Provincial election kicks off in Nanaimo
This provincial election sees new ridings for residents in the central Vancouver Island area. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
The writ has been dropped marking the start of the 43rd provincial election in British Columbia, with candidates in Nanaimo’s two ridings kicking off their campaigns.
This provincial election also sees new ridings for residents in the central Vancouver Island area. The former Nanaimo electoral district is now called Nanaimo-Gabriola Island which includes Gabriola Island, and the southern half of the city. As well the new Nanaimo-Lantzville electoral district will combine the northern half of Nanaimo and Lantzville together.
The surrounding communities have been combined in the new Ladysmith-Oceanside riding.
In Nanaimo-Gabriola Island, the current candidates on the ballot are Shirley Lambrecht with the BC Green Party, Sheila Malcolmson with the BC NDP, and Dale Parker with the Conservative Party of BC.
For Nanaimo-Lantzville, the current candidates are George Anderson with the BC NDP, Gwen O’Mahony with the Conservative Party of BC, and Lia Versaevel with the BC Green Party.
Sheila Malcolmson is seeking reelection in the new riding of Nanaimo-Gabriola Island, while there are no incumbents running in the new Nanaimo-Lantzville riding.
CHLY reached out to each of the six candidates to see how they were feeling in the first week of the election.
Shirley Lambrecht with the BC Green Party for the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island had the following to say.
“I, like many people who are running in the election, decided to run because they're really concerned about the way the province is being managed and who's being served. So this, I feel, is my opportunity to step up and get involved and make some change,” Lambrecht said. “It's interesting because as the election is actually unfolding, and I mean–it even started before the writ dropped–some of the events that we've seen happening, and of course, you know–I'm sure you're following it in the media–is even more disturbing. So I've been glad I stepped in when I did because I think I bring a lot to the table and hopefully we can get some of our more difficult issues resolved.”
Sheila Malcolmson, who will be seeking reelection as the BC NDP candidate for the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island, said she feels good out door knocking.
“It's so good to be out, knocking on doors, talking with people, getting the real deal, and so that's, in a lot of ways, a relief, and it's really grounding just to hear what people's real experiences are. I feel really honoured to hear a lot of the really personal stories that people have, challenges that they face and that they see how hard the NDP and our whole team have been working to try to make life better for people and investing in people, and then at the same time, there's so many challenges that we still face. So times are really tough for a lot of people and they really feel how high stakes this election is,” Malcolmson said. “There are just two really clear paths forward, and one is about building on what we've been able to do already and meeting the challenge of where people need more help and more support. Then another path that looks like the same cuts and cuts to services that we had in the past. So there’s both of those things at the same time, the really heartfelt conversations and then a lot of urgency in the outcome of the vote.”
Dale Parker with the Conservative Party of BC for the Nanaimo-Gabriola Island noted the feeling of hope for him and his party.
“I feel good. There's a lot of anger and grief about the current situation in Nanaimo. I've been talking to a lot of people, and they're desperate. They feel like there's no hope. And when I come around, they feel like there is hope. I'm committed to common sense action here in Nanaimo and fiscal responsibility, stopping the waste that we see, and providing a responsible governance,” Parker said. “I want to bring a new approach to my writing that cares, listens, provides a strong voice and advocates for the better of Nanaimo and Gabriola and we've got significant challenges here that we're dealing with that everyone is aware of. Everyone's telling me the same thing, and it's going to be my number one priority to make sure that these issues get dealt with responsibly.”
For the candidate in the Nanaimo-Lantzville riding, George Anderson the BC NDP candidate said the past BC NDP government has already done a lot of good work for the communities in his riding such as the announcement of a new cancer care unit for Nanaimo and built a new intensive care unit for the Lantzville community.
“I'm feeling excited. I'm looking forward to meeting more and more people at the doorsteps. There's a number of people who remember me from when I was back on [Nanaimo] City Council, from 2011 to 2014 and we're talking about really important things that are there to help everyday people, and so for myself, that's why I chose to run so that I could be there to help people in Nanaimo and help the city realize its potential,” Anderson said.
Gwen O’Mahony, the Conservative Party of BC candidate for Nanaimo-Lantzville said she feels great having been knocking for five months and hearing from all of the residents in her riding.
“So it kind of falls into three main categories. The first really big one is healthcare. There are a lot of people who are waiting to receive a consultation with a specialist or do not have family doctors, and that's an incredibly pressing issue in our community,” O’Mahony said. “Number two would be community safety and this is linked, of course, to our unfolding drug crisis that all kind of links together and actually, it does put pressure on our healthcare system as well. Then the third issue, of course, is affordability, especially the cost of housing and the increased costs of purchasing groceries and just our basic everyday needs.”
Lia Versaevel, the BC Green Party Candidate for the Nanaimo-Lantzville riding did not respond back to CHLY’s media inquiry before the publication deadline.
Election Day is October 19, with advance voting starting October 10. More on how to register and where to vote can be found on the Elections BC website.
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.