Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates skills to unify a diverse, fragmented riding

Question Two: The Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding is one with considerable political fragmentation and competing interests.What skills and experience do you possess to fully represent and unify such a diverse riding?

Bob Chamberlin (NDP):
My career and life experience has been built around bringing diverse parties and stakeholders – provincial and federal governments, First Nations, Canadian and international companies – to the table to share in the decision-making and come to equitable solutions. In my 14 years as a First Nations leader on Vancouver Island and in British Columbia, my job has been to bring people together under difficult circumstances.

A key example of this is as lead negotiator, I worked with multiple stakeholders to remove fish farms away from wild salmon migration routes in the Broughton Archipelago. The whole process had First Nations involved in the decision-making and the affected fish farm companies supported the final outcome because it provides economic certainty for them. It is the first implementation in Canada of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People. This is true reconciliation at work, something I will continue to work at implementing, and it benefits all Canadians by helping to get it right the first time and allowing us to arrive at a new definition of sustainability.

James Chumsa (COM):
The Communist Party is willing to work with those who share our position on certain issues, as we have supported unions, land defenders, and the peace movement. We draw a clear line with who we ally ourselves with though, as we refuse to work with any person or group that endorses hate, war, or exploitation.

As a Marxist I understand class struggle, and side with the interests of workers, Indigneous people, the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and marginalized groups in society. As an activist I have supported various struggles and connected with many people through solidarity work.

Jennifer Clarke (PPC):
No Response

Michelle Corfield (LIB):
The diversity of our riding is what makes us unique. We have competing interests, but we have uniting concerns, such as the environment, ocean health and national Pharmacare. I believe we all can agree that we must address the increasing homeless issue in this region. The skills I bring are my educational background in facilitating difficult conversations resulting in resolution based on inclusion. I also have 25 years working in the private sector as a negotiator, educator, entrepreneur. I have sat on various boards such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Nanaimo Port Authority. These combined skills provide me with the ability to apply a national, regional, and local perspective.

John Hirst (CON):
I was born and raised in Nanaimo. I intend on raising my family here. I think there is a lot that unites us as a community even though we are a diverse political community. We have shared West Coast views and values that are unique to the mid-island. Although this year has been divisive with two by-elections, referendums, etc. we as a community always come together. The skills I poses as a manager facilitate this coming together in a way that can allow a community to thrive.

At the end of the day we are all Canadians and live in this beautiful country and on this beautiful island. We need someone who has grown up here and who has lived here to accurately represent our values as islanders.

Paul Manly (GRN):
I have a solid track record of working with diverse groups and people in Nanaimo-Ladysmith and I make a point of treating everyone I meet as a potential ally. Over the past 20 years I have stood before Nanaimo city councillors and RDN directors many times, bringing forward issues, respectfully asking for action, and seeking solutions. I’m proud of my record of success in those efforts. As MP I don’t engage in hyper partisan bickering because we have very serious problems to solve, and the only way we can do that is by working together. This is especially true when it comes to addressing the climate crisis, because destructive partisan politics have thwarted strong climate action for more than two decades. This must stop. The Green Party is calling for the creation of a cross-party inner cabinet to deal with climate change, because we are in an “all hands on deck” situation. I’m proud to say that during my time in the House of Commons I worked across party lines. And I voted with every one of the official parties, because good motions, good amendments, and good bills, should be supported no matter who proposes them.

Brian Marlatt (PC):
Political diversity and competing interests require the ability to hear what is actually being said and why, enabling conversation between different points of view and need, reconciling differences to achieve agreement on policy and action. In politics, this is the art of the possible. The analytical skills of a historian.

I have worked with stackholders within the Disabled Peoples International community, natural hazard and disaster research, business, and party politics.

Today unparliamentary movement politics require reconciling the demands of Opposition NDP, Green and “new” Conservative movements with parliamentary democracy. Good will and critical thinking.

As Progressive Canadian spokesperson to the Commons parliamentary Standing Committee considering Bill C-76, The Elections Modernization Act, although not an MP, my brief successfully argued for amendments to improve legislation by looking to first principles, and understanding the value of balancing continuity and change respectfully. C-76 received royal assent in December 2018. I can achieve more as our MP.

Previously serving the Progressive Conservative Policy Advisory Committee 1998-2003, I assisted policy facilitation across B.C., beginning as my riding’s policy chair, bringing activists of all parties and everyday people into policy development and achieved policy amendments amongst competing views and interests at national policy conventions.

Geoff Stoneman (IND):
As a trades-person, every day I have the opportunity to work with many different personality types and situations that require the ability to bring people together. In my area of work, there are daily competing interests as everyone is there to get a job done. Sometimes getting the job organized is complex but with an understanding of the situation and ability to activity listen to each interest, the work is done. Acknowledging the strength each community brings to the riding is one of the reasons I considered when I decided run as an independent candidate in 2019. As an independent, I am free of party loyalties and obligations. This can ensure the riding of Nanaimo-Ladysmith a voice that is directly from the people who live here.

Echo White (IND):
That is why I choose to run as an independent candidate to represent people’s voices as I am NOT driven by any interests of political parties.

I am an MBA Graduate with working experience in the federal government and crown corporation in Ottawa.

I am an entrepreneur for more than twenty years and have strong capability to seize the opportunities.

I was a member of the Team Canada Trade Mission to promote billion-dollar projects overseas for Canada.

I am an Asian immigrant with overseas experience, I will be an energetic ambassador to bring Nanaimo to the world stage.

My core values are shaped by my Christian faith. I am a loving person and welcoming to people from all backgrounds.

I have great communication and negotiation skills, passionately achieve win-win solutions in conflicting situations.

If you want to know about my vision and mission for Nanaimo, check out our campaign website EchoWhite.ca

– – –

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW

by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates skills to unify a diverse, fragmented riding

More Local News