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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.

Djakovic: Our take: We see value in this treatment model and would be excited to see more of this come to Nanaimo, but a complex crisis needs more than one solution. Ryan doesn’t need a council seat to bring this single idea to fruition.

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

Harlow: Our take: We especially liked the proposal for civilian-led crisis response teams, which have been successful in other communities to reduce police involvement in non-policing matters.

PAUL MANLY — |B| Supports building a network of community hubs and wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness across Nanaimo, not just downtown. @paulmanley.bsky.social

Manly: Our take: Strong on meeting basic needs; we disagree with his view that police should play a central role in responding to this population.

LEONARD KROG — |F| Did not respond to our survey, but his office did accidentally “reply all” on an internal response: “Is there any end to the number of interest groups with non-municipal issues who try to threaten candidates if they don’t answer their stupid questionnaires?” @nanaimo.ca

Krog: Our take: This “F” is a surprise to no one. Apparently shelter, community safety, and social supports aren't municipal issues? We don’t love that this is how Krog’s office responds to health care professionals asking for transparency.

HILARY EASTMURE — |A| Supports year round Hub services with wraparound supports and is “firmly in support of all harm reduction initiatives.” @hilaryeastmure.bsky.social

ANDREA COUTU — |A| Supports a four pillar approach to the toxic drug crisis, including a “comprehensive continuum” of supports such as harm reduction and safer regulated supply, evidence-based treatment, and aftercare. @andreacoutu.bsky.social