B.C. Premier John Horgan has announced his retirement from politics.

The 62-year-old MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca on Vancouver Island made the announcement in a Tuesday afternoon press conference after a cabinet retreat in Vancouver.

“It is a not a secret I have been through my second bout of cancer,” an emotional Horgan said. “My health is good but my energy flags as the day goes by.”

Horgan will remain on as Premier until a new NDP leader is chosen this fall. He says it is clear that the person who replaces him would need to be focused on the next two years and beyond with the next provincial election set for the fall of 2024.

He says the decision to step down was a “difficult” one, noting he wanted to spend more time with his wife.

“I have come to the conclusion I could not give six more years,” Horgan said. “This has been the thrill of my life to be the Premier of British Columbia.”

“I will continue to do my level best to make politics work for people. This includes pushing the federal government to fund their fair share of health-care costs so we can make our public health-care system work better for everyone.”

Acclaimed as the NDP leader in 2014, Horgan was officially sworn in as B.C.’s 36th Premier on July 18, 2017, following a confidence vote in the legislature. The BC NDP and the BC Green Party struck a confidence-and-supply agreement after they passed a no-confidence motion against then BC Liberal Leader, Christy Clark.

In a statement, current Green Party Leader, Sonia Furstenau thanked Horgan for his service.

“He has led the government during a series of overlapping crises. Although we have not always agreed on policy, together our two parties created an era of unprecedented cross-party cooperation,” Furstenau said.

“I sincerely hope that the premier enjoys health, rest, and time spent with his family.

Speaking to NL News, Kamloops-South MLA, Todd Stone, says there is a strong mutual respect for Horgan, even through they come from different political stripes.

“John Horgan is a good human being, there’s no question about that,” Stone said. “We’d go into the chamber and you’d joust back and forth during question period and one day you’d maybe get the of him and the next day he’d get the better of you but there was always a wink after question period was over and a characteristic smile.”

“If you were suffering in some way personally, if you had a loved one with a significant health issue, if a member’s marriage was breaking down you would often hear stories of John Horgan being one of the first in the Legislature to reach out to you whether you were a New Democrat, a BC Liberal or a Green member.”

NDP President Aaron Sumexheltza says the party will meet to ratify the rules and timing for the upcoming leadership election.

“We will provide an update on that process as soon as possible,” he said, in a statement.

“On a personal note, it has been an honour and a privilege to be elected as the first Indigenous president of a political party under John’s leadership.

Rumours about Horgan’s future began late last week following a CBC radio interview.

“We have a cabinet retreat next week in Vancouver,” Horgan told CBC’s On The Island‘s Gregor Cragie, when asked if he planned to see out the rest of his term in office. “We’re plotting and planning and preparing for the next two years. And so I’ll have more to say about that as we come out of those meetings.”

Horgan returned back to work earlier this year after taking some time off following “rigorous” treatment for throat cancer. The Premier previously beat bladder cancer in 2008.

“I am proud to say I’m cancer free,” Horgan said. “While I have a lot of energy, I must acknowledge this may not be the case two years from now.”

– With files from Bill Cowen