Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom and two more BC Liberal backbenchers today announced they are leaving provincial politics, while Rich Coleman, the minister for energy and mines, said he's staying to fight the spring 2013 election.

In a prepared statement Lekstrom called politics an "unforgiving profession" and said “I leave to pursue new opportunities in life and want to again thank Premier Clark for her support. I know that she will continue to lead this province in a positive direction."

MLAs Joan McIntyre, who has represented West Vancouver-Sea to Sky since 2005, and Rob Howard, who was first elected in Richmond Centre in 2009, also announced they will not seek re-election. They follow cabinet ministers Kevin Falcon, George Abbott and Mary McNeil who last week said they won't be running as part of Premier Christy Clark's team in the vote scheduled for May 14.

Following is a summary as of Sept. 4 of who's leaving, who's staying and who's yet to say.

Current BC Liberal MLAs who have announced they will not seek re-election:

George Abbott, Shuswap

Bill Barisoff, Penticton

Harry Bloy, Burnaby-Lougheed

Murray Coell, Saanich North and the Islands

Kevin Falcon, Surrey-Cloverdale

Dave Hayer, Surrey-Tynehead

Kash Heed, Vancouver-Fraserview

Rob Howard, Richmond Centre

Kevin Krueger, Kamloops-South Thompson

Blair Lekstrom, Peace River South

John Les, Chilliwack

Joan McIntyre, West Vancouver-Sea to Sky

Mary McNeil, Vancouver-False Creek

MLAs the BC Liberal Party has announced are nominated or seeking nomination to run:

Pat Bell, Prince George-Mackenzie

Bill Bennett, Kootenay East

Shirley Bond, Prince George-Valemount

Rich Coleman, Fort Langley-Aldergrove

Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee

Terry Lake, Kamloops-North Thompson

Richard T. Lee, Burnaby North

Norm Letnick, Kelowna-Lake Country

Margaret MacDiarmid, Vancouver-Fairview

Pat Pimm, Peace River North

Linda Reid, Richmond East

John Rustad, Nechako Lakes

Ben Stewart, Westside-Kelowna

Moira Stilwell, Vancouver-Langara

Ralph Sultan, West Vancouver-Capilano

Steve Thomson, Kelowna-Mission

Jane Thornthwaite, North Vancouver-Seymour

Naomi Yamamoto, North Vancouver-Lonsdale

John Yap, Richmond-Steveston

MLAs who have publicly said they will run, according to a caucus spokesperson, though nomination dates are yet to be set:

Donna Barnett, Cariboo-Chilcotin

Ron Cantelon, Parksville-Qualicum

Ida Chong, Oak Bay-Gordon Head

Marc Dalton, Maple Ridge-Mission

Michael de Jong, Abbotsford West

Gordon Hogg, Surrey-White Rock

Douglas Horne, Coquitlam-Burke Mountain

Don McRae, Comox Valley

Mary Polak, Langley

BC Liberal MLAs who are yet to say publicly whether they will run:

Stephanie Cadieux, Surrey-Panorama

Colin Hansen, Vancouver-Quilchena

Randy Hawes, Abbotsford-Mission

John Slater, Boundary-Similkameen

So far two NDP MLAs have said they plan not to run, former federal MP Dawn Black who represents New Westminster and Michael Sather from Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Find him on Twitter or reach him here.