Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond has dropped out of the election race.
The six-term BC United MLA announced Thursday she’s chosen not to seek re-election in the wake of BC United leader Kevin Falcon’s decision on Wednesday to withdraw his party from the campaign.
"Today I am announcing that I have decided to withdraw as a candidate in the upcoming provincial election taking place on Oct. 19, 2024,” said Bond in a media release.
“The decision made by BC United party leader Kevin Falcon to suspend our party’s election campaign came as a complete surprise to me and I have spent the past 24 hours with my family thinking about what my next steps should be. Together, we have decided that I will be withdrawing my name as a candidate in the upcoming provincial election."
First elected in 2001, Bond is currently the province’s shadow minister for health, seniors services and long-term care and shadow minister for mental health, addiction and recovery.
Known across the province as “the hardest-working MLA in B.C.,” Bond held several cabinet posts in her career in provincial politics, including minister of jobs, tourism and skills training; minister responsible for labour; minister of transportation and infrastructure; minister of education; minister responsible for early learning and literacy; minister of advanced education and minister of health services.
She was the first female attorney general in B.C’s history, a position she held while she was minister of justice.
Bond also served as deputy premier under the Gordon Campbell government from September 2004-June 2009.
"I cannot begin to describe the honour that it has been to serve the people of Prince George-Valemount and the Province of B.C. as a member of the legislative assembly, cabinet minister, opposition leader and interim party leader over the course of two decades,” said Bond.
Pat Bell, who worked alongside Bond in the BC Liberal government from 2001-2013, said her reputation as a tireless advocate for her constituents and for all British Columbians was well-deserved.
"Shirley Bond has been the best MLA we have seen in B.C.," said Bell. "She cares deeply about her community and her constituents. I know we will miss her representation and I hope she has a well-deserved retirement."
Prior to entering provincial politics, Bond was elected to three terms as a School District 57 trustee and was the board chair in her third term.
Prince George Mayor Simon Yu has known Bond since she her first MLA campaign and he echoed Bell’s comments about her unflagging devotion to her job and tireless work ethic that set the bar high for all politicians to follow.
“There is not a single individual I know in my 50 years in Canada who works harder than Shirley Bond for the community and for all the people she helped, she’s one of the hardest working persons I’ve ever known in my life,” said Yu.
“I feel it is the greatest loss to our city and our region that she will no longer represent the people of Prince George-Valemount, who she represented so well throughout her career. She stood by her principles and would do her best in her honest way to study the file and work for her constituents.
“She gave up so much of her family life to help the community and we respect her decision, whatever she chooses. Having said that, as a mayor and as a friend, it makes me profoundly sad that I won’t be able to walk into her downtown office to talk about any file for her understanding and to hear me out. This is a tough one for us.”
Kiel Giddens, who has been campaigning as the BC United nominee for Prince George-Mackenzie, said the people of Prince George, the Robson Valley and northern BC owe Bond a debt of gratitude for her 23 years of public service as an MLA and the care she devoted to her job. He said Bond instantly became a close friend and mentor after they first met in 2007.
"During my early time at the Legislature, Shirley Bond had already become a legend for her hard work and tenacity," said Giddens. "As chiefs of staff, we used to stand behind our ministers during Question Period prep. I was simply in awe of Shirley’s debate abilities, and her leadership in cabinet and caucus. Shirley has held so many roles, including shattering glass ceilings as the first woman in Canadian history to hold the title of Attorney General.
"I can also remember the day she asked me to go for coffee to discuss her decision whether or not to take on the role as interim leader of the opposition caucus, so that the party could continue to do the peoples’ work of holding the government to account in the Legislature. She did so in spite of going through some of the most challenging personal days of her life. She held her roles in both government and opposition with the utmost integrity, with respect for the people in her riding and across the province and respect for the institutions of our democracy.
"It's been an honour and a privilege for me to be running alongside her and learning from her the last number of months."
Giddens said he still "in limbo" about his own political future.
Until Wednesday, Bond had every intention of running in the Oct. 19 election as a BC United member but she said she was not prepared to join forces with Rustad’s party.
"I want to thank my family, friends, colleagues, the supporters and volunteers who have worked so hard on my behalf, even knocking on doors and making hundreds of phone calls this week alone. I will always be humbled and grateful for your friendship and belief in me. To my staff, there are no words to describe how much you mean to me and how incredible you have been in serving our constituents and province. I have been overwhelmed by the hundreds of calls, messages, and texts of personal support that I have received. I am sure you can understand I have not been able to respond yet, but I will try to connect with you in the days ahead."
"I am currently spending (the next) several days with my grandsons and family, a summer tradition with these days planned long ago, but I felt it was important to make my intentions clear. I look forward to speaking to media in person on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Details will be shared later. For now, a few days to reflect and spend time with the family I cherish."
Despite Bond’s decision not to run for a seventh term in the Legislature, Yu expects her to remain active in the community, fighting to right injustices and devoting her attention to making Prince George and the region a better place to live.
“She deserves her privacy to spend a little time with here family and then I’m sure she will come out and continue to work as a citizen, as a volunteer, to help her community, because that’s who she is,” said Yu.
“I cannot see her ever slowing down.”
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