B.C. attorney general Barry Penner resigns from politics

Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner.

Barry Penner has announced he is stepping down as B.C.’s attorney general and will not run in the next provincial election.

The Chilliwack-Hope MLA and lawyer revealed this in a statement today (August 18), according to reports.

"Spending more time at home this summer, and going on short hikes with my young family in recent weeks, has reminded me how much this job takes me away from home,” the CBC quotes Penner as saying in a statement.

“Now that I have a beautiful wife and a baby daughter, being away is a price paid not just by myself, but by those I love the most," Penner said.

Penner was first elected as MLA for Chilliwack in 1996. He has also held Liberal cabinet positions as environment minister and aboriginal relations minister.

“The B.C. Liberal Party is encouraging MLAs to begin the nomination process to be a candidate in the next election. By announcing my decision now, there will be time for an open nomination process in Chilliwack-Hope,” the Globe and Mail quotes Penner as saying in a statement.

“Since I have decided not to run again in the next provincial election, I have tendered my resignation as Attorney General. I believe the Premier and government would be better served having someone in Cabinet who will be working with them, shoulder-to-shoulder, through to and after the next election.”