With Liberal MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones’s decision not to run for re-election this fall, the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding won’t have an incumbent, which could “open the door” for the Greens, according to BC Green Party leader Andrew Weaver.

“We just have to look in Nanaimo at what happened there with Paul Manly, when Sheila Malcolmson, who was a strong candidate, ran provincially. It opened the door for Paul Manly, and I think we could see that here with Dana Taylor.”

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In May, Manly became the second Green in Parliament after winning a byelection for the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding on Vancouver Island. Malcolmson, the riding’s New Democrat MP, triggered the byelection when she resigned in January to run for the provincial NDP in Nanaimo, and was elected MLA.

Weaver made the remarks during a visit to the Sunshine Coast as part of a province-wide “listening tour” for the BC Green Party caucus. Taylor attended an Aug. 16 fundraiser for the provincial Greens, but was not present for the tour.

Weaver told Coast Reporter he was “feeling enthusiastic” about Taylor’s candidacy for the federal West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding. Taylor ran for the BC Greens in the last provincial election in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, finishing second to incumbent Liberal MLA Jordan Sturdy.

“I think people are waking up to the reality that Green MLAs, Green MPs can get elected and once they are elected, they spend a lot of time doing good work, so I’m feeling enthusiastic for that,” said Weaver.