Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O'Toole poses with supporters on Saturday, Sept. 4 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

campaign stop

Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver fast ferry pledged by Conservative leader

Sep 4, 2021 | 9:38 PM

NANAIMO — A long-stalled downtown to downtown fast ferry service would be funded if Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O’Toole had his way.

His statement spawned loud cheers from roughly 100 party supporters at an evening campaign stop at Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island Conference Centre on Saturday, Sept 4.

“This is about who’s going to make life easier for people, to get to work, to build a business, like funding the long-awaited ferry service between Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver,” O’Toole said.

It was the lone Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding specific announcement made by O’Toole during a spirited 15 minute speech.

O’Toole expanded on his economic recovery plan to boost regions like western Canada hit hard by fast-rising housing costs compounding the ongoing pandemic.

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Following his address, Nanaimo-Ladysmith Conservative candidate Tamara Kronis reiterated how important the fast ferry connection would be.

“It’s one of my priorities for this riding to get that ferry out of whatever red tape it’s in and get it running.”

Kronis said O’Toole’s funding pledge shows his willingness to advocate for a service that matters to people in the Nanaimo region.

“It would be so good for Nanaimo to see a government in Ottawa that was investing in Nanaimo and Nanaimo-Ladysmith.”

The private sector driven fast ferry project was delivered a substantial blow in the spring of 2019 when a key investor pulled its support.

Five candidates are on the Nanaimo-Ladysmith election ballot, widely considered a three-party race between incumbent MP Paul Manly of the Green Party, the NDP’s Lisa Marie Barron and the Conservatives’ Tamara Kronis.

O’Toole’s visit marks the second trip to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding by a federal party leader after Jagmeet Singh stopped by Ladysmith on Aug. 30.

General election day for the upcoming federal vote is Monday, Sept. 20.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes