City councillor and MLA-elect Jennifer Rice said she is in no rush to give up her spot on council, but acknowledges it something that will likely happen sooner than later.
Rice, running for the NDP, handily won the North Coast riding on May 14 with 56.6 per cent of the popular vote compared to 33.13 per cent for Liberal candidate Judy Fraser and 10.26 per cent for Green candidate Hondo Arendt.
"I'm not going to make any abrupt changes. I am going to stay on council as MLA-elect and it is too soon to say what the future holds," she said.
"My suspicion is that it is not appropriate to do both so the question is, when is the best time to step down that will have the least impact on the community."
While Rice won in the riding, the NDP lost seats in an election that resulted in a majority Liberal government. Rice said she and others in the NDP caucus are still processing the surprising loss.
"We spoke during a phone meeting and I think we're all pretty gobsmacked with the provincial results.... Over the next few weeks there will be an analysis of what unfolded in the election," she said, noting she already has two preferred portfolios for any potential critic role.
"I think Ferries is an appropriate critic role for where we are, but I'm also interested in mental health advocacy. It is a big issue here in the north and I think it would be a good fit."
Although the Liberals won a majority government, with Premier Christy Clark campaigning heavily on the benefits of growing the LNG industry, the Liberal candidates lost in the ridings of both Kitimat and Prince Rupert where the terminals would be located. Rice said that may point to putting too much emphasis on an uncertain commodity.
"I think she embellished what LNG would provide us. It feels almost unfair to people in the north to make these grandiose promises for something that may or may not come... To tie the province's entire wealth to LNG is pretty premature and a little risky," she said, noting that realistic development of LNG exports could be done.
"People in Prince Rupert are pretty embracing of it, as are people in Port Edward, but there are other considerations. For example, the Gitga'at have put out press releases saying they were approached about one terminal and now there are nine or 10 at their doorstep."
Rice will be making her way down to Victoria sometime after results are finalized on May 27, possibly for orientation as a new MLA. When she does, her intention is to make everyone in the riding feel a part of the government process.
"I was pleased to see people step forward and vote in the outlying areas, I wanted to see the outlying areas feel part of the campaign and I want to continue that... A lot of time people in Prince Rupert feel they are forgotten in Victoria, so I can only imagine how it feels in the outlying areas," she said, attributing her overall success in the election to those who volunteered to help her.
"I want people to know I am honoured they put their trust in me. I'm going to Victoria in a role I didn't expect, but I am going to do a good job as part of the opposition."