B.C. ministers Falcon and Abbott may not run in 2013

Two of the B.C. Liberal government's high-profile cabinet ministers say they are not yet committed torunning in the May 2013 provincial election.

B.C. Finance Minister and Deputy Premier Kevin Falcon and Education Minister George Abbott, who finished second and third, respectively, in the party leadership race in 2011, say they might not stand for re-election.

Falcon said he's rethinking his family life.

"I care a lot about the party," he said. "I've invested a lot of time in it. But I also care a lot about my family. I have a young child at home. Before I make a major decision like that, I want to make sure I spend the time thinking about it and talking to my family and thinking about our future."

Abbott, who has been navigating contentious negotiations with the province's teachers,suggested it would be many months before he decided.

"I have not yet made up my mind as to whether I would be running, and I will be making up my mind as we get closer to the nomination period," he said.

Earlier this week, three backbench Liberal MLAs Joan MacIntyre, Kash Heed and Randy Hawes said they, too, need some time to think.

But other Liberal stalwarts on Wednesday reinforced their decisions to run in the May 2013 election with blunt affirmations.

"Absolutely," said Liberal House Leader Rich Coleman.

"Yes. I said, 'yes,' yesterday," said Health Minister Mike de Jong.

'Not concerned' about polls

But Falcon spent several minutes laying out what is on his mind about his political future, but then stressing it has nothing to do with the leadership of Premier Christy Clark or the recent public opinion declines of the Liberal government.

Falcon said that any decision about his political future has nothing to do with the apparent decline in popularity of the Liberal government.

"We've typically always been behind in the polls between elections," he said. "I'm not at all concerned about the fact that we happen to be temporarily down in the polls."

Falcon said he's optimistic British Columbians will support the Liberals as the province's free-enterprise voice in the May 2013 election even though the B.C. Conservatives, led by former federal MP John Cummins, are gaining some support.

"A lot of that parked vote will come home," he said.

Falcon said he was disappointed that former long-time Liberal John van Dongen quit the party and will now sit in the legislature as a member of the Conservatives.

He said he supports Clark, and his musings about his future should not be viewed as criticism of her leadership.

"It should not be interpreted as a lack of support at all," said Falcon. "I'm very supportive of the premier, I'm very supportive of our government. Actually, I'm much more optimistic than most people about how things will end up."

Defection 'helps NDP'

Clark, who visited a suburban Victoria home where the family was taking advantage of the government's new senior's home renovation tax credit, said she wants to spread the message that her Liberals represent the province's free-enterprise option.

She said van Dongen's defection to the Conservatives and the upstart party's bid to attract voters benefits the Opposition New Democrats.

"What they are going to do is help elect [NDP Leader] Adrian Dix premier," said Clark.

Falcon ruled out running federally at this time, saying he and his family are looking for ways to spend more time together than apart, which working in Ottawa would require.

"I hope I'm not creating a whole bag of speculation," he said. "I'm just saying that that is a major decision and I'll make that decision when I think it's the appropriate time to make that decision."