Tuesday, November 12, 2024
November 12, 2024

Saanich North and the Islands candidate Q&A

Gulf Islanders are getting set to vote in the provincial election, with four candidates vying for the Saanich North and the Islands MLA seat.

Information about the four individuals is available on their respective websites, and they have answered three Driftwood questions below.

Advance polls run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16, with general election day on Oct. 19.

ROB BOTTERELL – Green Party

Rob Botterell, Green candidate

Rob Botterell is a retired lawyer, strategic consultant and public speaker who focused on major project negotiations, Indigenous law and advocacy. He lives on North Pender Island. More info: vote.botterell.ca

1. Please describe two of your party’s policies or beliefs that are different from the other parties’ and why you think those differences are important.

We are the only party that is truly serious about tackling the climate emergency. And we are the only party that advocates for keeping a price on carbon pollution. The Conservatives deny climate change. The NDP is not acting as though it is an emergency — continuing to subsidize fossil fuel, approve new LNG infrastructure and log old-growth forests. The BC Greens will put an end to these destructive practices.

Unlike the NDP and Conservatives, the BC Greens recognize that the housing crisis is an equality crisis. For-profit housing cannot solve housing affordability. The government needs to invest in co-op, non-market and social housing. The BC Greens are the only party proposing a historic investment in non-market housing to ensure that everyone has a safe, secure and affordable place to live.

2. Tell us about a personal strength you have that you feel will make you an exceptional MLA, and give an example of when that strength has served you or another person/organization well in the past.

I am a tenacious advocate. I have dedicated much of my career to fighting for social and economic equality, healthy communities, a stable economy, and environmental protection. I understand how to get things done and will work to bring the affected people together in order to resolve complex issues. I don’t take no for an answer.

The communities of Anacla and Bamfield are connected to Port Alberni by a 76-km industrial service road that has resulted in eight fatal accidents and countless other accidents. In 2016 I was asked by the Huu-ay-aht First Nations to lead a renewed effort to secure funding from the B.C. government to upgrade the Bamfield Main and make it safe. We built the plan from the ground up with all stakeholders involved, secured expert advice and collaboratively developed out-of-the-box solutions to address the concerns raised by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. It ultimately led to securing B.C. government funding of $25 million toward the $30.7 million project to build a much safer road.

3. How will you build relationships with your Gulf Islands constituents? Will you commit to participating in the existing multi-agency Southern Gulf Islands Forum?

I now live on Pender Island and recognize the uniqueness of each of the Gulf Islands and their communities. Like Adam Olsen and Elizabeth May, I plan to regularly hold community meetings to hear from residents, and will have an open and accessible constituency office.

I am grateful to Elizabeth May and Adam Olsen for establishing the Southern Gulf Islands Forum. I commit to building on the work forum members have started, and with Adam and Elizabeth’s guidance I know we can continue to be a strong voice for the islands.

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DAVID BUSCH – Conservative Party

David Busch, Conservative candidate

Saanich resident David Busch has been a lawyer since 2007 and has also worked as a registered nurse in critical care and in pediatric cardiology. He has taught nursing at Laurentian University and the University of Alberta, and taught law at the University of Victoria. More info: conservativebc.ca/busch

1. Please describe two of your party’s policies or beliefs that are different from the other parties’ and why you think those differences are important.

Our B.C. healthcare system is in crisis. The Conservative party is proposing a new Patients First Healthcare Model: Universal healthcare for everyone under a system that delivers care through both public and non-government facilities. We will stop ER closures, get people attached to a family doctor, end wait times, expand access to care, and support and protect front-line staff by directing funding to hire front-line healthcare professionals. We will also implement a zero-tolerance policy on illicit drug use in hospitals and increase security in emergency rooms.

The Conservative Party will provide the Rustad Rebate — a real solution to help families stay in their homes, support the middle class, and provide relief to those being squeezed by high housing prices and rents.

2. Tell us about a personal strength you have that you feel will make you an exceptional MLA, and give an example of when that strength has served you or another person/organization well in the past.

My main personal strength is my unwavering commitment to community. It’s my innate abilities, learned skills, and the genuine desire to listen and assist in improving the lives of the people in my community. As a former critical care nurse, I was on the front lines helping to save lives. Seeing the relieved look of elation on a parent’s face when you tell them their child is now stable and can now go see them stays with you. As a lawyer, I have stood fast, delivering rational and compelling arguments to secure funding for health authorities, held municipal governments to account and ensured injured citizens receive the compensation to which they are entitled. As well, I have extensive experience advising governments on policy (regardless of their affiliation). I want to continue to advocate for all citizens.

3. How will you build relationships with your Gulf Islands constituents? Will you commit to participating in the existing multi-agency Southern Gulf Islands Forum?

I have had the pleasure of meeting and building relationships with Gulf Islands constituents over the years. I am aware of the ongoing issues, such as inadequate healthcare services (for example, workforce housing), the Islands Trust, ferry transportation and road infrastructure, and water shortages.

