The New Democrats are campaigning for another term in British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 provincial election but without many of the familiar faces that have graced lawn signs of elections past.

About a quarter of the NDP cabinet ministers who held a portfolio when the election campaign kicked off in September won91裸聊视频檛 have their names on the ballot when B.C. residents go to the polls on Oct. 19.

That includes veterans and high-profile politicians who spent decades in the legislature, and who held hefty portfolios. Their departures were announced when the NDP was considered a clear favourite, but the folding of the Opposition BC United campaign at the end of August has led to a tightening of the race with the B.C. Conservatives.

Harry Bains, Bruce Ralston, Katrine Conroy and Rob Fleming were all first elected in 2005 and have served five terms in the legislature, but will not be on the ballot this year.

Neither is George Heyman, first elected in 2013, Mitzi Dean elected in 2017, nor Murray Rankin elected provincially in 2020.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad has used the departures as an attack point against NDP Leader David Eby, saying 91裸聊视频渉alf of his cabinet has resigned and is not running.91裸聊视频� In fact, seven out of Eby91裸聊视频檚 27 cabinet colleagues are not standing again.

91裸聊视频淗e obviously does not have the confidence in his own team to do a cabinet shuffle and put people in position. What does that say about David Eby91裸聊视频檚 leadership?91裸聊视频� said Rustad over the weekend.

University of the Fraser Valley political scientist Hamish Telford said even with the changes, the retiring heavy-hitters come mostly from ridings that are NDP strongholds and are likely to remain that way.

91裸聊视频淩ecruitment is easier when it91裸聊视频檚 a strong riding, because if you win the nomination, there91裸聊视频檚 a pretty good chance you91裸聊视频檒l win the election. So, they can recruit good candidates,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淭hose candidates, of course, (it91裸聊视频檚 their) first campaign, new campaign teams, but they91裸聊视频檒l be able to get the information from the old candidates, and because they91裸聊视频檙e safe ridings it91裸聊视频檚 usually not too much of a problem.91裸聊视频�

Telford said such turnover is common ahead of an election campaign, and it91裸聊视频檚 not surprising that some ministers would choose to retire after decades on the job.

Ralston, who is retiring as forests minister after representing Surrey, said he felt now was a good time to pass the torch.

91裸聊视频�(My) only advice would be to keep the public interest in mind. That91裸聊视频檚 the most important thing. Respond to what people want and what people need,91裸聊视频� he said to would-be legislators ahead of the official campaign.

Environment Minister Heyman said his decision not to run for re-election in Vancouver came after more than a decade in politics and environmental and union leadership.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l be 75 years old when the election91裸聊视频檚 held in 2024,91裸聊视频� he said in July. 91裸聊视频淚 would like to slow down a bit and spend more time with my family.91裸聊视频�

Telford said that among the seats being vacated by sitting NDP ministers, the Kootenay riding of outgoing Finance Minister Katrine Conroy could be more at risk.

91裸聊视频淭here have been changes in the Kootenay riding boundaries for this time around, and that91裸聊视频檚 going to be maybe a tougher one to hold. It91裸聊视频檚 not as safe an NDP seat as say, those ones that have retired in Surrey or Victoria,91裸聊视频� he said.

Conroy told reporters on Sept. 10 she was comfortable with her decision to step away, even after the political shakeup when BC United Leader Kevin Falcon suspended his party91裸聊视频檚 campaign and placed his support behind the provincial Conservatives.

91裸聊视频淲e also have some incredible bench strength coming in as candidates. The person who91裸聊视频檚 running in my place is a mayor in our region who has had years of experience,91裸聊视频� she said referring to Steve Morissette, the mayor of Fruitvale who is running for the NDP in the new riding of Kootenay-Monashee.

91裸聊视频淵es, things have been turned on their head, but I think you just have to look at what we91裸聊视频檝e been doing since we91裸聊视频檝e been elected in 2017 and we91裸聊视频檙e going to continue to support people in this province. That91裸聊视频檚 our goal.91裸聊视频�

Telford said some of the ministers announced their plans not to seek re-election before the collapse of the BC United, at a time when polling suggested the NDP might 91裸聊视频渞un the table across the province.91裸聊视频�

Since then, the race has become much tighter between the NDP and the B.C. Conservatives, but Telford said the change puts more pressure on Eby, rather than individual candidates.

91裸聊视频淲e know how campaigns go provincially, all the focus is on the leader, and so, it91裸聊视频檚 really going to be down to David Eby and his team. I think that91裸聊视频檚 where the real risk comes for the NDP,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淒avid Eby is running his first campaign. He didn91裸聊视频檛 have to campaign hard to get the leadership of the party and now he91裸聊视频檚 running his first provincial election campaign, presumably with quite a few new advisers in place.

91裸聊视频淎nd I think that91裸聊视频檚 probably more of a challenge than losing these cabinet ministers. Cabinet ministers are locally well known, but at the provincial level they are not especially household names.91裸聊视频�

Telford said removing the BC United Party as a contender could make it easier for the NDP to hold on to some of its strongholds.

91裸聊视频淎s long as they91裸聊视频檙e solid NDP ridings, it should not be a problem, and it may have been more of a challenge in places if it had turned into a three-way race with (BC United), Conservatives and the NDP, because in a three-way race funny things can happen,91裸聊视频� he said.

In addition to the exiting ministers, at least five other sitting NDP legislators are not standing for re-election. Former cabinet minister Selina Robinson, who quit the NDP in March, citing antisemitism in the caucus, and now sits as an Independent but is not running again.

Fleming, the outgoing transportation minister, said he would continue to support the New Democrats after retiring from his riding in Victoria.

91裸聊视频淚 never thought I would actually be a member of the legislative assembly for 20 years. That wasn91裸聊视频檛 the game plan,91裸聊视频� he said on Sept. 12.

91裸聊视频淪o, when is the right time for anybody in public life who still enjoys it, and I still do, to leave? I don91裸聊视频檛 know, but it felt about right.91裸聊视频