In the stretch drive of the 2025 Canadian election campaign, Nanaimo-Ladysmith's Liberal candidate enlisted the aid of the recent minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship to campaign this weekend.
Michelle Corfield was knocking on doors in her riding on Saturday, April 26, with Marc Miller, Ville-Marie–Le Sud-Ouest–Ile-des-Soeurs candidate, lending a hand. Miller said it was important for those who can "chip in" in other ridings to do so.
"You can never take your own riding for granted, that's just the basics of doing politics," he said. "We've got an amazing team. Now that we know what the numbers are trending like after [early voting on Easter weekend], we're confident, but we want to also help out our fellow neighbours."
He said he hopes the Liberal Party of Canada's fortunes change in Nanaimo-Ladysmith.
"Vancouver Island hasn't turned too many Liberals into parliamentarians in the last little while," said Miller. "We have a shot here and I think it's the most effective use of my resources … I want some MPs that are a part of the government in the next session of Parliament. Michelle could very well be one of them, it's just about effort and getting ballots in the ballot box."
Both have ties to Indigenous affairs, with Corfield of First Nations descent, and Miller, a former minister of Indigenous Services, and both said there are related issues in this election. Corfield said the most pressing issues is getting treaties completed and creating certainty, especially in B.C., so interests of First Nations can advance, pointing to the Indigenous loan guarantee program, which launched in December.
"Reconciliation, economic reconciliation is critically important … First Nations do not have the ability to leverage their territory or their reserves to advance in their economic interests and we have to do better," she said.
Miller said it's about maintaining momentum built over the last 10 years, much of which is based on trust.
"That trust can easily be lost if you lose the confidence of Indigenous peoples … getting the [$42-million Snuneymuxw land claim] here settled is really important," he said. "There's some interest in some of the military land as well. We're going to make sure that continues and I think that requires relentless commitment to Indigenous Peoples and not one-offs."
Both encourage people that haven't already to cast a ballot on Monday, April 28.
"This is the most important election of our lifetime," said Corfield. "You need to get out Monday and vote. Vote like you've never voted before. The sovereignty of our country is at stake and we need to protect [it] and we need to stand up for Canadians – Canada Strong."
