Nanaimo riding candidates square off for first and only time before Oct. 24 election

Green Party candidate Lia Versaevel, who placed third in the Nanaimo-North Cowichan riding in 2017, also pointed to COVID-19 and how the pandemic brought the affordability crisis into the spotlight.

“We need to work collaboratively across party lines and with municipalities to bring comprehensive long-terms solutions to this crisis,” Versaevel said.

Former social worker and BC Liberal candidate Kathleen Jones honed in on the ongoing homelessness and addictions crisis, as she did for many answers throughout the 90 minute debate.

“We need to treat the causes and prevent this harm. We need funding for abstinence-based programs, dry and wet housing, increased addiction treatment and recovery programs,” Jones said.

Her answer prompted the first rebuttal of many from Malcolmson.

“If the BC Liberals believe this was the most important issue for our community and our province, then they would have made investments in mental health and addictions during the 16 years they were in power,” she said.

Many of Malcolmson’s answers or rebuttals criticized the BC Liberals and changes brought in under their 16 year tenure, such as reducing youth treatment beds and formally declaring the overdose crisis much too late.

In turn, Jones attacked Malcolmson by saying the situation on Nanaimo streets has only gotten worse under the BC NDP’s watch.

She reiterated the BC Liberal promise of 200 more police officers, 100 more psychiatric nurses and more Crown prosecutors to handle the staggering number of court cases in the system.

This promise is in the BC Liberal platform for all of BC. No details were provided about how many new staff would come to Nanaimo.

“Nanaimo needs detox and rehab beds, tiered supportive housing, both wet and dry housing options. We’ve got to treat the causes to prevent the harm,” Jones said.

Versaeval said no matter who was in the BC Legislature, the problem has escalated to a dangerously deadly new normal.

“We cannot use short-term solutions like buying hotels and housing people temporarily,” Versaeval said. “We need to work collaboratively with people in the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. There are intelligent answers we must implement immediately.”

Candidates were asked a wide range of questions, from how to build more mountain bike trails to BC Hydro rates.

They were asked specifically by NanaimoNewsNOW how they would advocate for better transportation options across Vancouver Island and connections to the Lower Mainland.

Versaeval committed to more walkable and livable communities built on existing infrastructure “such as the rail bed which runs between Nanaimo and Victoria. We want to promote further the access of passenger ferries to both the Lower Mainland and local islands.”

Touching on ferries, Malcolmson highlighted the ongoing and long-delayed project to bring a new foot passenger ferry into service, which is a private endeavour. She said talks happen weekly about the project and it’s first in line for provincial infrastructure funding.

“Transit and active transport is the priority for our government. We’re very glad to be working with the city council here in Nanaimo that shares that view.”

Jones said the BC Liberals are committed to increasing ferry traffic with hourly service during peak times, as well as clean transportation.

“The focus is going to be on electricity and clean vehicles to reduce emissions.”

Wednesday’s debate is the only all-candidate debate currently scheduled before the Oct. 24 provincial election for the Nanaimo riding.

Candidates in Nanaimo-North Cowichan will participate in a recorded video debate in the week leading up to the election, hosted by the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt

by Spencer Sterritt

Nanaimo riding candidates square off for first and only time before Oct. 24 election

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