Mayor

"Fiscal Responsibility & Tax Stabilization—Restoring sound financial management at City Hall with a focus on stabilizing and reducing taxes, eliminating wasteful spending, and protecting residents from misuse of taxpayer dollars."

"Nanaimo has experienced rapid growth and that growth must be managed by maintaining and expanding roads, sidewalks, trails, traffic controls, and core utility systems while keeping confidence high for residents and investors. Council must stay focused on practical delivery so growth remains sustainable and affordability pressures are addressed through coordinated long-term planning."

"Reassess existing municipal budget and areas of excessive spending to fund the interventions and services our community needs without adding to the burden of individual taxpayers. Implement a sustainable strategy to reallocate fiscal resources from areas of excessive spending toward developing and upscaling evidence-based interventions that address upstream preventative solutions to improve safety…"

"Reassess existing municipal budget and areas of excessive spending to fund the interventions and services our community needs without adding to the burden of individual taxpayers. Implement a sustainable strategy to reallocate fiscal resources from areas of excessive spending toward developing and upscaling evidence-based interventions that address upstream preventative solutions to improve safety and wellness for all, while saving taxpayers money and costs in other areas such as reducing pressures on the hospital, emergency department, first responders, neighbourhoods, and local businesses. Explore options for the municipal implementation of a progressive wealth tax. Utilize these long-term savings to fund much-needed infrastructure development and improvement efforts, thereby minimizing the burden on taxpayers beyond annual inflation rates as determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Ensure that every public dollar is spent effectively by shifting funding toward programs that demonstrate results."

"Nanaimo Regional General Hospital requires major improvement, including better services for critical heart patients and replacement of aging tower infrastructure. Local government should continue strong advocacy with provincial partners so health resources north of the Malahat are comparable to those in the south, because health capacity is essential for both community wellbeing and economic…"

"Nanaimo Regional General Hospital requires major improvement, including better services for critical heart patients and replacement of aging tower infrastructure. Local government should continue strong advocacy with provincial partners so health resources north of the Malahat are comparable to those in the south, because health capacity is essential for both community wellbeing and economic strength."

"Expedite the development processes for community health centres, which models the integration of access to primary care with mental health care and helps in addressing the social determinants of health. Meaningfully explore options within municipal capacity for enhancing primary care options, including recruitment of Nurse Practitioners and NP-led clinics like the Nexus Primary Care Clinic; as…"

"Expedite the development processes for community health centres, which models the integration of access to primary care with mental health care and helps in addressing the social determinants of health. Meaningfully explore options within municipal capacity for enhancing primary care options, including recruitment of Nurse Practitioners and NP-led clinics like the Nexus Primary Care Clinic; as well as adopting a Colwood Clinic model to attract physicians and other providers to our area. Advocate for accelerated payment, permitting, and building processes for the construction of new healthcare infrastructure at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to meet the needs of the immediate population. Increase advocacy efforts with the provincial government to follow up on their election promise to fund required healthcare infrastructure in Nanaimo for a new cardiac catheterization (cath) lab and patient care tower. Collaborate with Island Health, the province, Vancouver Island University, and related advocacy groups/efforts (including Tod Maffin’s Healthcare Infusion) in initiatives that bring more healthcare workers to Nanaimo to fill necessary gaps in care services."

"Planning for growth means maintaining an expanding network of transportation and utility infrastructure while improving development turnaround times for projects large and small. The city must coordinate land use and servicing decisions with regional partners to ensure growth is orderly, reliable, and responsive to future demand."

"Immediately implement comprehensive, equitable, and community-centred review processes, with thorough environmental risk assessments, including water and power usage, for zoning and building considerations related to AI infrastructure and data centres. Implementation of a moratorium on application approvals for all AI infrastructure and data centres until the comprehensive, equitable, and…"

"Immediately implement comprehensive, equitable, and community-centred review processes, with thorough environmental risk assessments, including water and power usage, for zoning and building considerations related to AI infrastructure and data centres. Implementation of a moratorium on application approvals for all AI infrastructure and data centres until the comprehensive, equitable, and community-centred review process has been established."

