SHEILA MALCOLMSON
Website:
Instagram:
Political party: How long have you been a member?
NDP, 2010
Do you live in the riding, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to the riding?
Yes, Gabriola has been my home since 1994.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I was first elected as MLA for Nanaimo in 2019. In 2015, I was elected as federal Member of Parliament (MP) for Nanaimo-Ladysmith. Prior to that, I was elected four times to the Islands Trust Council, serving six of those years as Chair. Before entering public life, I worked for Energy Probe and the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy. I was a board member for the Conservation Council of Ontario and the BC Sustainable Energy Association and also worked in ecotourism.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing your community and why?
People of Nanaimo-Gabriola have been talking a lot about healthcare, it is something I have heard about in many conversations with community members on the doors recently, and is a priority for our government as well. Everyone deserves to have access to good healthcare; it should be there when you need it, where you need it.
What actions or efforts have you taken to learn the concerns of your constituents?
We are committed to taking action for people. Not just learning about concerns, but making real effort to ensure our community gets the healthcare they need, and we’re seeing signs of progress—like connecting 300K more British Columbians with a family doctor or nurse practitioner. We announced 3 new ambulances to serve Nanaimo and surrounding areas, and median surgical times are down 15.7% on the island vs wait times under the Rustad’s government.
With over $700 million in expanded health care at NRGH, we are committed to ensuring everyone in Nanaimo Gabriola gets the quality care they deserve.
What do you want to see improved in British Columbia in four, eight and 20 years?
I would like to see every person in BC with a doctor, the ability to afford a place to live, and an environment that is protected from climate change for years to come.
How would you go about addressing contentious issues within your riding?
We have already made considerable progress in many areas by listening to stakeholders, understanding differing perspectives, and determining where partnerships can be made, gaps can be bridged, or red tape eliminated to make progress where change is needed.
Would you vote against your party and leader if it were best for your constituents?
The needs of my community and the people in it are always my priority, and David Eby and the BC NDP reflect the priorities of our community. We’re going to get more homes built, lower costs and hire more doctors and nurses. I am committed to working for the interests of everyone in our community, not just those at the top
Why do you think you are qualified to do this job?
I have been serving as MLA in Nanaimo since 2019, during which time I have worked hard to support the needs of our community. While serving as federal Member of Parliament (MP) in 2015 for Nanaimo-Ladysmith I was a leading advocate for solutions to vessel abandonment, oil spill prevention and women’s equality.
I was elected four times to the Islands Trust Council, serving six as chair, where I championed fair ferry service, marine safety and oil spill prevention. I signed a government-to-government protocol between the Snuneymuxw First Nation and the Islands Trust – establishing a relationship of respect and co-operation.
Why are you running – what’s your motivation?
We have made such good progress in housing, health care, and putting money back in the pockets of hard working people while in government but there is so much still to do and so much at risk with John Rustad’s plans for tax breaks for those on top and $4.1 billion in cuts to health care.
ABOUT NANAIMO-GABRIOLA ISLAND
Nanaimo-Gabriola Island is a new riding and will be contested for the first time this election. It was created out of parts of the Nanaimo-North Cowichan and Nanaimo electoral districts.
New Democrat Sheila Malcolmson won comfortably in the Nanaimo riding in 2020, with about 54 per cent of the vote, while the Green and Liberal candidates roughly split the balance.
She’s running again in Nanaimo-Gabriola Island, along with Green candidate Shirley Lambrecht, a network specialist, and Conservative Dale Parker, who works in information technology.
THE CANDIDATES IN NANAIMO-GABRIOLA ISLAND
The candidates this election are:
See the full list of Vancouver Island candidates here. We are posting the candidate questionnaires riding by riding.
ABOUT THE PROFILES
We asked readers what they wanted to ask candidates and used those answers to help shape our election coverage, including candidate questionnaires.
The answers are presented as submitted by the candidates, edited only for length if they exceeded the word limit they were given. We did not correct grammar, spelling or typos.
See an error or something that needs to be changed? You can report it to [email protected] or use the report a typo link below.
