April 22, 2015 - 4:28 PM
VICTORIA - Former British Columbia New Democrat Matt Toner won't seek the nomination for the Green party in the upcoming Vancouver-Mount Pleasant byelection.
Toner ran unsuccessfully for the NDP in the 2013 provincial election but earlier this month announced he quit to join the Green party.
Toner also said he was seeking the nomination in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, but today says he's out of the nomination race and backing candidate Pete Fry.
Toner is a high-tech entrepreneur and former naval-reserve officer who criticized the NDP's head-in-the-sand rebuilding efforts following the devastating 2013 election loss to the Liberals.
A byelection is expected in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant after its long-time legislative representative Jenny Kwan was nominated to run for the federal New Democrats in the neighbouring riding.
The Green party says in a statement Toner is now the party's critic for finance and the new economy.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2015