VICTORIA - British Columbia's attorney general stepped down from his cabinet post Thursday and announced he won't be seeking re-election after 15 years in politics, explaining the hectic life of a cabinet minister was interfering with fatherhood.
Barry Penner, who was first elected to the legislature in 1996 and has been in cabinet for the past six years, said he's been spending more time with his family this summer - an experience that has made him realize what he's been missing.
Penner, 45, said the tipping point came earlier this month when he was asked to fill in new nomination papers.
"There's been a lot of stress and work that comes with the job, and I take that home with me," Penner told reporters in his office in Victoria, speaking alongside his wife and daughter, Fintry, who was born in February.
"And that's not something that's terribly healthy for a young family, to have the father being significantly distracted by not one, but two BlackBerrys and a laptop and phones that never stop ringing - right through weekends and what are supposedly holidays."
Penner was first elected in 1996 as a member of the Liberals, which were in opposition at the time, in the riding of Chilliwack-Kent.
He was appointed environment minister in 2005, a position he held until last fall, when he was shuffled to aboriginal relations.
Last December, Penner took over as attorney general after his predecessor, Mike de Jong, stepped down to run for the Liberal leadership.
In 2007, Penner announced that he had a rare form of cancer, which required him to undergo at least two surgeries. He did not step down during his treatment.
Penner said he had a medical checkup in June.
"It's not my health that's the issue," he said. "So far, so good."
Penner said once he decided he wouldn't be running again, he wanted to announce his plans as soon as possible to give the party enough time to choose a candidate to replace him.
The next provincial election has yet to be announced.
There has been speculation that Premier Christy Clark could call an election for the fall, but that decision may depend on the results of a referendum on the harmonized sales tax, to be released later this month.
Penner said he spoke with Clark early Thursday morning.
"She thanked me for my years of service, and she wished me well," he said.
His colleagues and political opponents said the news came as a complete surprise.
"I'm shocked," said fellow cabinet minister Terry Lake, who is now in Penner's old portfolio overseeing the Environment Ministry.
"Barry has made a great contribution to British Columbia, and I've always found him to be a great colleague, very informed. He obviously spent many years as the environment minister and I've learned a lot from him."
16:56ET 18-08-11