"Transit is very important. This is Nanaimo's central bus stop. It's a disgusting disgrace! Shame, shame, shame! 1.Glass missing on one side 2. Not enough seating 3. Inadequate lighting for safety 4. Schedules must be on every stop Clean this up! It is time for smaller electric busses."

"Enhance accessibility and bikeability of the city. Expand free transit changes to include all students, meaningfully exploring options for free public transit for all. Establish a community-informed approach to identify necessary areas of improvement in efficiency, availability, and accessibility of local public transit options (for example, improving availability and accessibility of public…"

"Enhance accessibility and bikeability of the city. Expand free transit changes to include all students, meaningfully exploring options for free public transit for all. Establish a community-informed approach to identify necessary areas of improvement in efficiency, availability, and accessibility of local public transit options (for example, improving availability and accessibility of public transit between North & South Nanaimo). Improve the accessibility of transit infrastructure by adding benches and covers to bus stops wherever feasible. Ensure public transit is run as a public service, not contracted out to private companies. Advocate for collaborative Island-wide investment in advancing the multi-use function and accessibility of the Island Corridor Rail system."

"Selling real estate, the money word for Mother Earth, in Vancouver, Victoria, Parksville, and Lasqueti. I became a sort of first house specialist encouraging people to buy. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOMES -- an essential in a free DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM. Affordable housing is possible by starting from the bottom up. For example, small units for single people; shared laundry; no parking…"

"Selling real estate, the money word for Mother Earth, in Vancouver, Victoria, Parksville, and Lasqueti. I became a sort of first house specialist encouraging people to buy. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOMES -- an essential in a free DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM. Affordable housing is possible by starting from the bottom up. For example, small units for single people; shared laundry; no parking for cars, scooters and bicycles only; rooftop gardens; and community space will make these dwellings happy. With a little help from the federal government, $600/month is possible."

"Housing responses should be tied to growth management and public safety priorities, including support for supervised treatment locations and appropriate housing pathways for people facing addictions and mental health challenges. The city should keep working with provincial and federal governments to secure the resources needed to expand supportive options."

"Enshrine a local Housing First model, in accordance with the established Declaration of Housing as a Human Right. Leverage full power and influence of the municipal government and Mayoral office to substantially increase advocacy efforts with the provincial and federal governments to maximize funding for affordable and supportive housing opportunities. Meaningfully explore options to utilize…"

"Enshrine a local Housing First model, in accordance with the established Declaration of Housing as a Human Right. Leverage full power and influence of the municipal government and Mayoral office to substantially increase advocacy efforts with the provincial and federal governments to maximize funding for affordable and supportive housing opportunities. Meaningfully explore options to utilize city-owned land, buildings, and the municipal purchase and/or incentivization of empty buildings for non-market housing options, accessible day spaces, and emergency shelters. Implement a full spectrum of market and non-market housing options for all, including working with all levels of government to establish accessible publicly-funded long-term & memory care facilities, family-centred housing, housing for seniors with fixed income; as well as supportive and transitional housing that meets people where they are at, including access to supportive housing with wraparound services, dry housing, and housing that supports people along the continuum of recovery. Explore options to implement rent and vacancy control for all market- and non-market rental residential units. Specifically, the implementation of a bylaw to prevent disproportionate rent increases by property owners between residential tenancy agreements. Protect the existing supply of public non-market (modular) housing. Increase the stock of public non-market (modular) units with wrap-around support services. Ensure that social housing rents are available at or below the shelter rate. Implement a Right to Cool bylaw, which mandates that landlords maintain at least one space within rental units that can always reach a liveable temperature range (21-26 degrees Celsius) with acceptable ventilation and air quality."

"PLEASE, LET'S STOP MOVING OUR HOMELESS CITIZENS FROM PLACE TO PLACE! THAT IS A TERRIBLE, INHUMANE THING TO DO. There is no housing for homeless people. These are Canadian citizens. A campsite with warm facilities, a cook tent with hydro, army tents provided by the federal government, waste management. Homelessness is not going away..."

