Explore by issue
Housing
Housing supply, affordability of homes and rent, and homelessness.
- Ken Bennett
“Homelessness and Mental illness needs to be addressed by all levels of government, but community involvement is crucial in its success. Sadly put, many are only a couple of paychecks away from living on the streets. We need to address the high cost of housing. Tent cities and fenced in trailer compounds are simply put, just bandages.”
Ken Bennett (Facebook post by the candidate): Running for City Councillor: introduction, September 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Marnie Boers
“Marnie is passionate about expanding shelter options and affordable housing so that every person in our community has a safe place to call home. She feels that we need more shelters, day spaces and places where people can connect meaningfully with resources and support. Nanaimo's current challenges don’t exist in isolation and when people have nowhere to go and no way to access the help they need, it impacts the entire community.”
Marnie Boers campaign website: Priorities (opens in a new tab)
- Jackie Bolen
“Housing is a basic human right. I want to expand the Heart and Hearth programs to offer more shelter beds (and longer-term options).”
Jackie Bolen campaign website: Priorities (opens in a new tab)
- Brunie Brunie
“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.”
Brunie Brunie campaign website: Brunie Brunie for Mayor (opens in a new tab)“A campsite with warm facilities, a cook tent with hydro, army tents provided by the federal government, waste management.”
Brunie Brunie campaign website: Brunie Brunie for Mayor (opens in a new tab)
- Mark Chandler
“How can the people who make Nanaimo work afford to live in Nanaimo?”
Mark Chandler campaign website: Mark Chandler, Candidate for Nanaimo City Council (opens in a new tab)“A response that is compassionate, effective and responsible—and one we can be proud of.”
Mark Chandler campaign website: Mark Chandler, Candidate for Nanaimo City Council (opens in a new tab)
- Paul Chapman
“We need to balance Nanaimo's contribution of waived and reduced fees with effective tenant protection in the case of rental displacement and effective rental supports to ensure access of truly affordable housing, with oversight by City staff. The costs of development should not be borne by vulnerable individuals and families displaced and unhoused by development. Effective tenancy protection and rental support keeps people housed.”
Paul Chapman campaign website: Platform — Paul Chapman for City Council (opens in a new tab)
- Andréa Coutu
“Plan missing middle, ground-oriented & family housing”
Andréa Coutu campaign website: Priorities (opens in a new tab)
- Ryan Djakovic
“Nanaimo is facing a complex humanitarian challenge that demands coordinated, evidence‑based action. I support a balanced approach that helps vulnerable residents while ensuring our public spaces remain safe and accessible for everyone.”
Ryan Djakovic campaign website: Platform & Priorities — Ryan Djakovic (opens in a new tab)
- Hilary Eastmure
“Support housing & affordability initiatives for renters and owners”
Hilary Eastmure campaign website: Hilary for Council (opens in a new tab)
- Joe Figel
“Housing & Economic Growth That Reflect Community Needs —Supporting attainable housing and functional commercial development for working families, blue-collar workers, and local employers, while reducing unnecessary barriers that delay projects and increase costs”
REAL Nanaimo: Joe Figel — Candidate for Nanaimo City Council (opens in a new tab)
- Meg Fyfe Watkins
“I want to ensure that we have a proper vision for Nanaimo as we grow from a small city into a larger one, as we’ve now crossed the 100,000 population mark in the city. This means working to ensure that we are providing pathways to affordable and attainable housing for those who need it, which includes diverse-housing and mixed income developments, and increasing density mindfully in areas where it makes sense.”
Meg Fyfe Watkins campaign website: My Priorities — Meg Fyfe Watkins (opens in a new tab)
- Ben Geselbracht
“Building non-market and workforce housing at scale”
Ben Geselbracht campaign website: Platform (opens in a new tab)
- Patrick Gunville
- Richard Harlow
“City land used for homes people can afford, and for growing food.”
Richard Harlow campaign website: Richard Harlow for Nanaimo City Council (opens in a new tab)
- Erin Hemmens
“It means housing people can afford, neighbourhoods where people feel safe, recreation and public spaces that bring us together, and streets that work for people of different ages and abilities. It means responding to homelessness, addiction and mental health with compassion and an honest understanding of their impacts.”
Erin Hemmens campaign website: What's Next (opens in a new tab)
- Steven Johns
“Eliminate red tape and work on building homes for all people in Nanaimo. Make business and residential permits faster and more accessible.”
Steven Johns campaign website: Steven Johns — Platform & Priorities (opens in a new tab)
- Leonard Krog
“He has called tirelessly for compassionate but compulsory care for people in need. He has insisted (successfully) on the provision by the Government of BC of more and "dry" housing for those in need of care.”
Leonard Krog campaign website: Re-Elect Leonard Krog 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Cameron Leckenby
“Cameron will get affordable homes built faster by supporting transparent and reliable permitting delivered by skilled staff. He will reduce delays while maintaining strong building standards.”
Cameron Leckenby campaign website: Election Platform (opens in a new tab)
- Sarah Lovegrove
“Enshrine a local Housing First model, in accordance with the established Declaration of Housing as a Human Right.”
Sarah Lovegrove campaign website: Campaign Priorities (opens in a new tab)
- Max MacKay
“As Nanaimo continues to grow, our roads, water systems, transit, and public services must keep pace. I will cut bureaucratic red tape and fast-track municipal permit approvals to get affordable, diverse housing built faster across the city. By enforcing an infrastructure-first approach to development, I will ensure Nanaimo expands responsibly while protecting the unique character of our established neighborhoods.”
Max MacKay campaign website: Max MacKay for Nanaimo City Councillor (opens in a new tab)
- Paul Manly
“Work with the non-profit sector, the coop sector and the private sector on alternative models for affordable housing development and explore the creation of a development corporation for community ownership of affordable housing.”
Paul Manly campaign website: My Priorities (opens in a new tab)
- Bill McKay
“Support low-cost, income-tested affordable housing options for seniors and veterans.”
Bill McKay campaign website: Bill's Priorities (opens in a new tab)“Work with provincial and federal governments to develop practical, creative responses to homelessness.”
Bill McKay campaign website: Bill's Priorities (opens in a new tab)
- Andrew Merilees
“I will work towards INCREASING THE SUPPLY of housing by: Streamlining approvals and updating policies to prioritize the construction of permanent supportive housing, emergency shelters and affordable multi-family units. Incentivizing Affordable Housing through a reduction in development fees and fast-tracking permits for non-profit and public housing projects.”
VoteMate (profile submitted by the candidate or their team): Andrew Merilees (opens in a new tab)
- Matthew Miller
“We need a Council that is committed to building affordable housing on city-owned land, in areas that have already been designated for high density. This will allow residents to access the amenities, public transportation, and employment opportunities that they rely on. That access is the standard of living we aspire to provide to everyone who calls Nanaimo home.”
Matthew Miller campaign website: My Positions — Matthew Miller (opens in a new tab)“Responsible development with reduced permitting delays will require an investment in the city staff who ultimately perform the administrative work to move housing projects forward.”
Matthew Miller campaign website: My Positions — Matthew Miller (opens in a new tab)
- Zaki Mohammed
“Cut development permit times toward the city's own 12-week target (currently 20–30+ weeks)”
Zaki Mohammed campaign website: Zaki Mohammed for Nanaimo City Council (opens in a new tab)“Push the city's below-market housing tools, zoning incentives and community-led non-market pilots”
Zaki Mohammed campaign website: Zaki Mohammed for Nanaimo City Council (opens in a new tab)
- Janice Perrino
“Bring more housing options and more affordable housing projects.”
Janice Perrino campaign website: Janice's Priorities for Nanaimo (opens in a new tab)
- Ian Thorpe
“Much has been accomplished, however, there are still many issues facing our city, such as the need for affordable housing, safety and security of our citizens, the effects of a mental health/addiction crisis, and potential development of the waterfront area.”
Ian Thorpe campaign website: Vision & Views (opens in a new tab)
- Angela Hope Waldick
“I'm running for Nanaimo City Council because I want practical solutions, thoughtful planning, and transparent decision making. My priorities include housing, affordability, food security, accessibility, public safety, infrastructure, supporting local businesses, environmental stewardship, and making sure residents have a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape our city.”
VoteMate (profile submitted by the candidate or their team): Angela Hope Waldick (opens in a new tab)
16 candidates haven’t mentioned this in a platform we’ve found
Jeff Annesley, Sheryl Armstrong, Sandy Bartlett, Malcolm Cooke, Shane Crawley, Anne Marie Dryden, Bryan Gordon, Anita Greer, Derek Hanna, Bryant Marshall, Rod Moreno, Rob Phelan, Frank Pluta, Austin Seng, Holden Southward, Paul Van Ryssel
Not mentioning an issue doesn’t mean a candidate opposes it or doesn’t care about it.