeding up the upgrading and building of schools in the capital region, including Victoria High School and a new Cedar Hill Middle School.
As transportation minister, he said he is proud of the government’s expansion of public transportation, electrifying and expanding B.C. Transit services with new rapid-bus systems, and highway, road and bridge improvements.
He said he is “forever grateful” to the B.C. Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, labour unions, First Nations and Transportation Ministry staff for their dedication and co-operation in rebuilding the Coquihalla Highway after it was devastated by November 2021 storms and flooding.
Fleming said after five terms, it’s time to let others have a chance at serving and breathing new life into the party.
Fleming, who was born in Windsor, Ont., said he could not have done the job without the “unwavering support” of wife Maura, whom he met while attending UVic, and their children Rory, who just graduated from high school, and Jack, who is entering Grade 10.
Fleming said his decision was partly motivated by his desire to spend more time with his wife and children.
