A former BC NDP MLA is running under the Conservative banner for this year’s election, and she has her eyes set on the new Nanaimo-Lantzville riding.
On Wednesday, the BC Conservative Party announced that Gwen O’Mahony would be the group’s candidate for the Mid-Island riding, which was one of the new electoral districts created by Elections BC for the 2024 election based on changing populations.
O’Mahony was the NDP MLA for the Chilliwack-Hope riding between April 2012 and April 2013.
She remained a part of the New Democrat Party until last month.
“This is not the NDP I thought I served with as an MLA. This is not even John Horgan’s NDP,” said O’Mahony in a statement Wednesday.
“Years ago, I joined the NDP and was elected to represent the traditional ideas of the left. These ideas included representing workers, fighting for what’s right and helping those most vulnerable. However, after a decade of extremism from the left, I can confidently say that as a former MLA and as a woman, I can no longer remain a member of the NDP,” she said.
The new Nanaimo-Lantzville riding stretches from the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo up through Lantzville.
The riding takes up portions of the current Nanaimo and Parksville-Qualicum ridings, which will be rejigged for this election.
Moving forward, the Nanaimo riding has been separated into the aforementioned Nanaimo-Lantzville riding in north, and the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island riding in the south, which covers most of the city.
Meanwhile, the Parksville-Qualicum riding has been separated into Nanaimo-Lantzville in the south, and Ladysmith-Oceanside in the north.
The Nanaimo riding is currently held by NDP MLA Sheila Malcolmson, and the Parksville-Qualicum riding is held by Independent MLA Adam Walker.
SEE ALSO:
Adam Chan
