Vancouver Island MLA Adam Walker has been removed from the NDP government caucus following an internal investigation stemming from a human resources complaint.
Premier David Eby, leader of the B.C. New Democrat caucus, announced the removal of the Parksville-Qualicum MLA in a press release Sunday afternoon.
“This thorough investigation found misconduct on the part of MLA Walker,” Eby said. “As with any other human resources issue, we are not able to disclose additional details.”
Walker will no longer longer serve as parliamentary secretary of sustainable economy, he said.
Walker told the Times Colonist on Sunday afternoon that the removal came as a surprise. “It’s news to me,” he said. “I only just heard this as well.”
Walker declined to provide more details, saying that he needed some time to think and to talk to his wife before making comments on Monday.
A B.C. NDP caucus spokesperson said that Walker was informed about the decision prior to the news being released to the public, but could not say when.
Eby has not announced a press conference related to Walker’s caucus removal, but he will be speaking to reporters in Richmond on Monday.
Walker had previously served as a town councillor for Qualicum Beach from 2018 to 2020. He was elected as a B.C. NDP MLA in the 2020 election with a 6.5 per cent vote margin, flipping the riding to the New Democrats for the first time since 1996.
Walker, a farmer and small business owner, previously oversaw the development of a strategy to address the challenges of gig workers in B.C., including food-delivery drivers, that in 2022 led to a 20 per cent cap on food delivery fees for restaurants.
In the 2020 B.C. general election, Walker won Parksville-Qualicum with 42% of the vote, defeating incumbent Michelle Stilwell of the B.C. Liberals (now BC United) who won 35.47%.
The party standings in the B.C. legislature are now: NDP 56 seats, BC United 26, Green Party 2, Conservatives 2, Independent 1.
