A member of the British Columbia legislature representing a riding on Vancouver Island, Adam Walker, has been removed from the New Democrat Party (NDP) caucus, according to Premier David Eby. The decision was announced on Sunday in a brief statement that stated the expulsion came as a result of an internal investigation prompted by a human resources complaint. Details regarding the nature of the complaint were not disclosed.
Walker, who served as the MLA for Parksville-Qualicum for the past three years, will now hold his seat as an independent in the provincial legislature. He had previously served as the parliamentary secretary for the sustainable economy.
The statement from Premier Eby’s office emphasized that a comprehensive investigation had revealed misconduct on the part of Walker, leading to his removal from the government caucus and his position as a parliamentary secretary. Further information was not provided due to the sensitivity of the human resources matter.
Adam Walker, who has not yet responded to requests for comment, was elected to the provincial legislature in 2020. He previously served as an elected councillor in Qualicum Beach, B.C., and has owned and operated a local technology business for 15 years, in addition to running a small farm alongside his wife.
With Walker’s expulsion, the NDP now holds 56 seats in the provincial legislature, while the Official Opposition, BC United, holds 26. The BC Green Party and Conservative Party of British Columbia each hold two seats, with the latter recently doubling its count after Bruce Banman, MLA for Abbotsford South, defected from BC United to join the Conservatives.