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I am a long-time supporter of rail and have used my positions as a Nanaimo City Councillor, Regional District of Nanaimo Director and former Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith to promote the revitalization of rail on Vancouver Island. First Nations must be a key partner in this revitalization effort because the existing E&N rail line travels through their traditional territories and bisects many of their communities.
The E&N rail corridor is already twinned with a trail system in Nanaimo and the corridor should be a key part of the future of rapid transit in Nanaimo. I have supported the implementation of the rail corridor into our official community plan to ensure that zoning decisions, density, transit exchange placement, and land use decisions consider the potential for light rapid transit and freight traffic.
I remember taking the dayliner from Ladysmith to Victoria when I was a child. As the island population grows, I believe the E&N railway should play a major role in the future of transportation of passengers connecting communities again. This is especially important in areas where there are no alternative routes to the existing highways in the south and mid-island (the Malahat, Oyster Bay, Nanoose Bay and Cameron Lake).
Rail is important for moving freight and relieving congestion by lowering truck traffic on our highways. Revitalized rail is also a key part of the future economic growth in our region. As the Port of Nanaimo expands, the case for a rail spur to Duke Point to connect freight to and from communities on the island will become more convincing.
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"Healthy and resilient communities are fundamentally built upon interconnectedness and accessibility. The growth and enhancement of the Island Rail Corridor is an essential investment that inherently brings us closer together as people and communities. For both the transportation of people and resources, the Island Rail Corridor offers our Island communities the opportunity to grow together through greater access to connection, culture, food, services, healthcare, and the natural world while also minimizing our reliability on individual modes of transportations that can have significant impacts on our environment. Investing in the Island Rail Corridor now means investing in our future through greater access to this beautiful Island and a more resilient economy for generations to come."
"I believe rail is a very important for commercial and personal use. One only has to look at places where a robust rail service is in place to see the advantages. People can work if they choose while commuting to work and on the way home they can relax instead of driving in congested roads. Rail has been used for years to move goods effectively across the country and it could do the same here. It is an efficient alternative to vehicular traffic and can carry many people in a timely manner.
In summary rail is efficient, it can be cost effective if done correctly, eco friendly, and is much more reliable and safer than highway driving. It also gives people another option instead of driving or flying and they can see some beautiful scenery."
"I believe good transportation planning is about giving people real choices while making wise long-term investments. As a candidate for Nanaimo City Council, I support protecting assets that can strengthen our economy, improve accessibility, and help build a more connected and resilient Vancouver Island. My focus is on practical solutions, collaboration with regional partners, and ensuring today's decisions leave tomorrow's opportunities intact."
"I support bringing rail service back to Vancouver Island because it helps people get to work, see family, access healthcare, and stay connected to their communities.
As a nurse, I see how important reliable transportation is, especially for people who don’t drive and need to get to healthcare appointments or visit loved ones in the hospital. Bringing rail back would give people another safe and accessible way to travel while taking pressure off our busy roads. We need to look ahead and make sure rail, transit, trails, and roads all work together as our communities grow. Restoring the Island Rail Corridor would give people another way to travel while experiencing the beauty of Vancouver Island."
"Regarding restoration of rail service to Vancouver Island, I can confidently answer YES to the six questions in your questionnaire. During my past 12 years as a Nanaimo City Councillor, I have consistently and repeatedly spoken in favour of restoring rail service. The Island Corridor is a huge opportunity to advance transportation on the Island, and rail should be the top priority. Integration with transit and trail could hopefully be achieved, but rail is what is needed for improved movement of both people and goods. It is a crucial component of our supply chain. As our region's population has grown, our highways have become more and more congested with vehicles. Rail service would provide a fast and convenient alternative, as it does in many parts of Europe. I have been frankly disappointed with the lack of support for restoration of rail on the Island from the federal government. And even more disappointed by the lack of leadership or interest from the provincial government. The Island Corridor is an amazing transportation opportunity, and I hope that the possibility of restoring rail service will not be lost."
As a City council candidate for Nanaimo, I heavily endorse an island railway for a number of reasons. As a young boy, I remember taking the train from Victoria to see my grandmother in Qualicum Beach and she lived near the train tracks and it was so convenient for my family and saved us always having to drive but also gave me an exciting adventure.
