By Dan Marshall

Local political commentator shares his top stories of 2016

Jan 1, 2017 | 1:45 PM

NANAIMO — A local political commentator believes the top stories of 2016 will continue to impact us well into 2017.
 
Allan Warnke says the Brexit vote, the election of Donald Trump, and the conflict in Syria are the top international stories of 2016 for him.
 
Here on Vancouver Island, Warnke says our environment and health take centre stage.

“Energy and pipelines has emerged as the number one item in Canada, especially here in British Columbia. How will governments deal with the question of climate change and the whole issue of global warming, and finally a number of health issues. Lately in B.C. we’ve had this whole fentanyl crisis,” said Warnke.

The Canadian Press last week named pipeline development as the top news story in Canada this year, followed by real estate.

As we look to 2017 Warnke says we’re going to keep hearing about May 9 with the campaign for the 41st BC General Election kicking into high gear very shortly.

Internationally he says the national election in Germany will be one to follow closely, perhaps giving rise to a new political party.

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The so called “reset” of American-Russian relations will be one of the top 2017 stories as well, according to Warnke.