Meet your candidates: North Island-Powell River riding

With the next federal election on April 28, North Island–Powell River riding can decide between six candidates to represent their region. 

From cost of living to climate change, healthcare to housing, there’s no shortage of significant issues on people’s minds — and the candidates hoping to represent you in Ottawa all have something to say about them.

To help you get to know who's running — and where they stand — we reached out to each of the confirmed candidates in the riding with a set of five questions covering some of the most pressing topics facing our communities. From Comox, east Courtenay to Campbell River, Port Hardy to Powell River, this region is as diverse as it is vast, and your next MP will be tasked with carrying all those voices to Parliament Hill.

In the Q&A that follows, you’ll hear directly from each candidate, in their own words. We asked about their priorities, their views on national and local issues, and why they believe they’re the right choice to represent this riding.

Whether you're still undecided or just looking to learn more, we hope this gives you a clearer picture of the people asking for your vote.

The following answers have been edited solely for length, grammar/style and spelling.

• • •

Jessica Wegg - Green Party 

1. With rising housing costs and a lack of affordable housing options, what specific federal policies would you advocate for to address the housing crisis in the North Island-Powell River communities?

First, housing is a human right. We need to stop allowing corporations to treat housing like a stock or other commodity, artificially inflating the prices and benefiting only those wealthy enough to invest in real estate. Second, we need to increase available homes on a scale that only the federal government can do. We propose a federal investment in affordable housing unlike anything we’ve seen since the 1970s. Our national housing projects would use Canadian materials and provide thousands of good-paying jobs across the country. And using covenants, we would ensure that the affordable housing stays affordable, indexed to what the individuals and families living there earn, not market rates – individuals and families should not be paying more than 30 per cent of their income on rent or their mortgage.

2. Access to healthcare remains a significant concern in the North Island, particularly with doctor shortages and limited mental health services. How will you ensure that residents receive adequate healthcare and support?

Our universal healthcare system is integral to what makes Canada such a great country, but it needs to be stronger. Millions of Canadians don’t have a family doctor, people struggle to pay for medications, and mental health care is difficult to access, particularly for those who need it the most. Meanwhile, for-profit corporations are taking over more health services. We can and must do better. Years of under-funding have gotten us here, but the Green Party has a plan to help – we will invest in public health care instead of allowing private corporations to put profits over people. We will provide stable, long-term funding to provinces and territories. We will train and hire more health care workers to improve access and cut wait times. We will expand home and community care. And we’ll expand what our healthcare system covers, making medications free through universal pharmacare and expanding dental coverage. Mental health care will also be covered, and must be available everywhere, including our communities, schools, and prisons.

3. Many North Island communities rely on resource-based industries like forestry, fishing, and tourism. What is your plan to support economic diversification and long-term job stability in the region?

I’d like to begin by dispelling any notions that the Green Party is against resource-based industries. We’re not. I’m not. These industries are an indispensable part of the economy in this riding, and we want to ensure that they can continue to be so for generations to come. This means that our resource extraction and use have to be science-based and sustainable. All of these industries impact each other. For example, clear-cutting a watershed destroys salmon habitat, which also harms the bears who eat salmon, and our fishing and tourism industries take a hit. Cutting old-growth destroys centuries of healthy, biodiverse ecosystems. And farming Atlantic salmon in the Pacific Ocean destroys wild salmon stocks and harms every animal up the food chain, including the whales that bring so many tourists to our Island. We want to expand and diversify what these industries encapsulate – there is no reason to be shipping raw logs away for processing, only for us to buy them back at a higher price. We need to add value to our resources before exporting them, creating more jobs for people in these industries and planning for the future.

4. The ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ government announced a ban on open-net pen salmon farms on the North Island set for 2029. With a renewed focus on the economy due to U.S. tariffs and the significant role of aquaculture in the economic makeup of many Indigenous communities, what measures will you advocate for to safeguard the economy from the adverse impacts of this policy? What are your plans for a "just transition" for Indigenous communities that will be devastated by the ban?

What we know about the open-net salmon farms is that they devastate wild salmon stocks with disease and predation. Where the farms have already closed, wild salmon are flourishing, providing plentiful and healthy nourishment for anyone who wants to fish for it, as well as for the bears, birds, sea lions, and whales that support our ecotourism industries. And we know that a healthy wild salmon population feeds our forests, as their bodies decompose and fertilize the earth. To say nothing of the vital importance of wild salmon to First Nations diets and cultures up and down the coast.

We also know that the fish farms that remain are so automated that they are not providing that many jobs to the North Island, although there are certainly a few executives who are making themselves very wealthy off this destructive industry. If the concern is about jobs, there are more to be had in the sport, tourism, and other wild fishing industries than there are in the salmon farms. Of course, any training that is needed to transition to these other industries – or other aquaculture industries, such as kelp farming or land-based fish farms, which would be immensely beneficial to our environment and our economy – would be paid.

5. What will you and your party do to address community concerns around policing in rural and remote areas of the North Island–Powell River riding, particularly regarding response times, accountability, and culturally appropriate services for Indigenous communities?

This is a great question, because while there is certainly a need to increase enforcement capabilities around this riding, there is also diminished trust and faith in our police. We need to consider both of these aspects as we move toward answering these concerns. We need to bring all involved parties to the table – municipal and First Nations leaders, RCMP officials, and provincial and federal representatives – to agree on the best way forward and to create plans for enforcement and safety. The solution to this cannot be legislated in a vacuum in Ottawa. It will require more training (including culturally appropriate training), a willingness to cooperate and share responsibilities, and obviously, financial support and investment.

• • •

Jennifer Lash - Liberal Party 

1. With rising housing costs and a lack of affordable housing options, what specific federal policies would you advocate for to address the housing crisis in the North Island-Powell River communities?

Our new Liberal government will get back into the business of building homes. We've done this before. After the Second World War, the federal government led the construction of homes across Canada, which are still in use today. The commitment to housing was vital then, and it will be just as vital now as we work to address the current housing crisis and ensure more Canadians have a place to call home.

Many of these new homes will be 'starter homes,' providing an opportunity for young people to get a foot in the door of the real estate market. More homes, built faster and at affordable prices, are exactly what Canada needs. The federal plan includes cutting red tape for builders, supporting municipalities, and energizing a building industry that will not only build homes but also create jobs. This building boom will rely on Canadian products, including lumber from trees harvested right in this riding, providing more markets for B.C. lumber and reducing dependence on the U.S.

2. Access to healthcare remains a significant concern in the North Island, particularly with doctor shortages and limited mental health services. How will you ensure that residents receive adequate healthcare and support?

Every Canadian deserves access to high-quality, timely local healthcare, regardless of where they live. The current wait times and access to local healthcare on the North Island are unacceptable. Under Mark Carney, the Liberals will continue investing in public healthcare – improving access to family doctors, expanding mental health services, and reducing surgery backlogs. I will advocate for policies and programs that bring more doctors, nurses, and other health care providers to the North Island-Powell River communities so we can get the help we need when we need it. We’ll also ensure better long-term care for seniors by raising standards and increasing federal health transfers to provinces like B.C.

And we will design other programs so there are healthcare co-benefits. For example, Mark Carney's plan to build more houses across the country will not only help address the housing crisis but also make it easier for municipalities to attract doctors and healthcare professionals to live in more remote communities.

3. Many North Island communities rely on resource-based industries like forestry, fishing, and tourism. What is your plan to support economic diversification and long-term job stability in the region?

While forest management is, for the most part, a provincial issue, I can advocate for market diversification to reduce our dependence on the U.S. and get us out of the ongoing softwood lumber trade battle. Mark Carney has committed to using Canadian softwood lumber to build hundreds of thousands of homes as part of the housing strategy. I would also like to explore value-added industries so that as much profit as possible from each tree remains in this riding.

I will ensure fisheries are represented in discussions around compensation and market diversification. I will advocate for fishermen to be included in all discussions around oceans and fisheries management, including annual management plans and area closures, including marine protected areas. Fishermen are part of the solution, not the problem.

Finally, we need to do more to support the entrepreneurial spirit in our communities and support our growing tourism sector. There are Indigenous led businesses, destination tourism outfitters and lodges, home-based businesses, tradesmen, and artisans creating small businesses that provide employment and build our economy. I want to advocate for programs that provide the funding for people to get their vision and small business off the ground.

4. The ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ government announced a ban on open-net pen salmon farms on the North Island set for 2029. With a renewed focus on the economy due to U.S. tariffs and the significant role of aquaculture in the economic makeup of many Indigenous communities, what measures will you advocate for to safeguard the economy from the adverse impacts of this policy? What are your plans for a "just transition" for Indigenous communities that will be devastated by the ban?
 
There are two issues facing open-net cage salmon farming â€“ the threat of tariffs and the transition to closed containment systems. Ninety per cent of the salmon farmed in B.C. is exported and we need to ensure that if the U.S. applies a tariff, the industry stays whole.

