Parliamentary secretary for primary care access, running again for the BC NDP in Ladysmith-Oceanside.
Stephanie Higginson was elected MLA for Ladysmith-Oceanside in 2024 and became parliamentary secretary for primary care access in November 2025. In the legislature in 2026 she spoke on the budget, health care, schools in Ladysmith, forestry, freedom of information and the K’ómoks Treaty.
A researched record of Stephanie Higginson’s commitments, dated actions and public statements from 2026, with local news coverage. Most come from the legislature record and government releases.
On dates without a confirmed appearance the public schedule is unknown; the candidate may still have activities that day. This static page changes only when its research is updated.
01 / Introduction
About Stephanie Higginson
Stephanie Higginson is the BC NDP candidate in Ladysmith-Oceanside on Elections BC’s list for the general election of October 24, 2026. She won the district in 2024 with 14,144 votes, 41.49% of the valid vote, according to the Elections BC statement of votes.
The provincial government’s page says she was Government Caucus Chair before Premier David Eby named her parliamentary secretary for primary care access on November 25, 2025. In that role she supports the Minister of Health. The same page says she was twice elected to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board of Education, was president of the BC School Trustees’ Association, and taught secondary school. voche.me did not check those earlier roles with the school board or the association.
In the legislature in 2026 she spoke for the budget, for Bill 9 on freedom of information, for Bill 14 on BC Timber Sales and for the K’ómoks Treaty. She is Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, as the committee Chair said in the legislature on May 6, 2026.
Her campaign page describes her as a past school trustee and says she supports strong public services. Those are the campaign’s own words.
Published positions and selected commitments, separated by election cycle. Status labels describe the evidence reviewed, not a numerical score or a complete audit of the platform. Council approval is different from delivery.
20 commitments shown · Checked Sep 30
2026 · EducationIn progress
New and expanded schools in Ladysmith
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said she would push for school funding for Ladysmith Intermediate. On April 13 she told the legislature she had announced $52 million for a new K to 7 school and a larger Ladysmith Primary. A government release of April 8, 2026 quotes her on the projects.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The release gives up to $52 million, 250 new seats at Ladysmith Primary, a 390-seat Ladysmith Intermediate, and construction starts in fall 2026 and spring 2027.
What still needs checking
Does construction at Ladysmith Primary start in fall 2026?
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said Budget 2026 adds $634 million for K to 12 schools over three years, including $167 million in the classroom enhancement fund, and that this will mean more teachers.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She names the amounts. She gives no number of teachers and no local figure for her district. She voted yes on the budget motion on February 26, 2026.
What still needs checking
How many teaching positions does the $167 million pay for in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith and Qualicum school districts?
Connect more people to family doctors and nurse practitioners
As parliamentary secretary for primary care access, Higginson is quoted in government releases in April and September 2026 saying the government will keep connecting people to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The September 16, 2026 release says one million people were connected since 2018 and 80% of the population has a provider. It gives no target date for the rest, and the figures are the government’s own.
What still needs checking
What share of people in Ladysmith-Oceanside have a family doctor or nurse practitioner?
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said the Lantzville long-term care home was scheduled to open in 2029. A government release of September 21, 2026, on the start of construction, quotes her.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The release gives 298 beds, a provincial share of $236 million toward a $350 million project, and an opening in 2029. The home is in the Nanaimo-Lantzville district, next to her own.
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said Budget 2026 includes $121 million for mental health and addiction treatment, and that a treatment centre with 19 overnight beds would take new patients in Parksville in fall 2026.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She gives the beds and the date. voche.me did not find a government release on the Parksville centre, and did not confirm that it opened.
What still needs checking
Did the Parksville treatment centre take its first patients in fall 2026?
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said Budget 2026 adds $139 million over three years to reduce repeat violent offending and chronic property crime, including $16 million for a new program on chronic property offenders.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She names the amounts. She says break and enters at local businesses fell 80% from the year before; voche.me did not check that figure. She gives no target for the new program.
What still needs checking
What results does the chronic property offender program report for Oceanside?
Double the tax credit for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said the government doubled the provincial tax credit for volunteer first responders from $3,000 to $6,000, and said she brought the idea from her district to the provincial government.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The change is in Budget 2026, as she describes it. Her account of where the idea came from is her own.
What still needs checking
Do local fire departments in Ladysmith-Oceanside report more volunteers after the change?
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said Budget 2026 protects core services while keeping spending under control, and that cutting investment in uncertain times would hurt long-term prosperity.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
A statement of approach. It names no deficit figure or date.
What still needs checking
What deficit figure would she support in a new term?
