Citing family health issues, former B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver is leaving the B.C. Green caucus to sit as an independent MLA, effective Monday, Jan. 20.

“Sitting as an independent will allow me to better balance work with the competing health demands affecting my family,” said Weaver, in a statement. “I remain committed to the stability of this minority government and to CASA.”

Weaver is the longest serving Green MLA in the province’s history, and he will continue on as an independent MLA for the Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding.

“We support MLA Weaver in his decision to sit as an independent so he can attend to the various health challenges affecting his family,” said Interim Green Leader Adam Olsen.

“The BC Green Party’s work these past years to begin to reduce partisan polarization from our political discourse and restore the public’s trust has been demanding, and because of this we recognize that a person’s commitment to their family needs to come before those to their caucus.”

Weaver will join Speaker Darryl Plecas as the only independents in the B.C. legislature.

He had already stepped down as leader and announced last year that he plans to not run in the next provincial election, which is currently scheduled for Oct. 2021. The Greens officially launched a leadership race earlier this month.

“BC Greens have never been more relevant to the political discourse in our province, and the swell of enthusiasm we have seen around this leadership race is testimony to that.,” Weaver noted.

“Now that our foundation is firmly set, it is time for the BC Greens to take the next steps as an organization.”