Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates find common ground on myriad of hot-button issues

A wide array of topics were discussed including jobs, affordable housing, clean energy, indigenous relations and the environment.

The overall tone was friendly, with candidates routinely nodding in agreement as others spoke.

VIU Political Studies professor Dr. Jocelyn Praud said the cordial tone surprised her.

“Candidates came out and just said ‘I agree with this other candidate from another party’, I thought it was good natured debate and a good example for the students.”

Along with the debate’s cordial tone, came agreement on many local issues. VIU professor Dr. Alex Netherton said that’s a by-product of election overload.

“Nanaimo got to know itself really well, especially the theme of the by-election of being the ignored city. From the rest of the province and areas of Vancouver, we get to be ignored, and I think we went through that and now the community itself has a better understanding of itself, what its issues are and what its priorities are.”

Both Praud and Netherton felt certain candidates shined under the format, while others struggled.

“Paul Manly and Michelle Corfield were really well versed and had all the details at their finger tips for their policies,” Praud said. “John Hirst didn’t do so well I thought, however he did a good job questioning the fiscal soundness of the green platform, and I think that’s where he shined.”

People’s Party of Canada candidate Brian Marlatt frequently spoke over his allotted time, and at one point was granted extra by independent Geoff Stoneman who volunteered some of his allotment.

All of the major party candidates tailored their message and platform to the audience, with a strong focus on youth issues and affordability.

“There was a lot of attention paid by John Hirst on young people when they’re graduating and have their first job, trying to get into the housing market,” Praud said. “The Greens were talking about free tuition and jobs for millennials. The Liberals tended to focus on the record of the Liberal government, what they have done and will continue to do.”

Prior to the debate, candidates attended an open house where they could talk with students directly.

First year VIU science student Hannah Pachet told NanaimoNewsNOW the debate helped educate her on the candidates and party policy.

“It was really interesting to see the different party perspectives, because a lot of them had perspectives I wouldn’t have associated with their party beliefs.”

She added the importance of becoming an informed voter.

“Going in educated about all the different parties is important,” Pachet said. “If you vote just on what you see from major news sources, you’re not going to know everything that’s important to you about your country and you’re not going to be able to make the best decision for voting.”

According to Elections Canada, youth voter turnout rose substantially between the 2011 and 2015 federal elections, with 57.1 per cent of voters aged 18 to 24 casting a ballot.

“It’s that first few engagements with politics, listening to something that makes or doesn’t make sense to you and you begin to form your own opinions on those topics,” Netherton said.

Green Party candidate Paul Manly won the riding’s by-election in May in fairly convincing fashion with a roughly 5,000 vote victory over the Conservative’s Hirst.

The NDP took the riding in 2015 with relative ease when current Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson won the re-drawn riding prior to bailing for provincial politics.

General voting day is Monday, Oct. 21.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley

by Alex Rawnsley

Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates find common ground on myriad of hot-button issues

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