Liberal MLA steps down to run Science World

Liberal MLA Tracy Redies (Surrey—White Rock) will not be finishing her term. Yesterday, the rookie MLA and former finance critic announced she will be resigning her seat effective August 31 to take a position as CEO of Science World.
 
“I can speak for everyone on our team when I say we’ll miss her expertise, professionalism, and passion for public service,” Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said in a statement. “I know this decision was not an easy one for her.”
 
Redies has been absent from the house since last fall when she fell ill with a viral infection acquired during a trip to Brazil. “It took out about 80 per cent of my heart function,” she told reporters yesterday, adding she has since recovered to about two-thirds of cardiac function.
 
Science World recruited the former Coast Capital Savings CEO.
 
“I just know that this experience I’ve had with government — even being in opposition —  is going to be very helpful for me as I go forward,” she said.
 
Finance Minister Carole James wished Redies well. “When I went into my estimates, I had to make sure that I was ready because I knew I would be getting very probing questions coming from Tracy,” she told reporters.
 
Surrey—White Rock is a relatively safe riding for the Liberals. In 2017, Redies won it with just less than half the vote — the Liberals’ poorest showing in the riding since the mid-90s.
 
Premier John Horgan will have six months from the effective date of Redies’ resignation to call a by-election to fill her seat.