Adam Walker (right) will now sit as an independent after being removed from the BC NDP over the weekend. (Adam Walker, MLA)

By NanaimoNewsNOW

FEW DETAILS

Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker ‘resilient’ despite removal from BC NDP

Sep 18, 2023 | 11:28 AM

PARKSVILLE — Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker vows to continue serving his role, despite being booted from the NDP caucus.

Premier David Eby ejected Walker from the party following an investigation into a human resources complaint filed by an employee in late July. Eby did not elaborate on the move when asked Monday, other than to say the situation involving Walker was not sexual or criminal in nature.

In a statement issued on Monday, Sept. 18 one day following his removal from the NDP, Walker stated he stands “resilient, holding my head high, embracing the trust and responsibility vest in me by the wonderful people of Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Lantzville and north Nanaimo.”

Walker will now sit as an independent in the riding after flipping it from a BC Liberal (now BC United) stronghold in the 2020 election.

“My community office remains open, eager to serve the public. My doors are always open to constituents wishing to discuss issues that are important to them. I am here, ready to listen, and more importantly, ready to act.”

giving back

Non-profits receive Parksville sand sculpting cheques

14h ago

new top cop

Nanaimo RCMP announce new Superintendent and detachment commander

16h ago

enter...if you dare

'We get a good kick out of it:' Nanaimo couple again creating Halloween horrors

22h ago

Walker’s office declined to comment when contacted by NanaimoNewsNOW.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since Walker was kicked out over the weekend, Eby said he decided the member could no longer be part of the group after a formal investigation by NDP caucus.

Eby said he wishes he could share more but rules related to human resources and privacy prevent him going into specifics about the accusations, which are not a criminal matter.

The premier added he doesn’t believe what the investigation found could be remedied by a training process.

The premier said the situation was “challenging” and informing Walker he was being removed was “not a happy day.”

He added any time an MLA is removed from caucus is “an opportunity for review.”

“It’s a big responsibility we ask people to take on as MLA, they not only have to represent their communities, they not only have to be up-to-date on policy and law, and be able to advocate, but they’re also employers, they have to run an office in their community, they have obligations to their employees directly,” Eby said.

“And we’re operating in a unionized environment with collective agreements as well, which adds a level of complexity for people who maybe haven’t been employers before.”

Walker was elected to the provincial legislature in 2020 to represent the riding of Parksville-Qualicum on Vancouver Island. He was previously a town councillor in Qualicum Beach.

Eby said he can assure the people in Walker’s riding that a formal and thorough process was followed.

“As in any human resources process, we have an obligation to privacy in those matters,” he said.

“And simultaneously, you know, Mr. Walker is a public official, accountable to the people of Parksville-Qualicum. … I wish I could share more about this, but I can’t”

— with files from The Canadian Press

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW