Paul Manly is Ladysmith’s new MP.
Fitting, because Ladysmith will always be a place Paul Manly calls home.
The new member of parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith secured his seat Monday with 37.3 percent of the vote in the by-election. He became the second-ever Green Party member of parliament, alongside party leader Elizabeth May.
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Manly credited his success to his longstanding community ties in Nanaimo-Ladysmith. He grew up in Ladysmith as the son of former area MP Jim Manly, and graduated from Ladysmith Secondary School. Despite living in other parts of Canada throughout his life, Manly said that Nanaimo-Ladysmith has always been his home.
“A lot of people in this community know me very well and they know about the work I’ve done in this community for decades. They know I’m dedicated to working with people and that they can count on me. They can trust me, so I just felt that groundswell coming my way.”
When campaigning in Ladysmith — he and May were chasing votes on First Avenue Sunday — Manly said residents expressed concerns about affordable housing, universal pharmacare, improvements to the health care system, better jobs in the community, and climate change.
“We stick to the issues and work across party lines to deliver what’s best for our constituents,” Manly said. “I’m going to work on those issues and do the best I can to serve the people of this community.”
Manly will seek re-election in October’s federal election. Monday’s by-election was called after former NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson resigned in order to run for a seat in the BC legislature in January, which she won.
