Editor's note: In anticipation of the May 2 federal election, the four newspapers owned by Glacier Media in the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding are posing a series of four questions to candidates on the issues facing Canada, British Columbia and the region.
One candidate, Liberal Dan Veniez, did not submit an answer to this week's question by the deadline. Another, Allan Holt of the Western Block Party, entered the race too late to provide an answer by the deadline, but will be offered the chance to answer for the remaining three weeks.
Below are the answers of the three candidates who did respond in time to this week's question:
((((((Boldface)))))) If elected, what issues concerning the riding will you take to Ottawa?
So many people who live in the riding are dealing with unemployment and sky-high housing costs. WV-SC has some of the highest housing costs in Canada. A large percentage of the residents have to commute daily to Vancouver, often by ferry. And those who live up the Coast find that they can not find local employment and are often forced to move to the Vancouver area. I would bring these concerns to Ottawa and work at bringing attention to local jobs and industries while promoting environmental protection. Affordable housing and increased CPP is also an issue that I would bring up. I know of seniors who are forced to sell their homes and move to different communities so that they can afford to live comfortably. While this riding has one of the richest postal codes in Canada, there are a heck of a lot of low-income people living here too. Affordable housing would go a long way to make life easier for everyone.
- Terry Platt, New Democratic Party
If re-elected, I would build on the momentum created by our government nationally and by me personally in our riding, in conjunction with the vast team of mayors, councillors, Aboriginal leaders, business leaders, and others who have created over 100 projects in our riding, attracting over $240 million. Many of these projects are just now being completed; others need to be pushed over the finish line.
The projects were created under Canada's Economic Action Plan, which launched over 26,000 projects nationwide - timely, targeted investments that bolstered infrastructure, stimulated the economy, and created over 480,000 jobs since July 2009. An unnecessary election has intervened; we must resume the momentum as soon as possible.
I'd also like to expand on the momentum created by my Private Member's Bill, C-475, which attracted widespread public and parliamentary support in battling crystal meth and ecstasy. I foresee other initiatives that will build on this consensus.- John Weston, Conservative Party
Forestry as our greatest natural resource and its management are ripe for transformation to a sustainable and innovation-filled future, providing new jobs and infrastructure. This transformation will preserve old-growth forests and ensure the rejuvenation of an industry which is in need of attention. Investment in value-added infrastructure ensures that the resources we exploit are put to best use and benefit to all. The same transformation awaiting the forestry sector can be applied to the energy sector; continued focus on the export of dirty fossil fuels can be easily forgone by allowing B.C. to become a global source of clean energy technology, particularly in tidal power generation, wind turbine manufacturing, and advanced clean energy transportation systems. There is no need to continue the destruction of precious and fragile environments in B.C., nor any need to place the ecology of the West Coast in jeopardy from oil tankers. - Brennan Wauters, Green Party