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said Budget 2026 gives $330 million more to ChildCareBC to keep lower fees and existing spaces, and $25 million for before- and after-school care on school grounds.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She names the amounts. She gives no number of spaces and no fee level.
What still needs checking
How many before- and after-school spaces does the $25 million create in her district?
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson said Budget 2026 puts $283 million into skills training, including $240 million to double skilled trades funding and $12 million for employer training grants, with the aim of doubling apprenticeship seats by 2028-29.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She names the amounts and the year. She gives no number of seats.
What still needs checking
How many apprenticeship seats exist in 2028-29 compared with 2026?
Tax credit for manufacturing and a strategic investment fund
In the budget debate on February 24, 2026, Higginson pointed to a temporary 15% tax credit for businesses that invest in manufacturing and processing, and to the $400 million strategic investment fund, as support for small business in her district.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She names the credit and the fund. She gives no number of local businesses or jobs.
What still needs checking
How much of the strategic investment fund reaches businesses in Ladysmith-Oceanside?
On April 15, 2026, Higginson spoke for Bill 14, which changes how BC Timber Sales offers timber, including faster salvage of damaged trees and contracts for thinning and wildfire risk reduction. The vote index shows her voting yes at third reading.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She cites a possible 800,000 additional cubic metres of wood from new salvage licences, as a figure she read. She gives no date or cost.
What still needs checking
Does BC Timber Sales report the volume from the new salvage licences?
On March 9, 2026, in debate on a motion about clean water, Higginson spoke about the Province’s watershed security fund and forest planning that protects drinking water.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She gives the $100 million that set up the fund in 2023. She names no new measure, target or date.
What still needs checking
Would a new term add money to the watershed security fund?
Protect Qualicum Beach’s water supply from river erosion
Parksville Qualicum Beach News reported on May 25, 2026 that the Province gave $843,700 for erosion protection on the Little Qualicum River, and quoted Higginson on protecting the town’s water supply.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The report gives the amount and the program. The town says work ends by the end of the year; the report names no year for that.
On April 23, 2026, Higginson spoke in support of Bill 20, the K’ómoks Treaty Act. The vote index shows her voting yes at second and third reading, and no on an amendment moved by a Conservative member.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The bill passed third reading on May 28, 2026, according to the vote index entry. She asked every member to build relationships with the First Nations in their district.
Support the changes to freedom of information law (Bill 9)
On March 4, 2026, Higginson spoke in support of Bill 9, which changes the freedom of information law. She said the changes do not affect the oversight of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The vote index shows her voting yes at third reading.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
She gives the government’s figures on the rise in pages processed. Critics in the debate said the bill weakens access; voche.me did not assess that.
What still needs checking
Do request times and fees change after the law takes effect?
Narrow the definition of commercial vehicle in the dashboard camera bill
On May 4, 2026, in debate on Bill M217, a private member’s bill on dashboard cameras in commercial vehicles, Higginson said the bill’s definition of a commercial vehicle was too broad and asked that the committee review it.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
A position on one clause. The vote index shows her voting yes on reporting the bill as amended on May 4, 2026. voche.me did not find whether the bill passed.
Send car insurance changes to the special review committee
On April 20, 2026, in debate on Bill M237, a private member’s bill to change ICBC’s enhanced care rules, Higginson said the changes belong with the special committee that is reviewing the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, which reports by February 18, 2027.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
A position on process. She gives the committee’s report date. The vote index shows her voting yes on sending Bill M237 to that committee on April 22, 2026.
What still needs checking
What does the special committee recommend by February 18, 2027?
In a statement printed by NanaimoNewsNOW on September 26, 2026, Higginson said she is running again to protect jobs, support families and make sure people can count on health care and services.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
A reason for running. It names no measure.
What still needs checking
Does her campaign publish its own commitments for the district?
Recorded votes and government programs where an official source names her. A government program is the government’s; it is listed here only where a release quotes her or a record shows her role.
Announced; construction due fall 2026 and spring 2027
Ladysmith school projects announced
The Province announced up to $52 million for a new Ladysmith Intermediate and an addition at Ladysmith Primary. The school district’s page says Higginson led the announcement event, and the government release quotes her.
Scope, limits and sources
The money and dates are the government’s. The school district’s page records her role at the event.
Public Accounts Committee report for the first session
As Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Higginson spoke when the committee’s report was presented. The Chair named her as Deputy Chair in the same debate.
Scope, limits and sources
The report is the committee’s, written with members of all parties. The committee reviews reports of the Auditor General.
Primary care figures released as parliamentary secretary
The government release on one million people connected to primary care since 2018 quotes Higginson as parliamentary secretary for primary care access. Releases in April and September 2026 on urgent and primary care centres in Surrey and Sooke and on two Indigenous community health centres also quote her in that role.
