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And for Nanaimo folks, we've got you covered! We put a set of community-sourced questions to all the municipal candidates, covering a range of issues that are important to us: harm reduction, voluntary treatment for substance use disorders, and bylaw enforcement. #bcpoli #Nanaimo #harmreduction

We graded the candidates based on their responses and did not take into account any other factors related to their candidacy. For a full transcript of the questions we asked and the candidates’ answers, see: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

JACKIE BOLEN — |A| Supports a Housing First, non-enforcement approach to homelessness and the toxic drug crisis. Our take: Recognizes that the City can remove municipal barriers to life-saving harm reduction services.

STEVEN JOHNS — |F| Emphasizes CSOs, prohibition, and abstinence-based approaches to the toxic drug crisis. Our take: Steven is asking prohibition and abstinence to do a lot of heavy lifting when our governments have already been failing miserably with that approach for hundreds of years.

SHANE CRAWLEY — |C| Focuses on providing campsites for people experiencing homelessness. Our take: Recognizing the need for shelter is a start—but we need leaders who will at least dream as big as four walls and a roof for their voters.

PAUL CHAPMAN — |A| Supports harm reduction, supportive housing, and community-based approaches. He is a YIMBY and lives alongside these services himself. Our take: “Out of sight, out of mind is not sound policy.” We agree, Paul.

ROD MORENO — |B| Brings a social work perspective, emphasizes measurable outcomes, and appears open to learning from experts. Our take: We love data and expert-driven decision making. Rod also supports making affordable housing more accessible. @robmoreno.bsky.social

PAUL VAN RYSSEL — |C| Provides broad responses with few clear or actionable municipal commitments. Our take: It was challenging to determine how much he understands or cares about these issues based on his responses.

MEG FYFE WATKINS — |A| Supports upstream supports and a Housing First approach, while setting a measurable goal of reducing homelessness across Nanaimo.

Watkins: Our take: Displays a strong understanding that increased police budgets are not contributing to safer communities, decreased rates of public drug use or homelessness.

JANICE PERRINO — |F| Uses stigmatizing language (refers to voters as “addicts” and “drug addicted”) and carries a heavy tone of pro-carceral approaches to homelessness and deaths from drug poisonings.

Perrino: Our take: Her support of forced displacement without safe alternatives raises serious human-rights concerns.

SARAH LOVEGROVE — |A| (Mayoral Candidate) Proposes a human-rights-based, evidence-informed approach focused on dignity, upstream solutions, and measurable outcomes.

Lovegrove: Our take: “If enforcement was an effective means to address these issues, we would be seeing positive change …” We agree, Sarah. It’s time for change!

RYAN DJAKOVIC – |C| Places strong emphasis on therapeutic communities as a response to homelessness and the toxic drug crisis.

MARNIE BOERS — |A| Brings frontline experience and supports Housing First, harm reduction, and stronger municipal partnerships.

Boers: Our take: Marnie has a clear, passionate understanding of the issues at hand. She displays a clear plan and realistic, actionable goals for her time in council. A slam dunk for us.

RICHARD HARLOW — |A| Proposes clear, rational municipal responses to this crisis that center dignity, accessibility, and listening to experts and people with lived experience. @richardharlow.bsky.social