Paul Manly being sworn in by Green Party leader Elizabeth May. (Facebook)

By Spencer Sterritt

green wave

‘We’ve created a stir:’ Nanaimo-Ladysmith Green MP sworn in

May 27, 2019 | 9:46 AM

NANAIMO — Only the second Green Party MP ever is now officially representing the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding.

Paul Manly, who won the May federal byelection by a sizable margin, was sworn in as a member of the House of Commons on Monday. He was joined by Green Party leader Elizabeth May, the only other Green Party MP in Canada.

“The win we had has created a stir here in Ottawa. Climate change has become top of the agenda.” _{Paul Manly}

In his first day as MP, Manly spoke during Question Period and asked if the federal government was willing to take emergency measures under the national housing strategy to help vulnerable citizens.

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He said his question to fellow MP’s led to an invitation to meet with the Ministry of Housing directly and find out what can be done for Nanaimo and Ladysmith.

Manly will only be a MP for a brief time. The House of Commons sits for four more weeks and briefly returns in September, before dissolving for the fall federal election on Oct. 21.

When asked directly what he hopes to accomplish in his short time as an MP, Manly said he’s “going to do whatever I can around things like affordable housing. I got up and spoke about it today and I’m going to be speaking to the Minister directly.”

He also submitted a petition with thousands of signatures about the Department of National Defence taking stronger steps to dissuade mountain bikers and hikers from crossing into their lands in south Nanaimo.

His constituency office on Dunsmuir St., previously used by former MP Sheila Malcolmson, is expected to open soon.

“All these things take a little big of time but we’re doing everything we can to meet the needs of constituents and bringing forward the issues that are important to the people of Nanaimo-Ladysmith.”

Manly confirmed he’ll run again as MP in the fall.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit