'Bear saviour' set to run for B.C. NDP

The man known for refusing to kill a pair of orphaned bear cubs is entering a new den:provincial politics.

Bryce Casavantwas introduced Wednesday as a candidate for the B.C. NDP nomination in Oak Bay-Gordon Head the riding currently held byGreen Party MLA Andrew Weaver's riding.

"I believe inpeople-centred government and I believe in people centred-change. I believe in building a government that has the capacity to care for the people of this great province," saidCasavant.

Casavantwas seeking nomination in ComoxValley

Casavanthad been seeking the party's nomination closer to his Port McNeil home in the riding of Comox Valley, but decided to pursue political opportunities further south on Vancouver Island because no one was running for the NDP in Oak Bay-Gordon Head and there are currently threeothers seeking the ComoxValley nomination.

The Comox Valley riding is currently held by MLA Don McRae,but the B.C. Liberal incumbent is not running again.

The 33-year-old former conservation officer made global headlines after refusing to put down the bear cubs the cubs' mother was put down for becoming habituated to humans. Casavant was suspended by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.

The cubs were since rehabilitated and released back into the wild last summer. Casavant later accepted a transfer to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

NDP Leader John Horgan introduced Casavantat the Oaks restaurant in Oak Bay as a 'bear saviour,' but added Casavant is more than a one issue candidate.

"He is an outstanding individual, full of integrity and commitment ..." said Horgan.

Casavant set to face MLA Andrew Weaver

But Casavant is a relative unknown in Oak Bay-Gordon Head. He doesn't live in the riding, but because of this political opportunity is planning on moving there. He is also set to run against popular Green Party incumbent Andrew Weaver.

Weaver is out of the country, but sent out a statement congratulatingCasavant for seeking the nomination.

"This riding cares deeply about local representation, as was demonstrated by the exceptionally high voter turnout in 2013. I look forward to a lively campaign and wish him well," reads the statement from Weaver.

Locallawyer Alex Dutton is running for the B.C. Liberals in Oak Bay-Gordon Head.