Nanaimo byelection tests minority government’s mettle
NANAIMO — British Columbia’s minority New Democrat government faces a crucial popularity test this month in a byelection in one of its traditionally safe constituencies where the outcome could threaten Premier John Horgan’s one-seat hold on power.
Voters in Nanaimo, who have elected New Democrats in 13 of the last 15 provincial elections, are heading to the polls Jan. 30 to replace Leonard Krog, the five-term NDP member of the legislature who resigned his seat last year after being elected mayor of the Vancouver Island city.
Krog’s vacancy at the legislature makes the tight seat count even more tenuous for the New Democrats, who formed government in 2017 by reaching a partnership agreement with the three members of the Green party.
Six candidates are in the race: former federal New Democrat MP Sheila Malcolmson, the Green’s Michele Ney, Liberal Tony Harris, Conservative Justin Greenwood, the Vancouver Island Party’s Robin Richardson and Libertarian Bill Walker.
There are 40 New Democrats, three Greens, 42 Liberals, one Independent and one vacancy in the 87 seat legislature.
If the Liberals win, the legislature will be at a 43-43 tie, with Speaker Darryl Plecas — an Independent — forced to cast tiebreaking votes. An NDP win would preserve the minority government’s status.
Prof. Mark Blackell, who teaches Liberal Studies at Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island University, said the city is known as an NDP stronghold, but the name recognition of the Liberal, Harris, and the Green’s Ney will challenge the NDP.
“Nanaimo has undergone gradual changes in the past several decades due to a changing economy, one that has become more service-oriented, and due to people moving here, often to retire and, more recently, younger people from the Lower Mainland to find more reasonable housing,” he said. “While many who have settled, especially from Alberta, bring more conservative or B.C. Liberal Party allegiances, there has also been a growth in Green party support, largely in the younger population.”
Harris, the Liberal candidate, said Nanaimo has been left out of the political picture for too long.
“We certainly need to have a more comprehensive vision to allow whatever party is in power to figure out how to advance the interests of Nanaimo,” he said. But Harris, a sixth-generation resident, said he represents the resilient spirit of the city and he wants to bring bold change to Nanaimo.
Green candidate Michele Ney said her roots in Nanaimo are as deep as Harris’s and her vision also looks to the city’s potential.