The member of parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith has officially announced her intention to run for the soon-to-be-vacated Nanaimo seat in the provincial legislature.
With Nanaimo’s mayor-elect Leonard Krog by her side Wednesday morning, Sheila Malcolmson said she will seek the BC NDP nomination for the upcoming by-election in Nanaimo.
In a statement, Malcolmson said it is an honour to represent Nanaimo-Ladysmith in Ottawa but says the environment and the housing crisis would be her top priorities as an MLA.
Premier John Horgan attended Malcolmson’s announcement and stated she has a proven record of getting results for Nanaimo and would be the perfect person to fill Krog’s shoes.
Krog had been the long-time MLA for Nanaimo, but his municipal election victory has triggered a key by-election.
A Liberal victory would mean a split in legislative seats with the NDP-Green coalition government, which could spark a provincial election.
Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson released a statement following Malcolmson’s announcement, saying his party is looking forward to an energetic by-election campaign.
Wilkinson says the NDP has taken Nanaimo for granted by putting residents on the hook for two by-elections with a cost of over a million dollars and shutting Krog out of the provincial cabinet.
A date for a by-election has not yet been determined, but the NDP says the premier is committed to having it done prior to the provincial budget in February.
The party says the local constituency association will set a nomination meeting in the coming weeks.
Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Sheila Malcolmson has confirmed she will run for the provincial MLA seat for Nanaimo in the upcoming by-election.
CHEK News