I look forward to continuing my town halls on the Peninsula and the Gulf Islands and seek to continue working with the Southern Gulf Islands Forum as it gives an opportunity for the representatives of all levels of governance — local, First Nations, regional districts, provincial and federal — to meet and address ongoing and emerging issues affecting our constituents.

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AMY HAYSOM, Independent

Amy Haysom, independent candidate

Amy Haysom has lived on both the Saanich Peninsula and on Salt Spring Island for more than 20 years. She has been involved with education, small business, youth programs, adult recreation and land stewardship. More info: aimforamy.ca

1. Please describe two of your policies or beliefs that are different from the other parties’ and why you think those differences are important. 

As an independent candidate, I advocate for direct democracy, where constituents have a direct link in sharing their voice related to issues in this riding. I haven’t seen any other candidate take such a direct approach to engaging the community in having their voices integrated into platform and policy development. Policies and platforms should be dynamic, participatory and evolving with the needs of the riding and the province. “Our Voice” is an initiative featured on my website where constituents’ feedback is steadily solicited and used to frame the political agenda.  

Further, I don’t hear other parties prioritizing the need for small-scale farming, particularly in rural remote communities. The longevity of protection of biodiversity and sustainable resources in the province relies on supporting small-scale farming practices and the infrastructure to prioritize this in rural remote communities. 

2. Tell us about a personal strength you have that you feel will make you an exceptional MLA, and give an example of when that strength has served you or another person/organization well in the past. 

I have been described as an excellent listener and a “unifier.” I believe these are exceptional skills that serve in the role of MLA, both on the ground within the riding, AND at the legislative level. As an independent, I can listen to perspectives from all political “stripes” and, in that vein, can be a strong, level-headed voice within a divided legislature.

I have a professional and personal history that gives me the skill set to achieve this connection and leadership. I worked with the Centre for Global Studies and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and was able to connect organizations and government to activate initiatives related to sustainability and development. Having lived in this riding for a long time I have an excellent understanding of the unique communities in the wider riding. I love to travel, so I look forward to travelling within the beautiful expanse of the riding to meet the constituents of Saanich North and the Islands regularly. 

3. How will you build relationships with your Gulf Islands constituents? Will you commit to participating in the existing multi-agency Southern Gulf Islands Forum? 

I have mentioned the “Our Voice” initiative I have launched currently on my website, where constituents can give their feedback on issues that concern them. I’ve already received many contributions, and am sharing your voice in our all-candidates debates and in community forums. I intend to evolve this initiative by leveraging blockchain and/or app technologies to poll constituents often on various issues that affect this riding, and in turn can share this in the legislature.

I’d like to launch a youth advisory group, as the youth voice is pertinent and important. I absolutely commit to active participation in the Southern Gulf Islands Forum, an excellent best practice of community agencies working together. I intend to support these kinds of best practices. 

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SARAH RIDDELL, New Democratic Party

Sarah Riddell, NDP candidate

Sarah Riddell is a Central Saanich council member with a master’s degree in public and health administration and 15 years of experience in the field. As a councillor her priorities have been affordable housing, climate action and active transportation. She lives in Brentwood Bay. More info: sarahriddell.bcndp.ca

1. Please describe two of your party’s policies or beliefs that are different from the other parties’ and why you think those differences are important.

Healthcare: I believe in a strong, publicly funded health system that’s there for you when you need it. The BC NDP government made good strides — hiring more than 800 new family doctors to B.C. and thousands of nurses, tripling the program to credential internationally trained physicians, expanding our existing medical school and residency spaces, with more on the way – but there’s still more to do. Unlike the Conservatives, we won’t cut $4.1 billion from the health system, increase hospitals’ administrative burden, divert resources away from the public system, or add profit to the province’s healthcare bill.

Housing: Affordable and attainable housing remains a huge challenge, and the BC NDP are the only party that has a serious plan to move the needle, with policies that target both supply and demand, that reduce barriers to building, and provide relief for folks who have housing but are struggling to pay the rent. We need to do more, especially when it comes to Salt Spring and the other islands, to address local challenges within the context of a conservation area. You have my personal commitment to work together on more creative solutions. Take workforce housing, for example: it is desperately needed, but building it in ecologically sensitive areas, like the Gulf Islands, needs to be managed very thoughtfully.

2. Tell us about a personal strength you have that you feel will make you an exceptional MLA, and give an example of when that strength has served you or another person/organization well in the past.

I am a positive, collaborative, action-oriented leader and community builder. As a municipal councillor, I have worked hard to build relationships with residents, businesses, community leaders, staff, my council colleagues, First Nations and other elected officials. I regularly visit homes, meet for coffee, volunteer and attend community events to connect and learn from our community. This helps me work with people to solve one-off problems, propose and build support for solutions to bigger ones, make balanced decisions, and bring people together to work through contentious issues to arrive at an acceptable solution.

3. How will you build relationships with your Gulf Islands constituents? Will you commit to participating in the existing multi-agency Southern Gulf Islands Forum?

I will build and nurture relationships with Gulf Islands constituents just like I have in Central Saanich — by showing up, listening and getting involved. I will collaborate with community to move things forward. I also have strong family connections and a history here, which I will build on. If elected, I commit to participating in the SGI Forum.

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