Mark Carney has committed that all tariff proceeds will go to workers affected by the tariffs and I will make sure the salmon farming industry gets the support they need. Given the U.S. is a major export market for aquaculture, I will prioritize supporting the industry through the trade war and expanding access to alternative markets. The previous Liberal government made the right decision to transition our salmon farms towards closed containment, but they did not provide financial support or regulatory clarity to facilitate the evolution of the industry to closed containment.

If elected, I will advocate for immediate federal action that provides the support and resources that impacted communities need, including a clear regulatory pathway and investments for a thriving closed containment aquaculture industry. There are viable closed containment technologies ready to be deployed. The government needs to work hand-in-hand with partners and industry to make the transition to closed containment a success.

5. What will you and your party do to address community concerns around policing in rural and remote areas of the North Island–Powell River riding, particularly regarding response times, accountability, and culturally appropriate services for Indigenous communities?

Recently, the Liberal government worked closely with Premier Eby to amend the justice system to strengthen our bail system and ensure that repeat violent offenders and those involved in serious crimes face stricter conditions before being released.

We know there is still room for further improvement, and we remain committed to working with provinces, law enforcement, and communities to ensure our justice system is both fair and effective in keeping Canadians safe.

If elected, I would explore further amendments to modernize the Criminal Code, with a focus on preventing repeat offenders and ensuring our justice system works to protect communities while upholding the values of fairness and accountability. We must approach public safety with compassion, recognizing that many who come into contact with the justice system are also struggling with trauma, addiction, and mental health challenges.

That’s why I will advocate for increased federal funding for effective rehabilitation programs, especially those that go beyond safe supply and offer real pathways to recovery and reintegration. With RCMP vacancy rates in British Columbia reaching 20 per cent, I will push for strong federal support to help retain and recruit officers, ensuring that communities have the front-line resources and response times they need.

• • •
Paul Macknight - People's Party of Canada

Editor's note: Mcknight provided links to the People's Party platform in response to our questions. The platform is available on the party website.

"Here are my responses to the responsibilities of the federal government, in order of importance:" 

• • •

Tanille Johnston - New Democratic Party 

1. With rising housing costs and a lack of affordable housing options, what specific federal policies would you advocate for to address the housing crisis in the North Island-Powell River communities?

A big part of the housing challenges in our area specifically end up landing in the cost to build. Our riding is very interesting in the fact that we have a number of urban centres - Comox, Courtenay, Campbell River - but then we also have lots of rural and remote communities where the housing costs to build are astronomical.

When we are looking at either a federal housing strategy or a BC Builds program we need to keep those rural and remote communities in mind because its one thing to have a great strategy even if its national., its another thing to have a strategy that leans into an equity format where you are are still going to be able to get the benefit of that program or policy in a rural and remote community.

We have lots of communities where you have to barge lumber in and then crane it from that barge into the community and then build whatever it is your going to build and then have the workforce to do that build on the other side of it. We haven't really seen policy come forward that meets that need specifically, but that's going to be a big piece.

For me, advocating for these programs, policies and initiatives is really going to hit it home for remote and rural communities. 

2. Access to healthcare remains a significant concern in the North Island, particularly with doctor shortages and limited mental health services. How will you ensure that residents receive adequate healthcare and support?

A big one that just got announced the other day that I was excited to hear Jagmeet (Singh) launch is looking at a national credentialing strategy. We have a ton of doctors, nurse practitioners across Canada that we haven't enabled to work just across provinces. Every province has its own approach to credentialing their positions, or their nurse practitioners, and it has really acted as a barrier to people just wanting to be able to practice and live where they want to live and where they want to practice. So that one's very exciting. 

The other piece of that would be enabling physicians, nurse practitioners who are coming from other countries and aligning those credentials in a better way with the type of practice we need happening in Canada. Not cutting the transitions process altogether, but having a process that really honours the education and experience these practitioners are coming with and enabling them faster and in a better way. So teaching them about what care looks like in Canada, the things they need to know when they are going to be practicing and wherever they are going to be practicing, but getting them to work ASAP.  We're not doing that quick enough and that's across the spectrum of healthcare providers, that's not just your doctors or your nurse practitioners, that's midwives, nurses, mental health clinicians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists. We need to do better at using the people coming to our country with awesome credentials and great experience. 

 3. Many North Island communities rely on resource-based industries like forestry, fishing, and tourism. What is your plan to support economic diversification and long-term job stability in the region?

Huge question and not an easy fix. 

I'm really excited about some of the new science and new initiatives that are coming forward, like all the investment in kelp research.  

