Two upcoming candidate forums for voters in Nanaimo–Ladysmith

The Vancouver Island University Political Science program is hosting a candidate forum at the university’s Malaspina Theatre. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

Candidates in Nanaimo–Ladysmith will have opportunities to speak with voters at upcoming candidate meetings in the riding.

As election day approaches, two different organizations will be hosting events to allow the candidates to speak to voters about their party platform and what they would do if elected to the House of Commons.

In the Nanaimo–Ladysmith riding, there are five candidates on the ballot; the incumbent Lisa Marie Barron with the NDP, Michelle Corfield with the Liberal Party of Canada, Tamara Kronis with the Conservative Party of Canada, Paul Manly with the Green Party of Canada, and Stephen Welton with People's Party of Canada.

Starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, at the Malaspina Theatre, the Vancouver Island University Political Science program is hosting a candidate forum for both students and community members to come and ask questions to the candidates.

VIU political science professor Michael MacKenzie spoke to CHLY about the event.

“It's an open forum for people to engage in some kind of discussion with the candidates,” MacKenzie said. “We expect the candidates will probably want to respond to each other as well, but there should be time for all of that.”

He said at the beginning of the forum each candidate will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and speak to their party’s platform, but the rest of the night will be open for audience members to ask questions.

“The plan right now is to have it open, and we won't have any themes identified in advance. We would really love to have our students start off the discussion and ask the questions,” he said. “We expect [students] to be there, and they will get involved, but the event is open to all community members, so whatever people want to come and discuss, there will be opportunities for people to ask questions.”

MacKenzie does note that there might not be enough time for every question to be answered.

He also said there may be opportunities after the question period of the candidate forum for audience members to meet with the candidates in the lobby of the theatre.

Another all candidates meeting is being hosted in partnership with the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association–Vancouver Island, and the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce.

This event is happening on Wednesday, April 23, at the Coast Bastion Hotel from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. 

Kerriann Coady is the Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association–Vancouver Island. She told CHLY that this public event gives an opportunity for citizens to hear directly from their candidates about various topics.

“So it'll work different than a traditional debate–think of it more as an opportunity to hear from the candidates on questions that matter,” Coady said. “So obviously, from the CHBA side of things, we will focus primarily on housing solutions, housing plans and housing platforms. Then the Chamber, both Nanaimo and Ladysmith, I think a lot of their questions will obviously revolve around the business community, and the business community needs and concerns.”

Coady said housing is a top priority for many people when deciding who to vote for this year.

“So from our perspective from the CHPA, housing really impacts everyone from renting to home ownership. We take into consideration the entire housing spectrum,” she said. “Obviously, housing is a very topical conversation right now. Affordability is a big conversation right now, and sustainability is a big conversation.”

She said that while they have created questions centred around the housing and business sector, there will also be time for audience members to ask the candidates questions. 

Election day is April 28, with advance voting happening April 18 until the 21st.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.