Lisa Marie Barron, New Democratic Party
Occupation/background: Since 2021 I have served as member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith, the community I’ve called home for 30 years, and where I’ve raised my own family. Previously, I worked in community and social work including as school board trustee, community school and women’s centre coordinator, and youth mental health and recovery navigator. My deep roots and love for this community drive my work on behalf of the people I’m so fortunate to share it with.
What will your priorities be if you are elected? To make life more affordable, healthy, and fair for everyday people. I will push government to build on the NDP’s historic wins including dental care, universal pharmacare, worker and pension protections, and the Canada Disability Benefit. I will continue to bring forward solutions and action on the big issues:
Cost of living: Remove the GST on basics like home heating and internet, and stop price gouging on groceries, rent, and essentials. Implement tax fairness so that big corporations and the ultra- wealthy pay their fair share, like the rest of us are already doing.
Housing affordability: Speed up construction of affordable new homes using a buy and build Canadian approach. End preferential tax treatment for corporate landlords. Strengthen controls to stop renovictions and unfair rent hikes that artificially inflate costs. Remove the GST on homes under $1.5M for first-time buyers, and unlock the CMHC to offer low-interest, public-backed mortgages.
Healthcare: Defend public healthcare and stop the expansion of American for-profit models. Increase federal health and social transfers and partner with provinces and First Nations to recruit and train more doctors, nurses, and community outreach professionals. More public funding for treatment beds and wraparound supports so people can get help when they need it.
Why should people of Nanaimo-Ladysmith vote for you for MP? People are worried about Trump’s threats and about what it would mean for Canada if Poilievre were in charge. Voters deserve a better, more serious choice than just ‘anyone but Conservative’. As incumbent candidate and established member of parliament, I have the knowledge, experience, and track record to deliver on the things that will make life better for you.
And in Nanaimo-Ladysmith it’s clear that a vote for the NDP is also how we stop the Conservatives.
Michelle Corfield, Liberal Party of Canada
Occupation/background: I am an Indigenous governance expert, entrepreneur, and community advocate with deep roots in Nanaimo. I hold a PhD in organizational leadership and have spent decades building bridges between federal, provincial, and First Nations governments. I’ve served as chair of the Nanaimo Port Authority, co-developed Canada’s first Indigenous MBA program, and co-founded major forestry and housing partnerships. I’m also a small business owner focused on Indigenous innovation and sustainability.
What will be your priorities if you are elected?
My top priorities are housing, health care, and public safety. I’ll fight for a new hospital tower and catheterization lab in Nanaimo, expanded mental health and addiction services, and better access for Indigenous and rural communities.
I support Mark Carney’s plan to double home construction and will push for federal investments in modular, wood-frame, and co-op housing using Vancouver Island forestry products – what I call 'harvest to house.' I’ll also work to fast-track approvals for non-profit, Indigenous, and workforce housing.
On the opioid crisis, I’ll advocate for a trauma-informed, safety-first strategy – with real enforcement against traffickers, better oversight of emergency shelters, and coordination across governments so communities like ours aren’t left behind.
Why should people of Nanaimo–Ladysmith vote for you for MP?
I bring real experience, not political talking points. From advancing clean trade to resolving local infrastructure conflicts, I know how to move projects from idea to impact. I’ve worked across systems my whole career – getting things done in community development, economic reconciliation, and health policy.
I’m not a career politician. I’m a builder, a listener, and someone who knows how to get results in Ottawa. If elected, I’ll bring Nanaimo–Ladysmith’s voice forward – firmly, clearly, and with a deep commitment to this community.
Tamara Kronis, Conservative Party of Canada
Occupation/background: Lawyer and goldsmith.
What will be your priorities if you are elected? My priorities are rooted in the real concerns I hear from people every day on their doorsteps. Conservatives are committed to addressing the cost of living crisis so families can afford groceries, housing, and everyday essentials.
Our plan will cut income tax by 15 per cent, dropping the tax rate on the lowest income tax bracket from 15 per cent to 12.75 per cent, meaning the average Canadian worker earning $57,000 will save $900, with two-income families saving $1,800 a year. It’s time for Canadians to keep more of what they earn. This will put money back into the pockets of working families, create jobs and help strengthen our economic fortress against tariff attacks. We will take bold action to address the opioid and drug crisis that is devastating too many lives in Nanaimo-Ladysmith by funding 50,000 recovery spaces to bring our loved ones home safe and drug-free.
Our seniors deserve dignity and proper care after a lifetime of hard work building Canada. Conservatives will ensure that we protect seniors' savings and address their cost of living. And I will always stand up for our veterans—ensuring they receive the respect, care, and benefits they’ve earned.
Why should people of Nanaimo-Ladysmith vote for you for MP? Being a good representative means more than just attending meetings in Ottawa – it means being present and accessible at home, listening to the concerns of those you represent. Folks have told me they've never felt further from their government. I'm committed to changing that, to being accountable, transparent and making it easy for people to get the help they need, close to where they live.
Paul Manly, Green Party of Canada
Occupation/background: I’m a former member of Parliament, Nanaimo city councillor, and a longtime community advocate. I’ve worked in media, housing, and non-profit leadership, including as executive director of the Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter. I was recently honoured with the King Charles Coronation Medal for my service to the community.
What will be your priorities if you are elected? My top priority is the cost-of-living crisis. That starts with getting affordable rentals and co-op housing built here. We need to restore federal rent and vacancy controls, and stop corporate landlords from driving up rents. I’ll also fight to protect public health care, expand it to include mental health services, and stop creeping privatization.
Making Canada a leader in clean energy creates good local jobs and increases our security as a country. I’ll push for stronger protections for our coasts and forests. I’ll also fight for smarter, fairer trade policies, so we’re not just shipping raw resources abroad, but building value-added industries here in Canada that support workers and strengthen our economy.
Why should people of Nanaimo-Ladysmith vote for you for MP? I’ve represented this riding before, and people know I show up, listen, and work hard. In Parliament, I worked across party lines to deliver results, supporting people with disabilities, protecting pensions, and securing recognition for community media.
This election, we have a real chance to stop Poilievre’s Trump-style Conservatives – but only if progressives unite. Local polling and projections show I’m the only progressive candidate with a path to win. That’s why Cooperate for Canada has endorsed me.
I’m not in politics for status. I’m here because I care deeply about this community. I’ve stood up for Nanaimo–Ladysmith before, and I’m ready to do it again.
Stephen Welton, People's Party of Canada
Occupation/background: Retired from my career as an environmental, health and safety projects manager, I now operate a part-time handyman/contracting business, helping people with home repairs and small renovations. I know how to build houses and I know how to manage multi-million dollar projects. I am a concerned father who loves this country, and I have a passion for exploring and enjoying our beautiful landscapes.
What will be your priorities if you are elected? Push for reductions in immigration levels which will reduce the excessive demand for housing and put upward pressure on entry-level worker wages so that young people can make a decent living and buy homes. Once we regain a good standard of living for Canadians, immigration levels can be revisited. I'll also push for recriminalization of hard drugs, so that we can empower the police to address the vagrancy and crime that are the unacceptable side effects of rampant drug use. The rights of citizens to clean and safe neighbourhoods needs to be remembered.
Why should people of Nanaimo-Ladysmith vote for you for MP? I will fight for the average Canadian and help get this country back to economic health; recreating the circumstances in which average Canadians can earn a decent living and afford a decent home. We've had it before and we can have it again.
