Horgan plans to call byelection for Nanaimo by start of January

VICTORIA — A byelection in the provincial riding of Nanaimo will be called on or before the start of January.

Premier John Horgan said Monday he wants to have a new MLA in the riding before his government introduces its new budget, which is typically the second week of February. That would mean the 28-day campaign would start in early January at the latest.

“We will ensure that there is a member from Nanaimo in the legislature to debate the budget in February,” he said.

Nanaimo NDP MLA Leonard Krog won the city’s mayoral race on Saturday, and has said he’ll resign to take the municipal position.

The resulting byelection will be a crucial test of Horgan’s minority government.

If it can retain the seat, the NDP-Green alliance that governs the legislature would hold.

However, if the Opposition Liberals win the byelection, then the legislature would be deadlocked in a tie, threatening the viability of the government and raising the odds of an early election.

The provincial riding of Nanaimo has been an NDP stronghold since 1963.

“You can never take anything for granted,” said Horgan. However, he pointed out Krog won with an overwhelming mandate in the mayor race, and the NDP has had large majorities there in previous provincial campaigns as well.

— CP PHOTO Leonard Krog is congratulated after he was elected mayor of Nanaimo Saturday. Krog will now have to step down as NDP MLA, forcing a byelection.