Doug Konkin, deputy minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations, has left his post.

Konkin sent an email to ministry contacts on April 2 announcing his retirement. Dave Peterson, a senior manager in the ministry, has been named acting deputy minister until the provincial election.

Konkin previously served as deputy minister of environment under Gordon Campbell, during which time he signed off on a controversial 2009 decision removing the authority of the ministry to block industrial developments.

Konkin was also the architect behind the 2010 reorganization of the B.C. natural resource ministries, and was appointed deputy of the newly-formed Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations by Premier Christy Clark in 2011.

A ministry spokesperson said Konkin gave no specific reason for retiring now, but noted that he had worked in government for several decades.

Colleen Kimmett reports for The Tyee.