Vancouver–False Creek MLA Sam Sullivan says he is prepared to play a bigger role in the B.C. Liberal government.

Although he has not served in cabinet, the former Vancouver mayor related that he has learned a lot since his election in 2013.

“I was fortunate to be on a number of committees that taught me a lot about how the process works,” Sullivan told the Straight in a phone interview.

Premier Christy Clark is expected to shuffle her cabinet as part of the groundwork for the next provincial election in 2017. The composition of cabinet may also change, depending on the election results, which Sullivan said he doesn’t doubt will favour the ruling party.

“That’s solely a decision of the premier,” Sullivan said about potentially serving in cabinet. “I am always ready to serve in any capacity she decides. She has a very, very difficult job to, you know, decide the makeup of her government. And I’m very respectful of that. I’m very much happy where I am.”

What is certain is that Sullivan will be running for a second term in Vancouver–False Creek: he has been acclaimed as his party’s candidate there.

The B.C. Liberals have governed since 2001, which New Democrats will certainly raise as an argument for change during the election campaign.

“They’ve been in power for a very long time,” Vancouver-Kingsway MLA Adrian Dix of the B.C. NDP told the Straight in an interview. “They don’t deserve to be re-elected. They need some time in opposition.”

Sullivan is having none of that: “Our government is very focused on a strong economy. I think this has…paid off quite well. We’re the strongest economy in Canada.”