Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates priorities and the key issue they will take to Ottawa

Question One: What specific Nanaimo-Ladysmith issue are you most passionate about bringing to colleagues in Ottawa?

Bob Chamberlin (NDP):
I’m ready to tackle the affordability crisis for the residents of this riding. Housing and the cost of living here is too much for many people – families, pensioners, young people looking to set roots in Nanaimo. Building 500,000 homes across Canada – including 1,500 for this riding is going to help across the board because it includes non-market rental housing, co-op, and home-buying options. While those are being built, the NDP will provide a rental subsidy for anyone who’s rent is more than 30% of their income.

Everyone will also benefit from the NDP’s Pharmacare plan which will cover the cost of prescription drugs so people are no longer paying out-of-pocket and so businesses no longer have to cover this through employee health benefits. Similarly, dental care will be covered by anyone making $90,000 or less.

Student loan interest is plaguing so many people and it’s unconscionable to me that government is forking billions over to corporations while profiting off student loan interest. That’s backwards. The NDP is committed to eliminating interest on all student loans and replacing loans with non-repayable grants.

James Chumsa (COM):
It’s hard to just focus on one issue as many are a result of the growing income inequality due to stagnant wages and the rising costs of living. Last year the important issues surrounded DisconTent City, this year forestry workers on Vancouver Island are on strike while the City of Nanaimo has declared a climate emergency due to public pressure.

These may seem like separate and even sometimes contradictory issues, but they all come from the same systemic roots. Homelessness, unemployment, underemployment, rising hate crimes, the opioid crisis, and the climate crisis are all important, and all are a result of the contradictions within a capitalist economy

Jennifer Clarke (PPC):
No Response

Michelle Corfield (LIB):
When I am elected to represent Nanaimo-Ladysmith in Ottawa, I would continue to advocate for a Pharmacare program for all our citizens – nobody should have to choose between shelter, food, and prescriptions. Mental Health Services, we are in the desperate need of increased mental health services and home care for our seniors – we have over 20,000 seniors today and that segment of the population continues to grow with the expectation to reach over 40,000 seniors in the near future. We need the services to support and take care of our seniors so that they can continue living in dignity. Economic Diversification is important for Nanaimo-Ladysmith I will continue to advocate for investment in our federal infrastructures such as our Ports and Airports. Investing in infrastructure enables private sector to develop and grow ultimately bringing jobs to the area.

John Hirst (CON):
Mental health and addictions is the one issue I am most passionate about in our community. In October of 2017 I lost my father to suicide. In the past the he struggled with mental health and addictions. It was one of the most challenging things in my life. Mental Health services play a major role in our community tackling addiction and crime issues. I think we all recognize we are a community in crisis. Talking to front line social workers, RCMP officers and people in the healthcare community I believe this issue is central to us tackling our drug, homelessness and crime issues. The Conservative Party of Canada has a plan to tackle these issues such as providing more resources for local police, making prison time more meaningful, and cracking down on gangs and organized crime. For me personally I believe we need an MP who will be a strong mental health advocate and tackle these local issues.

How can you help? If you or someone you know is in need of help you can always reach out to these resources:

Vancouver Island Crisis Line https://www.vicrisis.ca/ 1-888-494-3888 (Call) 250- 800-3806 (text line from 6-10 pm, 7 days a week)

Paul Manly (GRN):
On May 27th, my first day in the House of Commons, I stood up and spoke about the urgent need for affordable housing in Nanaimo-Ladysmith, and I followed up that initial statement with action. I called up local organizations that develop affordable housing to find out if they had projects that were stalled in the system. I met with the Adam Vaugh, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and brought information about local projects to review with him. I learned about government funding that some local projects qualified for, but the organizations developing those projects had not yet applied because they were not aware that funding was available to them. So I was able to make that connection, and develop a positive working relationship with Mr. Vaughn. I am ready to work for more affordable housing for our communities with the same determination and focus. The Green Party is calling for a renewal of the “social contract” between the federal government and Canadian citizens. One that reflects the reality and urgency of our needs – for affordable housing, and better health care, including universal pharmacare prescription coverage, and a national mental health strategy.

Brian Marlatt (PC):
Health care and seniors issues remain critical in Nanaimo-Ladysmith and nationally. Wait times have organizational and delivery challenges. Medical professions are overwhelmed.

We propose funding doctor, nurse, and technician medical education in critical areas in exchange for a period of service in remote and under-served regions across Canada, at discounted incomes, similar to military practice. Renewed health care funding is necessary to reverse cuts by the last two governments.

Provincial jurisdiction and cost remain the chief barriers to national pharmacare.

Progressive Canadians, on my initiative, propose to establish a ‘National Purchasing Agency’ as a distribution network for pharmaceuticals supplied to provincial programmes. In this way, economies of scale can be achieved without jurisdictional tensions.

Comprehensive treatment for children with autism using applied behaviour analysis, under the CHA, has been a Progressive Canadian priority since 2008.

Restoring a sense of decency and dignity to Canada’s parliamentary democracy, respect for our institutions and history, building an inclusive culture of opportunity, must be national priorities. Nation-building and national unity have been lost as movement politics and provincialism have replaced national conversations. We elect MPs, not parties, to speak for the places and people they represent. Parliament, constitution, the people, inclusion, and integrity matter.

Geoff Stoneman (IND):
The cost of living in our riding is one of the most discussed topics as I continue to talk with folks in our communities. We have 24% of the youth in our riding under the poverty line. We are losing the ability afford the most common necessities. We are a unique riding with daily expenses that can exceed the Canadian average with no increase in wages to compensate. The cost of living in Nanaimo-Ladysmith is a critical issue for my campaign and one I will fully bring to attention to my colleagues in Ottawa.

Echo White (IND):
I see and experience many concerns, frustrations and pain about health care, education, housing, drug, homeless, and the situation of First Nation people. But we lack a voice in Ottawa to represent our concerns, as the political parties put their interest above ours. I will passionately and tireless voice your concerns in Parliament as an independent MP

– – –

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW

by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates priorities and the key issue they will take to Ottawa

More Local News