B.C. Liberal Party leader Christy Clark stopped by a Nanaimo submersible manufacturer to buoy B.C. Liberal Nanaimo riding candidate Paris Gaudet’s campaign this morning (May 4).
The stop was a whirlwind meet-and-greet with party faithful and media photo op at Seamor Marine, located on Northfield Road, where Clark and Gaudet took turns on the controls of one of Seamor Marine’s subsea remote-operated vehicles in the facility’s test tank.
The entire visit, one of several stops in Vancouver, Nanaimo, Duncan and Victoria lasted about 20 minutes.
Clark did not take any questions before boarding her campaign bus for her next engagement in Duncan.
The Seamor Marine tour was meant to highlight jobs and opportunities being created by Vancouver Island’s technology sector and was Clark’s second stop in Nanaimo during the 2017 B.C. election campaign. Clark also spoke at a rally at robotics manufacturer Inuktun Services in April.
Gaudet, who is also executive director of technology organization Innovation Island, said more than brick-and-mortar facilities are required to keep building the technology sector on the central Island.
“With tech entrepreneurs it’s just not the bricks and mortar that they need. It’s the programs, the services, the expertise, connection with talent, connection with capital and scalability,” Gaudet said. “That’s what our whole objective has been as a tech organization. It’s what we do exceptionally well. We’ve pushed hard to be fourth in the province, on the mid-Island, with tech and innovation.”
Gaudet acknowledged the city’s recent closure of its Square One technology incubator program, but noted the current the expansion of trades facilities that incorporate geothermal technology, plus added class space for science, technology, engineering and math programs at Vancouver Island University.
“Of course, I will still continue to push the tech agenda because I think we have a significant competitive advantage here,” she said. “So it’s happening. I think we’re poised. We just need to capitalize on those opportunities.”
Gaudet is running against incumbent NDP MLA Leonard Krog; Green Party’s Kathleen Harris; and Libertarian Bill Walker. The provincial election is Tuesday (May 9).