Nanaimo-Gabriola Island MLA Sheila Malcolmson says her experience as a member of the federal opposition gives her confidence she can continue delivering results for her riding.
Malcolmson represented Nanaimo-Ladysmith in the House of Commons from 2015 to 2019 before entering provincial politics.
“I started my elected work as an opposition member when I sat and represented Nanaimo-Ladysmith from 2015-2018 so I am really familiar with how you have to work in a really strong, really collective way, working really well with community partners and how you can get stuff done,” she said. “As an opposition member, I was able to get the federal Liberals to agree to implement pay equity so that we would legislate women being paid as men for equivalent jobs and I also made a lot of progress on preventing the oil spill risk of abandoned vessels and so I know that we can get really good results in opposition.”
Malcolmson said she is uncertain what working alongside the B.C. Conservative government will look like once it takes office.
“Lorne Doerkson, the premier elect, really is a decent guy but the party membership chose someone in Kerry Lynne Findlay who was very mean spirited and very committed to doubling down on the most vulnerable people and it certainly looked like if she had remained the leader, we would have had a lot of cuts to healthcare and services,” she said.
Malcolmson said the ability to work together will depend on the Conservative cabinet. She believes she can contribute to positive outcomes for the riding and province if Doerkson sets a co-operative tone.
“And if not, then we will fight really really hard and we are practiced in that and we are ready to hold the Conservative government to account if need be,” she said.
Malcolmson also expressed concern about the Conservatives’ pledge to repeal SOGI education policies in schools, saying she believes it could leave some students feeling unsafe.
“I want very kid to know that they have got a really good school board that they elected. They have got me and George (Anderson) and Stephanie Higginson all in our area going to fight really hard for them and we are determined that every young person feels safe, feels protected within their school and if the conservative government does anything to erode that, we will be there with those families, fighting for human rights and fighting for safety for young people.”