Scope, limits and sources
The figures are the government’s own. Her role, from November 2025, is to support the Minister of Health.
Voted yes on third reading of the K’ómoks Treaty Act (Bill 20)
The recorded vote index lists Higginson voting yes at second reading on May 20 and at third reading on May 28, 2026, and no on an amendment moved by Misty Van Popta, a Conservative member.
Casting votes as Chair on two amendments to the Trade Recognition Act (Bill 5)
With Higginson in the chair of a committee section, two amendments tied 5 to 5. The Chair voted against each, to keep the bill as adopted at second reading.
Scope, limits and sources
A Chair’s casting vote follows the practice of the House, so it is no position on the amendment.
Read original statements and reporting, or open the publisher’s video. A summary of a speech is labelled separately from a full recording.
Speech
Budget debate speech
Higginson spoke for Budget 2026 over two sittings: health care, schools, child care, skills training, crime, small business and the volunteer first responder tax credit, with local examples from Ladysmith-Oceanside.
Speech on a mandatory economics course for new MLAs (Motion M205)
Higginson questioned the wording of the motion and criticized the numbers in the opposition’s 2024 platform. The vote index shows her voting yes on the final motion on May 25.
Records are labelled by type, including official findings, civil proceedings and political disputes where applicable. Each entry identifies the response found in the sources and the latest status verified for this page.
No reviewed entries have been added to this section yet. This is a research gap, not a finding about the candidate.
News coverage / Original publishers
Read the reporting
A dated reading list from independent publishers. The headings below are voche.me summaries; follow each link for the original article, context and any corrections.
Reporting
Nanaimo News Bulletin
New Ladysmith Intermediate and expanded Ladysmith Primary announced
Reports the school projects and quotes Higginson from the government release.
Sources checked September 30, 2026. Official records establish decisions; campaign material establishes stated positions; reporting adds investigation and context. None alone establishes every claim.
The campaign page lists no events and no platform of her own, and voche.me found no party release that names her. Her Instagram and the Ladysmith-Oceanside BC NDP Facebook page showed only a sign-in page to a direct read, so the re-election video that Parksville Qualicum Beach News describes was not seen. No 2026 all-candidates meeting for Ladysmith-Oceanside was found. The second half of her Bill 9 speech and the Bill 20 speech after its first part were not read line by line, and the transcripts of her recorded votes were not opened. Her dates as Government Caucus Chair, as a school trustee and as president of the BC School Trustees’ Association were not checked with the school board or the association. The Parksville treatment centre she described for fall 2026 was not found in a government release. Bills 6, 12 and M233 were not read. Campaign finances and endorsements were not reviewed. The questionnaire has not been sent.
Research status
What voche.me has checked
Evidence reviewed on 2026-09-30: the Elections BC candidate list and 2024 statement of votes, the legislature’s 2026 speech and vote indexes, 15 transcripts where she spoke, nine government releases that quote her or record her appointment, the government’s page on her role, a school district page, four local news reports, her campaign page and the BC NDP platform and releases pages.
Her commitments on this page come from what she said in the legislature and in government releases in 2026. Her campaign page states no measures of its own. Sections with no entry record that voche.me found nothing on this date.
The provincial government’s page says she was twice elected to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board of Education and was president of the BC School Trustees’ Association. voche.me did not check the dates.
Proposed questions for a future interview. They have not been sent to the candidate, and no answers have been supplied.
No questions and answers have been supplied.
Have your own question?
Ask Stephanie Higginson directly. We send it to the campaign, and publish the reply here if we get one.
05 / About this page
Questions about this page
Facts voche.me can state about Stephanie Higginson's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.
Is this an official page for Stephanie Higginson?
No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Stephanie Higginson's own campaign.
What party is Stephanie Higginson running with?
Stephanie Higginson is running for MLA with BC NDP.
Does Stephanie Higginson currently hold public office?
Yes. Stephanie Higginson currently serves as Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Care Access; MLA for Ladysmith-Oceanside.
How many sources does this Stephanie Higginson profile cite?
This profile lists 5 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.
Why do some questions on Stephanie Higginson's page show no answer?
The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Stephanie Higginson in a future interview. They have not been sent yet, so the page says plainly that no answer has been supplied instead of leaving the section blank.
When is the election Stephanie Higginson is running in?
The 2026 British Columbia election, including the MLA race, is decided on October 24, 2026.
06 / Candidate contributions
Space for campaign updates
No campaign updates yet
Announcements, event details and messages can be added here, with their source and publication date. No campaign submission has been added.