We were lucky, and North Island College got a nice little investment in kelp research to learn more about seaweed and all the beautiful things seaweed can do. I have been watching this industry kind of develop and it's just starting in the North Island riding. You can use seaweed for a million different things, and where I'm keen to see that industry grow is not only in the production of seaweed, right now they are doing the land production, which is also great, but manufacturing that seaweed. 

It's used across the spectrum, in clothing, in reusable bags, in makeup. There's a huge kelp industry that we're not tackling right now, and it's just coming up for us, and I'd really love it if we could leverage that. It's going to create a ton of new jobs and check a lot of boxes across the needs spectrum, not only with job creation but also climate mitigation. 

So, being able to grow kelp and then use it for replanting in areas where we totally destroy kelp beds, like in Comox. It cools the water, makes habitats for little creatures, just tons of great things can happen with kelp and I'd love to see us harnessing that in the riding. 

4. The ̨ÍåMMÂãÁÄÊÒ government announced a ban on open-net pen salmon farms on the North Island set for 2029. With a renewed focus on the economy due to U.S. tariffs and the significant role of aquaculture in the economic makeup of many Indigenous communities, what measures will you advocate for to safeguard the economy from the adverse impacts of this policy? What are your plans for a "just transition" for Indigenous communities that will be devastated by the ban?

I think it's definitely a hot topic, one that is very layered and complex, especially in our riding.

We have got on-the-land fish farms in our communities. There's one in Gold River, there's one in Fort Rupert. We have a number of open net pens that are highly invested in with a number of different nations in our riding. What I've been hearing, at least from a national perspective whats being asked for is that nations are being supported to do their own science. 

There's a lot of science out there that confirms different types of sea lice that infiltrate our salmon stocks from the fish farms being in the water with open pens and then there is research that trying to combat that and saying that it's not so bad and it's not causing the harm that it's causing. Nations in the North Island were able to do their research and so their testing, and that was upholding nation sovereignty, doing that work and allowing the nations to do that work, and I think that is what several other communities are asking to be able to do. I think we have to do that. I don't think we can be able to to make decisions on top of nations without allowing them to do that good work themselves, and trust that process; that's a way to build government-to-government relationships as well, but then with the transition, there hasn't been a lot of planning from what I've seen in our riding.

I know that especially North Island College is great at workforce support when you need to transition in the workforce, whatever that is, whether you are going from food service and your going to go into aquaculture, or building, the college is good at helping you along that learning spectrum and bridging you into other job opportunities. We have that, but we need to elevate that into a place where it's going to help people transition to whatever job they are leaving or being forced to leave into a new job that is thriving in the region.

I love that you previously brought up tourism. Tourism is a huge industry in our riding and one that definitely needs a workforce and a lot of folks, especially if their experience is in aquaculture, would be an asset for that industry. I think there are lot of opportunities but we need to sit down and hash out, especially if the Liberal government is going to be in play and if they continue down the road of transition, we need to know what that looks like and we need to listen to industry about what their needs are in that transition and to make sure we are supporting anyone that has to look to find a new career if it comes to that. 

5. What will you and your party do to address community concerns around policing in rural and remote areas of the North Island–Powell River riding, particularly regarding response times, accountability, and culturally appropriate services for Indigenous communities?

We do have a federal program through the RCMP that aligns officers with nations for community policing. There's definitely some benefits of that, we've seen some benefits of that in B.C., but it really comes down to the person and the relationship. For that specific program to do better, we need more of a relational process of selecting those people for and which nations they are going to work for and with, because that's what really makes them successful.

In some circumstances, we really need to invest in preventive measures. Tahsis is a great example. So Tahsis doesn't have its own RCMP officer. They don't have their own police officer. When they did, it was great because that person had a relationship with the community, they were able to mitigate challenges before they came up. The presence alone was enough to really help the community with their safety and they've seen since that person has been transitioned out into Gold River, it's not working. Now they need to call police and when they are calling, the response time is a minimum of an hour and a half - it's going to take them a while to get there and that doesn't help anyone. That doesn't help the person who may be in a traumatic circumstance. That doesn't help the community build a community of safety by any means. 

Where we are having the success of the preventive measure that Tahsis was having, we need to not pull that out. We need to stay steady in that preventive measure. I hope we can find successes like that and not derail them from shifting that capacity. 

• • •

Aaron Gunn - Conservative Party of Canada

Editor's note: Aaron Gunn was contacted numerous times by the Gazette but did not provide answers before press deadline.

• • •

Glen Staples - Independent

Editor's note: Glen Staples was contacted by the Mirror but did not provide answers before press deadline.