Where would local candidates running in the 2025 Federal Election like to see infrastructure dollars spent in community, to support a rapidly growing population? (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

federal funding

Nanaimo-Ladysmith: Mid-Island infrastructure funding to support community growth

Apr 16, 2025 | 1:12 PM

NANAIMO — How would local MP’s advocate for critical infrastructure funding to support an increasing number of people moving to central Vancouver Island?

NanaimoNewsNOW surveyed all five candidates running in Nanaimo-Ladysmith, asking them to highlight their personal opinions, beliefs and priorities, rather than just the platform of their party, on a number of key issues.

Candidates were asked the same question and provided up to 250 words to respond by a Monday, April 14 deadline. NanaimoNewsNOW has not edited the responses, aside from trimming any which exceed the word limit. Candidates are listed below in alphabetical order, by last name.

The second of a three-part series asks: With the central Island experiencing one of the fastest population growth rates in Canada over the past decade, what specific infrastructure projects or areas would you prioritize advocacy for federal funding to support the growing needs of all residents in Nanaimo-Ladysmith?

Lisa Marie Barron (i) (NDP): I want to see federal funding for the overdue NRGH patient tower and catheterization lab projects. The aging NRGH facility hasn’t kept up with our population and doesn’t meet the Canada Health Act’s mandate for all Canadians to have access to medically necessary physician and hospital services. Thanks to citizens and the advocacy work of Fair Care Alliance, there’s progress, and I commend the provincial government for committing to these projects. But the federal government must also do its part to ensure they happen.

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I will hold the federal government to its responsibility for public healthcare and push for funding for the NRGH patient tower and cath lab. People in Nanaimo-Ladysmith and beyond need and deserve this life-saving care. And our healthcare professionals need and deserve a modern workplace that can also help attract future hires.

I will also continue advocating for the new Loaves and Fishes Nanaimo food recovery facility. Food banks are needed, though they’re a temporary solution until we fix the causes of food insecurity including grocery price gouging. But an innovative food recovery program like this one is a sustainable, long-term intervention that diverts millions of pounds of food waste from landfills each year and significantly reduces CO2 emissions. These are incredible wins both for people struggling to access affordable food, and for a healthier planet.

I was successful at getting the Liberal government to commit $5M to the project and I will push to ensure those committed funds and more are delivered in budget 2025.

Michelle Corfield (Liberals): Our infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with our population. My top priorities include expanded transit options for communities like Gabriola and Ladysmith, green infrastructure upgrades, and a catheterization lab to serve the central and northern Island. These are practical investments that improve lives.

Tamara Kronis (Conservatives): My top priorities include running a responsive constituency office, lowering the cost of living, addressing the opioid and drug crisis, supporting our seniors, combating crime, and honouring our veterans.

Paul Manly (Green Party): Rapid regional growth demands serious investment. Our hospital and healthcare infrastructure is aging and strained, as is our municipal infrastructure and Ottawa needs to step up. If elected, I’ll fight for local infrastructure funding to ensure people get the services they need. The federal and provincial governments have been dumping responsibilities onto municipalities for decades. This needs to stop. Senior levels of government need to take responsibility and provide proper funding for municipal infrastructure and services.

Affordable housing is at the top of my list. We need federal funding to build co-ops and affordable housing that is energy efficient, built by local workers, using Canadian materials. I’m fighting for this at the municipal level, and I’ll bring the same urgency to Parliament.

Public transit is critical. I’ll advocate for investment in improved transportation systems, including expanded bus routes and regional rail, to reduce traffic, lower pollution, and connect our communities.

Our healthcare system is stretched thin. Our regional hospital and clinics are overwhelmed. I’ll push for federal capital investment in hospitals and clinics to build the facilities we need to serve our growing and aging population.

We also need to prepare for the climate crisis. That means upgrading water systems to withstand drought, upgrading wastewater, and stormwater systems to withstand flooding and ensure that we have the necessary resources to fight wildfires. I’ll support federal funding that helps local governments protect our communities.

This isn’t just about catching up, it’s about being smart and building for the future.

Stephen Welton (PPC): With the central Island experiencing one of the fastest population growth rates in Canada over the past decade, what specific infrastructure projects or areas would you prioritize advocacy for federal funding to support the growing needs of all residents in Nanaimo-Ladysmith?

One of the most fundamental issues people here and across Canada have had to face in recent decades is the decline in the availability and quality of healthcare. My advocacy for lower immigration rates would not only ease the inflationary pressure on housing and rental prices, but would ameliorate the decline in healthcare availability, (allowing the training and hiring of healthcare workers to catch up to quality levels, rather than continue to fall behind population growth). If we stop making things worse, our efforts to make things better will be effective.

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