B.C. Attorney General Barry Penner announced his resignation today, after 15 years in politics, saying he wants to spend more time with his family.

In a statement, the Chilliwack-Hope MLA said he will also be stepping down from his cabinet position and will not run in the next election.

"Serving in elected office is a challenging calling and a noble profession, but I have never thought of it as a lifetime career," he said.

Penner, who also served as B.C.'s minister of environment for five years before being appointed attorney general, said he plans to spend more time at home and go on hikes with his wife, Daris and baby daughter, Fintry.

"Being away is a price paid not just by myself, but by those I love the most," said Penner. "I believe this is the right decision for me and my family."

In 2007, Penner announced that he had a rare form of cancer, which required him to undergo at least two surgeries. He did not step down during his treatment.

But he says a medical checkup in June confirmed that his health is no longer an issue.

Premier Christy Clark -- who returned to politics this year after resigning as deputy premier in 2004 to "spend more time with her family" as well -- tweeted her regrets about Penner's move.

"Thanks to Barry Penner for his 15 yrs serving BC. Our loss is your beautiful family's gain. Best to you, Daris and Fintry," she wrote.

Penner has held a number of positions in provincial politics since he was first elected as an MLA for Chilliwack in 1996.

During his career, Penner worked with former premier Gordon Campbell as the delegate for B.C. to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. He later went on to serve as vice-president and then president for PNWER.

In February 2004, Penner was appointed parliamentary secretary to then-finance minister Gary Collins. He began his run as environment minister shortly after in 2005 and went on to become the longest-serving politician in that position in B.C.'s history.

He was appointed attorney general on March 14. Solicitor General Shirley Bond will now step into the position to serve on an interim basis.

With files from The Canadian Press