"Adopt a human-rights based approach to encampment responses and end the practice of forcible decampment of unhoused people from public lands; ensuring that any relocation of encamped people from public lands is done with consent, moves the individual(s) into a safe and appropriate alternative housing arrangement, and takes place without the destruction or confiscation of personal property…"

"Adopt a human-rights based approach to encampment responses and end the practice of forcible decampment of unhoused people from public lands; ensuring that any relocation of encamped people from public lands is done with consent, moves the individual(s) into a safe and appropriate alternative housing arrangement, and takes place without the destruction or confiscation of personal property Support community-led responses to people in crisis and distress that emphasizes wrap-around healthcare, diversion from criminal justice involvement, and reduces strain on emergency departments. Advocate to the provincial and federal governments for the robust expansion of publicly-funded voluntary, culturally-safe, and trauma-informed mental health and substance use care options, including harm reduction, detox, recovery, and transitional care options. As per BC Ministerial Order M488, support the continuity of overdose prevention sites’ operations through the leverage of zoning powers and approvals and collaborative action with Island Heath Authority. Enhance municipal support for harm reduction programs and overdose prevention sites, including peer-led and mobile service options for accessibility across all areas of Nanaimo. Ensure cross-sector municipal participation and collaboration in the provincially-funded Nanaimo Community Action Team (NCAT) to address local impacts of the Toxic Drug Poisoning Crisis, Alcohol & Substance Use. Meaningfully explore options to utilize city-owned land, buildings, and the municipal purchase of empty buildings for the development of recovery-centred communities and supportive programming for people in substance use recovery. Offer municipally-funded learning & training opportunities to cross-sector public service providers in crisis deescalation, overdose response, and Naloxone administration, including public libraries, recreation spaces, and public-facing local businesses most impacted. Adequately fund and staff municipally-run and/or non-profit contracted year-round shelters, drop-in centres, outreach centres, cooling and warming spaces, and community support programs. Acknowledge that not every emergency requires the same type of response and advocate to the provincial government to fund 24/7 community-led crisis response teams for mental health and substance use emergencies, established through local community partners. In collaboration with Island Health and community partners, adopt minimum standards for overdose prevention services to enhance safety, improve consistency, and ensure greater oversight for clients, staff delivering life-saving services, and members of the community."

"LET'S MAKE THIS HOLE INTO A SKATEBOARD BOWL! Skateboards made in Nanaimo with recycled plastic that are painted by our talented artists, with bleachers for spectators, and by holding International board contests. A PROFITABLE GREEN INITIATIVE! Nanaimo Skateboard Capital of the World!"

"Economic Stability & Business Confidence—Supporting local businesses and fostering an environment where entrepreneurship, investment, and job creation can thrive."

"Good governance and respectful council conduct are necessary to encourage private investment and support long-term infrastructure renewal from roads to recreation assets. Continued cooperation with institutions such as VIU, the Port, and the Airport helps strengthen jobs, trade access, and Nanaimo's broader regional economy."

"Explore vacancy taxation options to incentivize the use of long-standing empty private buildings and spaces for local artists, musicians, and small businesses. Increase opportunities for working people. Living Wage for all municipal employees and contractors. Institute maximum safe working temperatures and air quality policies and protections for all municipal employees and contractors. Dedicate…"

"Explore vacancy taxation options to incentivize the use of long-standing empty private buildings and spaces for local artists, musicians, and small businesses. Increase opportunities for working people. Living Wage for all municipal employees and contractors. Institute maximum safe working temperatures and air quality policies and protections for all municipal employees and contractors. Dedicate municipal funding to support compliance with these workplace safety standards."

"Public Safety & Community Protection—Making Nanaimo safer by prioritizing core municipal responsibilities and restoring public confidence in how safety issues are addressed."

