The MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows will be leaving city council for good in February.
B.C. Liberal Doug Bing told his council colleagues Jan. 14 that he will attend his last meeting Feb. 4, when the city’s financial plan bylaw is set to get a final reading.
“While I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve my community as a city councillor for the past eight years, I look forward to stepping down soon so I can focus completely on my MLA duties,” said Bing.
Bing initially sought a leave of absence from council until January, which was denied by his council colleagues. He then decided to stay on till January to avoid triggering a by-election.
But with a budget that’s yet to pass and council split on the North Lougheed corridor, Bing said last week that he had been asked him to hang around a little longer, but did not have a time line for his departure.
“At the time of the interview, I didn’t know when a vote on the budget and North Lougheed were coming up,” said Bing.
Both items were on yesterday’s council agenda.
“I now have the agenda … so I could make my last day in January as per original plan. However, I am waiting until Feb. 4th to say my farewells as my colleagues want to thank me publicly for my years of service at a televised regular council meeting,” he added.
Bing hasn’t been receiving a salary from the city or billing them for expenses since he was elected MLA.
Of the 24 new MLAs elected to B.C.’s legislature last year, Bing was among 12 who were members of a municipal council.
The three-term city councillor won a tight race, garnering 10,824 votes compared to New Democrat Elizabeth Rosenau’s 10,204.
Bing opened his constituency office at #104-20130 Lougheed Highway in December.