BC's Green Party leader Andrew Weaver has confirmed he will step down in January.
In a release Weaver says the move will become effective on the first day of the party’s leadership contest, expected to start in January and run through June next year.
The party will announce the new leader at a convention in Nanaimo.
In the meantime, the party will appoint an interim leader and will announce who it is Dec. 6.
It was in September, after being diagnosed with an inflammatory ear condition (labyrinthitis) Weaver announced he was cutting back on his public appearances and work schedule.
Then in October Weaver announced he would not seek re-election in his Oak Bay-Gordon Head riding, but would stay on as leader until his successor is chosen.
Weaver became the Greens' first MLA in the Legislature when he won his riding in the 2013 provincial election. He was acclaimed leader 2 years later.
Following the last provincial election the Greens won 3 seats -- enough to hold hte balance of power after forming an alliance with the NDP.
Current Green Party MLAs Sonia Furstenau and Adam Olsen have not announced their intentions yet.