As a visually impaired person who doesn’t drive, the train would allow travel on the island to be a lot easier and would take cars off the road which would alleviate accidents, especially on the Malahat.
This project has been well thought out and can be implemented overtime and even include the airport.
This is something that should be our priority for all city council on the island!
The Island Rail Corridor is a valuable community asset with the potential to improve transportation, strengthen connections between communities, and support long-term economic prosperity. Realizing that potential will require collaboration among First Nations, local governments, and other stakeholders to address historical injustices and plan for the corridor's highest and best use for future generations.
"I believe rail transit is a key aspect of future sustainable transportation and transit on Vancouver Island. I brought a motion to Nanaimo City Council on October 6, 2025 to support establishing clear transit connections to the Island Corridor, to ensure we're planning for a future that includes rail service as a central aspect of our transportation and transit network. My motion passed unanimously, and the large number of supportive emails and comments I received from the public clearly demonstrated widespread support for restoring rail service on Vancouver Island."
"The Island Rail Corridor represents something much bigger than rails and trains. It’s strategic public access with good financial sense that represents protection of our future needs. The corridor helps provide for future economic resiliency, industrial and port flexibility, job opportunities, affordable housing, connected communities, emergency preparedness and choice in transportation needs. I stand for protecting public infrastructure, working collaboratively with Indigenous and other governments, and making evidence-based decisions that leave our community stronger, more connected, more flexible and better prepared for the future. Working with other regions to strategically protect rail assets and taking a flexible approach to what services and revenues emerge can improve things for people in Nanaimo."
"I support the restoration of the E&N rail corridor for both passenger and freight service, in cooperation with the Island Corridor Foundation and taking inspiration from the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative signed in December 2025. Vancouver Island has one major remaining railway corridor, and roughly eighty percent of the Island's population lives within a few kilometres of the line. Restoration reduces transportation emissions, reduces highway congestion, addresses the accident record on the Malahat highway, and has the potential for measurable economic and tourism benefits."
"Moving more people in fewer vehicles to desired destinations alleviates the pressure to blast and build ever increasing road infrastructure by using existing corridors of connectivity. Fewer vehicles lowers the risk associated with navigating congested mixes of weary travellers, time constrained commuters and semitrailers. The investment in returning rail travel to our communities is worth it and requires community alignment to lobby senior government for policy, planning, and financial support. Yes, it is a priority."
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"Affordable rail transportation connecting Vancouver Island communities would provide strong economic benefits, while also offering a safe and efficient method for those without vehicles to access specialized medical services. Regional transportation can play a critical part in providing access to the limited medical resources available on Vancouver Island, especially for youth and seniors in remote communities. I look forward to working with all levels of government, including First Nations partners, to explore and prioritize reliable transportation. I believe municipalities can provide safe, well-maintained roads for personal vehicles, while also working in partnership to offer expanded public transportation options for those who rely on these services."
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Download the Questionnaire and send the response to info@restoreislandrail.com
"The Vancouver Island Rail Corridor is a public asset that predates most of the communities it runs through, and it will still be here long after any of us in current office. Removing it would trigger remediation costs of hundreds of millions of dollars that would land on Island taxpayers, and would foreclose transportation options for generations of Vancouver Islanders who deserve better than a car-only future.
I fully support Island Corridor Foundation CEO Thomas Bevan and the approach he is taking: rather than a single monolithic vision imposed from above, working community by community to identify which functions of the corridor best serve each Island municipality — passenger service in some corridors, freight in others, tourism operations, active-transportation integration through trails, or combinations thereof. Parksville's needs are not Cowichan Valley's needs, and they are not the North Island's needs. A phased, community-informed approach is how this asset gets preserved and eventually restored to full function without pretending every community wants the same thing on the same timeline.
Rail, bus, and trail networks working together move more people using less space and energy than a car-dominated system ever could. As mayor of Parksville, I would bring the same posture I bring as chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo's Oceanside Services Committee: regional coordination, land-use integration through the Official Community Plan review, and honest attention to how our part of the corridor fits Island-wide transportation planning."
Would you like to be listed?
Download the Questionnaire and send the response to info@restoreislandrail.com
NOTE: Candidates are listed based on their position on the Island Rail Corridor only, it does not represent an endorsement of their full platform.
Platform links are provided so you can determine if their broader values align with yours.
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