"Public safety requires sustained work with RCMP, volunteer agencies, and health providers while pressing for safe and supervised treatment capacity and practical supports that reduce disorder and pressure on first responders. The city should continue advocating for measures that protect residents and improve outcomes for people in crisis."

"Ensure any municipal employees or contractors who interact with vulnerable populations (including, but not limited to, RCMP, fire, bylaw and community safety officers) receive comprehensive training in trauma-informed practices, cultural safety, and non-violent crisis intervention that is informed by people with lived experience. Enhance municipal support for frontline and first responders,…"

"Ensure any municipal employees or contractors who interact with vulnerable populations (including, but not limited to, RCMP, fire, bylaw and community safety officers) receive comprehensive training in trauma-informed practices, cultural safety, and non-violent crisis intervention that is informed by people with lived experience. Enhance municipal support for frontline and first responders, recognizing the significant changes in environmental workplace stressors, including increased risk, impact, and psychological toll of required responses. Increase municipal investment in sustainable and inclusive youth programming, organized recreation, employment, and violence prevention initiatives. Strengthen victim services, sexual assault supports, domestic and interpersonal violence supports, and restorative justice programs. Expand annual compensation limits and scope of Vandalism Relief Fund to be inclusive of all businesses within the City of Nanaimo. Ensure any municipal committees or tables that address housing and/or community safety are inclusive of people with lived and living experience with homelessness, displacement, substance use, and/or carceral practices such as involuntary care. Establish systems to regularly evaluate which interventions demonstrate reduction in crime, improvements in public and individual health, and enhance neighbourhood safety."

"NANAIMO has an OPPORTUNITY to LEAD into a new era by implementing creative GREEN alternative development designs! Rooftop Gardens on ALL housing developments, with community space. We must greatly reduce our poison emissions they are making us sick and killing the planet. My platform has stayed consistent with growing food BIG TIME, high-tech greenhouses throughout the community providing…"

"NANAIMO has an OPPORTUNITY to LEAD into a new era by implementing creative GREEN alternative development designs! Rooftop Gardens on ALL housing developments, with community space. We must greatly reduce our poison emissions they are making us sick and killing the planet. My platform has stayed consistent with growing food BIG TIME, high-tech greenhouses throughout the community providing affordable, organic food for health and wealth. Protection of sensitive ecosystems must become a priority! Trees are clean, resilient, and patient. Hugging a tree is good for your health and well-being. They MUST BE SAVED! I will save every one I can! I went to court to save some of Linley Valley. This fight cost the developer a pretty penny! Council must get off their butts and look around at Sensitive Areas! Trees are the lungs of the planet. Removing the poison in the air, holding the earth together. Over 50% of Vancouver Island have been logged, we need the trees to live! Nanaimo's SWEET SPOT! People need to socialize in a CLEAN ENVIRONMENT without breathing in poisonous car emissions. Removing the cars from the Library to Terminal (approximately 20 cars), would provide a wonderful open air people-only square. Listen to the bird song. Did you know that Nanaimo is an overwintering spot for birds? Many European cities, like the one above, have people-only spaces. Nanaimo is very far behind GREEN ECOLOGY. Please put people first! Bit by bit, Nanaimo is losing public green space to rocks."

"Community resilience depends on reliable civic infrastructure, from clean water and wastewater systems to roads, parks, pools, and recreation facilities, all maintained through disciplined long-term investment. As the city grows, resilient service delivery and coordinated regional planning should remain central to council priorities."

