http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/08/29/bc-kevin-falcon-not-running.html

B.C. Finance Minister and Deputy Premier Kevin Falcon has confirmed speculation he will not run in the next provincial election scheduled for May 2013.

Falcon will appear at a news conference Wednesday morning to make the announcement.

The Surrey-Cloverdale MLA was first elected in 2001 and rose through the ranks to become a major player in the Liberal cabinet under former premier Gordon Campbell.

Last year. he finished second in the B.C. Liberal leadership race to current Premier Christy Clark, but his future absence will leave a big hole in the government from a political standpoint, and a bigger hole in the Liberal Party

Falcon represents the right wing of the Liberals, bridging the divide between the centrist Clark and those further to the right who might be attracted to the upstart B.C. Conservatives, led by former MP John Cummins.

Six other Liberal MLAs have already announced they're not running in the coming election.

Clark is expected to react to the latest news later today.