New Westminster’s Chloé Ellis will not be running for the leadership of the B.C. Conservative Party.
Ellis recently learned her grandfather has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, according to a press release.
“My father lost his battle to cancer in 2009, and now my grandfather is plagued with this illness as well. I cannot knowingly divide my time between my family in crisis and give the time needed to the party going into the provincial election,” the 26-year-old said in a statement last week.
The party will hold its leadership convention on Sept. 16 and 17 in Prince George.
“It would not be fair to the members to wait until the convention in Prince George and then announce my intent to resign,” she said. “I would like to thank my family, friends and supporters for their unwavering support and prayers during this trying time.”
Ellis, who holds a master of business in administration from the University of Northern British Columbia, ran under the Conservative banner in the 2015 federal election. In the 2013 provincial election, the party received less than five per cent of the popular vote and won no seats in the legislature.
Ellis said she threw her hat in the ring for the 2017 race because she wanted to provide a new vision for the party, according to a previous interview with the Record. If elected as leader, she wanted to review Medical Service Plan rates to see if the premiums could be better utilized to meet best practices around the country. Ellis also wanted to consult with stakeholders in the real estate industry to get the legitimate numbers on the market, to help bring the costs of housing down.
For now, she asks for privacy.
“I will return to politics in the future when the time is right,” she said.
