The deputy minister to Premier Gordon Campbell, Jessica McDonald is leaving the civil service.

“McDonald will move on to future career opportunities,” said a press release from the premier's office today, which fails to note whether she has quit or was fired.

McDonald has served in the position at the head of the civil service since 2005, it said.

Allan Seckel, who has been the deputy attorney general since 2003, will replace her.

Update, 1:30 p.m.: “She'll certainly be missed by all of us, but it was her decision,” premier Campbell said when asked about McDonald's departure. “It's something Jessica talked to me quite some time ago. We talked about it more in the spring. The decision was all hers.”

And in an e-mail to members of the public service, available on Public Eye, McDonald said it was her decision to leave. “I have no immediate plans for my future, other than to spend time with my family and consider the next phase of my career.”

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.