B.C.'s 150th birthday -- or "Douglas Day" -- is being celebrated in Victoria with the swearing in of the province's newest MLA's.
New Democrats Jenn McGinn and Spencer Herbert, who won byelections in two Vancouver ridings last month, will bring the number of official Opposition members to 34. The liberals hold 45.
Herbert fills the seat vacated in Vancouver-Burrard by Liberal Lorne Mayencourt, who made an unsuccessful bid to become a Tory MP in the federal election.
Herbert says he isn't nervous about making the step up to provincial politics, but admits there is a steep learning curve.
In the Vancouver-Fairview riding, McGinn replaces Gregor Robertson, who left the NDP ranks earlier this year to make his winning bid to become mayor of Vancouver.
Thursday, the provincial legislature resumes sitting for a five day session that will focus on the economy amid the current world financial turmoil.
Anniversary celebrations
Douglas Day, which marks the event in 1858 when Sir James Douglas proclaimed B.C. a Crown colony, will be widely celebrated across the province. Premier Gordon Campbell is celebrating the anniversary with a day of appearances at Fort Langley -- the site where the proclamation was issued.
Starting at 4:30 p.m. PST, the province is hosting a free family concert and festival.