"Maintain reliable, 24/7 access to public washrooms and running water in parks and public facilities as cooling and warming areas. Prioritize funding options for development of new and enhanced public third-spaces and pro-social activities for all ages across the community. Enshrine the Right to Food. Develop a framework for meeting food security targets for all residents. Develop an emergency food…"

"Maintain reliable, 24/7 access to public washrooms and running water in parks and public facilities as cooling and warming areas. Prioritize funding options for development of new and enhanced public third-spaces and pro-social activities for all ages across the community. Enshrine the Right to Food. Develop a framework for meeting food security targets for all residents. Develop an emergency food system plan to enact during supply chain disruptions. Simplify, improve, and incentivize access to public land for growing local food for non-profit, community group, and individual use. Support and incentivize the development of publicly-run food stores to meet healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food needs. Establish permanent, 3x/day, 7 day/week accessible food options to support people facing food insecurity, including warm meals. Support and incentivize the stability and continuity of community food banks, nonprofit food stores, urban farms, market incentives, and other food sovereignty initiatives to support local growers and makers and reduce food waste. Protection and prioritization of environmental safety for delicate and/or endangered ecosystems. Collaboratively work with community partners to ensure development of new and enhancement of existing green spaces to optimize access for all community members. Ensure that climate disaster readiness plans incorporate strategies for the safety and well-being of unhoused, precariously-housed, and economically marginalized communities, including seniors and people with disabilities. Advocate for enhanced air quality standards (filtration, flow, temperature) within all municipal spaces for greater accessibility and safety for all. Ensure reliable access to water, warming, and cooling spaces year-round. Expand investment for public libraries and index this investment to inflation, recognizing the increased pressures on staff and greater utilization of public library spaces in lieu of adequate daytime cooling and warming spaces. Collaborate with all levels of government to invest in creating and maintaining public art spaces and music venues to support local artists and a growing arts scene."

"Ethical & Accountable Leadership—Ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making in all aspects of municipal governance. Independent Local Decision-Making—Protecting Nanaimo’s autonomy by ensuring decisions are made in the best interest of residents, not driven by outside agendas or unelected influences."

"Good governance requires constant focus, respectful conduct, and continued collaboration among council, staff, taxpayers, and community organizations. The commitment remains to preserve confidence in City Hall through transparent deliberation, capable administration, and consistent follow-through on commitments made."

"Invest in an adequately-staffed municipal public service to maintain reliable and timely access to public services. Collaborate with local transit authorities and Elections BC to develop and implement mobile voting stations in both rural and urban areas. Work with local transit authorities to ensure free public transit during elections. Ensure that appropriate resources are dedicated to enabling…"

"Invest in an adequately-staffed municipal public service to maintain reliable and timely access to public services. Collaborate with local transit authorities and Elections BC to develop and implement mobile voting stations in both rural and urban areas. Work with local transit authorities to ensure free public transit during elections. Ensure that appropriate resources are dedicated to enabling voter participation of people without a fixed address or personal identification who demonstrably live within the municipality. Advocate to extend municipal voter enfranchisement to permanent residents. Explore options for electoral reform to reflect equitable approaches to public election processes, including (but not limited to) establishing parameters for spending on signage to mitigate environmental impact, as well as leveraging municipal power to advocate for proportional representation in both provincial and federal elections. Commit to engaging in equity-oriented, ethical, and evidence-based governance, decision-making, and fiscal management that is human rights-based and strengthens the social determinants of health. Work with the community to identify barriers and improve access to governance processes for greater equity, inclusion, and transparency. Enhance government transparency through improved public communications, including improved use of social media, to provide sufficient public notice of events, nomination processes, and calls for public feedback and participation. Establish a streamlined municipal public concern/complaint process to ensure concerns are heard and sufficiently addressed through the appropriate channels. Promote public education and understanding of municipal governance and participation. Improve tone and culture of public meetings for safety, equity, accessibility, and enhanced public participation, including the immediate removal of hierarchical title use (i.e., “Your Worship”) in municipal proceedings and workplaces."

"Institute an equity policy for event permitting to ensure publicly owned venues and spaces are not used to host anti-2SLGBTQIA+, racist, or otherwise discriminatory events. Expand scope of Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness to incorporate and recognize mental health and substance use disorder(s) as documented disabilities for consideration in committee priorities and…"

"Institute an equity policy for event permitting to ensure publicly owned venues and spaces are not used to host anti-2SLGBTQIA+, racist, or otherwise discriminatory events. Expand scope of Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness to incorporate and recognize mental health and substance use disorder(s) as documented disabilities for consideration in committee priorities and decision-making. Enact processes wherein the municipal government formally recognizes the realities and impacts of geopolitical violence and unrest on the wellbeing of local citizens and advocates for human rights on a global scale. Enact Sanctuary City policies across municipal facilities, programs, and services to ensure that all community members can access City services without being asked about their immigration status."

