Nanaimo鈥檚 MP is going to try to make a move to provincial politics.
Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Sheila Malcolmson announced this morning that she will be pursuing the NDP nomination to try for the Nanaimo MLA seat to be vacated by Leonard Krog, who was .
鈥淚 love the job I have now. I love being Nanaimo Ladysmith鈥檚 member of Parliament. I鈥檓 proud that Jagmeet Singh is the leader of the federal NDP. I love dearly and deeply admire my federal caucus members,鈥� Malcolmson said. 鈥淏ut the environmental and the housing crises that we see right here in our community cannot wait until the next federal election.鈥�
Malcolmson said she looks forward to the opportunity to join Premier John Horgan鈥檚 鈥減rogressive government and implement solutions on the ground now.鈥�
Horgan was on hand for this morning鈥檚 announcement and said 鈥淪heila is perfectly suited to step into Leonard鈥檚 formidable shoes.鈥�
鈥淪he will continue her work to fight for the coast and the people who live here,鈥� the premier said.
Earlier this week, Horgan told reporters in the B.C. legislature that in time for budget deliberations in February. He did not reveal a date for a byelection at today鈥檚 announcement.
鈥淚鈥檓 confident this can be done without triggering a federal byelection and without breaking constituents鈥� service here in the riding,鈥� Malcolmson said.
B.C. Liberals leader Andrew Wilkinson released a statement this morning saying his party is looking forward to an 鈥渆nergetic byelection campaign.鈥�
鈥淣anaimo voters have loyally supported the NDP for years 鈥� yet on John Horgan鈥檚 watch, their local MLA was shut out of cabinet. In the upcoming by-election, the people of Nanaimo have an opportunity to elect an MLA who will be a true champion for the community鈥檚 needs and priorities,鈥� Wilkinson said.
Malcolmson is a first-term member of Parliament, elected in 2015 with 33.2 per cent of the vote. Her 23,651 vote count was about 7,000 votes ahead of two of the runners-up, Liberal candidate Tim Tessier and Conservative candidate Mark MacDonald.
More to come.
