By Spencer Sterritt

Sheila Malcolmson acclaimed as BC NDP’s candidate in high-stakes Nanaimo byelection

Dec 16, 2018 | 2:34 PM

NANAIMO — To no surprise, Nanaimo’s federal representative is now officially the BC NDP candidate to represent the Nanaimo riding in an upcoming provincial byelection.

Sheila Malcolmson was acclaimed as the BC NDP candidate during an official nomination meeting on Sunday. She stepped down from her post as Nanaimo’s MP, won in the 2015 federal election, to seek the provincial seat.

She told NanaimoNewsNOW her campaign platform will be focused on affordable housing, health care funding for Nanaimo’s seniors and stronger environmental protections for the ocean.

Making sure to work with everyone, even those across the aisle in the legislature, is also a foundation of her platform.

“It’s just a way to get work done and I’m going to keep doing that because it’s effective,” she said.

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It’s a high-stakes byelection, with the BC NDP’s control of the province hanging in the balance. If Malcolmson loses the MLA seat to either BC Liberal candidate Tony Harris or Michelle Ney with the Green Party, it would bring the NDP and Liberals to a tie for seats in the legislature.

Such a tie is widely speculated to create unstable politics in B.C. and prompt an early election.

“I’m under no illusions of how hard the BC Liberals are going to fight,” Malcolmson said. “But I’m encouraged by the show of strength and the hundreds of people out here today who are going to be standing with me.”

There’s no date set for the Nanaimo byelection. It was prompted by the former MLA Leonard Krog stepping down to run and win in the recent municipal election.

Malcolmson stepping down from her federal position isn’t expected to cause a federal byelection.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit