Polls opened at 7 a.m. Monday morning as residents in Nanaimo-Ladysmith will vote for an MP for the third time since spring 2019. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

VOTING DAY

Experts forecast tight race in Nanaimo-Ladysmith as polls open

Sep 20, 2021 | 7:11 AM

NANAIMO — Polls have opened on general voting day to elect the 44th Canadian Parliament.

While the national race appears to be neck and neck between Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, polls in the lead-up to voting day project the Nanaimo-Ladysmith contest to be a three horse race.

Incumbent Green candidate Paul Manly is looking for his third election win after becoming the region’s MP in the May 2019 by-election, before being re-elected the following October.

He will face competition from the NDP’s Lisa-Marie Barron, Liberal candidate Michelle Corfield, Conservative Tamara Kronis and the PPC’s Stephen Welton.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m.

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Voters must cast their ballots at their assigned polling place, as indicated on voter information cards.

Voters can also find their polling location by visiting the Elections Canada website and entering a postal code.

NanaimoNewsNOW will have complete coverage of the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding throughout Election Day and into the evening when votes are counted.

You can also keep tabs on vote tallies on our partner radio stations 106.9 The Wolf and 102.3 The Wave, as well as all NanaimoNewsNOW social media channels, beginning after 7 p.m.

Our complete election coverage, including candidate profiles are available on our Election HQ page.

NanaimoNewsNOW also conducted interviews with each candidate on the following topics:

• Local issues each candidate wants to campaign for in Ottawa
• Views on post-pandemic recovery for small business
• How each candidate will be an effective voice for the region on climate change

All five candidates also participated in the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce all-candidates debate on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

NanaimoNewsNOW will also cover the counting of ballots in Courtenay-Alberni, in partnership with our sister stations 93.3 The Peak and 97.3 The Eagle.

The riding encompasses Parksville and Qualicum, with incumbent NDP Gord Johns looking to hold off the challenge from Marxist-Leninist party Barbara Biley, PPC’s Robert Eppich, Liberal Susan Farlinger, Green Susanne Lawson and Conservative Mary Lee.

Johns won the riding by just over eight per cent of the vote in 2019.

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