Provincial Politics

Top Stories of 2020: Provincial election sees significant shift locally and across B.C.

NANAIMO - The BC NDP solidified their hold to power in B.C., helping shut out the BC Liberals on Vancouver Island by flipping a former stronghold Liberal seat.Two-term Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle...

Dec 12, 2020

'It's historic:' first Vancouver Island dedicated air ambulances land in Nanaimo & Parksville

NANAIMO - A helicopter and plane are now responding to emergency calls and less serious trips to major hospitals from all over Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast region.BC Emergency...

Dec 09, 2020

$1,000 COVID-19 benefit could be in families wallets by Christmas

VICTORIA - Most British Columbians will be able to apply for and receive a tax-free COVID-19 direct deposit by the end of the year.The pledge by finance minister Selina Robinson was made during a Tues...

Dec 08, 2020

New NDP cabinet sworn in, Malcolmson appointed minister of mental health & addictions

NANAIMO - Local MLA Sheila Malcolmson will have additional responsibilities over the next four years of NDP government.Premier John Horgan appointed Malcolmson to the mental health and addictions port...

Nov 26, 2020

NDP's Adam Walker officially elected as new Parksville-Qualicum MLA

PARKSVILLE - For the first time since 1996, when current Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog represented the area, Parksville-Qualicum will send an NDP MLA to Victoria.Adam Walker, a councillor with the Town o...

Nov 09, 2020

Counting final votes from B.C. election begins, Parksville-Qualicum remains undecided

NANAIMO - Hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots for the 2020 provincial election are finally being counted.Counting began at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 and will continue each day until 6 p.m. until ...

Nov 06, 2020

Alberta union leaders launch protest website against UCP government

EDMONTON - Labour-union leaders are urging Albertans to sign up to protest Premier Jason Kenney's government through rallies and demonstrations and, if necessary, province-wide general strikes.Gil McG...

Oct 28, 2020

Fast ferry from downtown Nanaimo to Vancouver tops provincial wish-list

NANAIMO - The long-promised fast ferry from downtown Nanaimo to Vancouver tops the provincial wish list for federal infrastructure funding. Re-elected MLA Sheila Malcolmson told NanaimoNewsNOW on elec...

Oct 28, 2020

BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson to step down following election defeat

NANAIMO - The BC Liberals efforts to 'rebuild BC' came short on election night and now attention will turn to rebuilding the party.Leader Andrew Wilkinson spoke for around 90 seconds on Monday, Oct. 2...

Oct 26, 2020

Projected winner awaiting mail-in ballots before declaring Parksville-Qualicum flip

PARKSVILLE - The last BC Liberal riding on Vancouver Island has all but flipped following a surge in NDP support in the region.Town of Qualicum councillor and NDP candidate Adam Walker was projected v...

Oct 26, 2020