"Municipal progress depends on active cooperation with neighbouring communities, the Regional District of Nanaimo, and major regional agencies on transportation, trails, education, trade, and health priorities. Council should continue building productive relationships so shared priorities are advanced through coordinated advocacy and investment."

"Strong cooperation with Snuneymuxw First Nation should remain part of Nanaimo's broader regional approach to growth, infrastructure, and shared aspirations. Building and maintaining respectful government-to-government relationships is essential for long-term community success."

"In alignment with UNDRIP, collaborate with local First Nations to preserve and restore Indigenous peoples’ access to traditional food and harvesting rights. Prioritize conscious partnership and intentional consultation processes with Snuneymuxw First Nation in all council decision-making processes. As per the Federal Housing Advocate and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) joint recommendations, “work…"

"In alignment with UNDRIP, collaborate with local First Nations to preserve and restore Indigenous peoples’ access to traditional food and harvesting rights. Prioritize conscious partnership and intentional consultation processes with Snuneymuxw First Nation in all council decision-making processes. As per the Federal Housing Advocate and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) joint recommendations, “work in full partnership with First Nations to identify the priorities, objectives, and resources needed to respond to climate emergencies impacting First Nations Lands, Waters, and Air.” Uphold the (municipal and/or provincial) commitments made to UNDRIP by ensuring that municipally-led reconciliation work is adequately resourced."

"Nanaimo should continue pressing provincial and federal governments to act on addictions, mental health, homelessness, and health infrastructure gaps because these are not challenges municipalities can resolve alone. Persistent, forceful advocacy is needed to secure treatment facilities, appropriate housing supports, and fair health investment for the region."

"Advocate for the provincial government to amend the BC Building Code regarding new builds and retrofits for Right to Cool legislation to be meaningfully implemented. Advocate to the federal government and Health Canada for the immediate implementation of evidence-based drug policies for the purpose of: Reducing death and harm related to a toxic supply of illicit substances; Minimizing…"

"Advocate for the provincial government to amend the BC Building Code regarding new builds and retrofits for Right to Cool legislation to be meaningfully implemented. Advocate to the federal government and Health Canada for the immediate implementation of evidence-based drug policies for the purpose of: Reducing death and harm related to a toxic supply of illicit substances; Minimizing street-level, survival-based criminal activity (including, but not limited to, violence, vandalism, and theft); and, Reducing illicit market demand for substances, thereby minimizing high-level criminal activity. Advocate to the Ministry of Labour for maximum safe working temperature regulations and workplace protections across industries in BC."

"Protect and maintain SOGI 123 curriculum in public schools."

"Simplify (re)zoning permits and business licensing processes, and incentivize the development of $10-a-day childcare spaces; with priority for 24 hour/day, 7 days/week option for healthcare and shift workers. Advocate to the provincial and federal governments for a renewed commitment to affordable, nonprofit $10-a-day spaces. Support local organizations who engage with families and children…"

"Simplify (re)zoning permits and business licensing processes, and incentivize the development of $10-a-day childcare spaces; with priority for 24 hour/day, 7 days/week option for healthcare and shift workers. Advocate to the provincial and federal governments for a renewed commitment to affordable, nonprofit $10-a-day spaces. Support local organizations who engage with families and children impacted by addictions, substance use and the Toxic Drug Crisis, including culturally-safe and trauma-informed grief and bereavement support. Support and invest in local organizations that address Adverse Childhood Experiences through evidence-based programming that enhance protective factors, mitigate risk factors, and minimize long-term impacts including, but not limited to, child and youth recreation, early learning opportunities, literacy, and life-skill development."