With the election just around the corner, The Squamish Chief posed three questions to West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country candidates in an online survey.
Each question was the same, and each candidate was given the same amount of time to answer.
We are publishing each of their responses separately.
The answers are unedited (other than for the odd punctuation correction).
Below are Peyman Askari, People's Party of Canada’s answers:
Q1. As you see it, what is at stake in this election for the Sea to Sky
A: If we’re talking specifically about the Sea to Sky region, the impact of a U.S. trade war—particularly under a second Trump administration—will be real. In the short term, tensions may reduce American tourism in Whistler. In the medium term, as our dollar continues to weaken under poor economic management, more Americans will return, not only to ski on a mountain effectively subsidized by a weak Canadian dollar, but also to buy up vacation properties.
That surge in foreign interest will drive up prices and accelerate what I’ve witnessed for 30 years: Canadians being priced out of Whistler and Blackcomb. More broadly, what’s at stake in this election is nothing short of Canada’s future. We’re drowning in debt, weighed down by bureaucracy, and watching our shared culture erode year by year.
These aren’t just economic trends—they’re existential ones. If we continue with more of the same—short-term promises, central planning, and cultural fragmentation—we risk becoming a country that can no longer sustain itself. The People’s Party stands for a different path: one that prioritizes economic sovereignty, local control, and a return to cultural confidence. That’s what’s really at stake—whether we choose to continue down a managed decline, or whether we take responsibility for turning things around.
Q2. Define the relationship that would exist between you/ your party and the Squamish Nation, should you be elected as MP
A: The People’s Party believes in small government, empowered individuals, and strong communities.
We believe in the power of ownership and local decision-making. If the Squamish Nation seeks prosperity and sovereignty for its people, we are aligned in principle.
Our vision is one where Indigenous communities, like all communities, are free to attract investment, build industries, and shape their futures without endless layers of federal or provincial interference.
Whether the goal is high-tech innovation or revitalizing traditional sectors, those choices should rest with the people who live there. The role of the federal government should be limited to defense, law enforcement, and a functioning justice system. The rest should come from families, communities, and local leadership.
That’s where true responsibility—and true opportunity—begin. This principle extends to environmental stewardship. Canada has a rich tradition of respecting the land. But top-down environmental mandates don’t build culture—they replace it.
Those who live close to the land are often the best caretakers of it. We would support community-led stewardship, not centralized control. Our relationship with the Squamish Nation would be built on respect, autonomy, and shared values—not bureaucracy. We want to see every community strong, self-reliant, and proud of its place in building a better Canada.
Q3. How will things be better, if they will be, for the average working family in Squamish?
A: Most of the hardship facing working families today—whether it’s housing, healthcare, food, or the cost of living—can be traced back to one root cause: runaway debt and government overreach. We’re printing money, which devalues the dollar.
Those with capital buy real estate, and those with income take on massive mortgages. Both drive up land prices, pushing working families out of the market. Meanwhile, the federal government spends so much on debt interest that little is left for healthcare. And food? It’s inflated not just by money printing, but by a bloated regulatory system that prioritizes paperwork over productivity. Permits, surveys, and compliance layers don’t grow food or build homes—they create government jobs at the expense of real work.
Canadians are being nickel-and-dimed out of the quality of life they once enjoyed. A People’s Party government would tackle this head-on. We would cut wasteful spending, lower taxes, simplify regulations, and return control to the people who actually live and work in communities like Squamish. It shouldn’t be radical to say that a working family deserves a home, access to care, affordable food, and a future for their children.
But under the current system, it is. We need a new path—one based on responsibility, prosperity, and freedom. That’s what we’re offering.
