New MLAs sworn in as B.C. celebrates 150th anniversary

On the same day B.C. celebrates its 150th birthday, two new MLAs will join the NDP benches in the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Wednesday.

New Democrats Jenn McGinn and Spencer Herbert will be sworn in, one day ahead of a brief fall session. The new MLAs give the NDP 34 seats in the legislature, to counter the 45 held by the Liberals.

McGinn and Herbert were elected in two recent byelections in Vancouver, called after Liberal Lorne Mayencourt and New Democrat Gregor Robertson resigned to seek other political opportunities.

On Thursday, the legislature resumes sitting for a brief five-day session focused on the economy and the current global financial turmoil.

150th celebration planned at Fort Langley

Meanwhile, Premier Gordon Campbell is expected to be at the official celebration of the 150th anniversary of B.C. in Fort Langley, east of Vancouver on Wednesday.

Starting at 4:30 p.m. PT, the province is hosting a free family festival and concert marking Nov. 19, 1858, the day Governor James Douglas stood in the Big House at Fort Langley and read the Royal Proclamation by Queen Victoria that declared British Columbia a Crown colony.