A4 | NEWS
nsnews.com north shore news
SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017
NORTH VANCOUVER – LONSDALE
Provincial Election 2017 ALL CANDIDATES MEETINGS:
Richard Warrington Green
Bowinn Ma NDP
Name Party
Donald N.S. Wilson Libertariian
Naomi Yamamoto Liberal
Age
31
59
33
56
Do you live in riding?
Yes. moved to NV several years ago to set down roots.
No. Live in Horseshoe Bay now after moving 4½ years ago.
Live/work in New Westminster; first 21 years of life in NV.
Raised on North Shore; 15 years in riding.
What should be done to address housing affordability?
We’re in an affordability crisis, our 10-year plan for affordable housing includes taxing speculation, building 114,000 units of rental, social and co-op housing, and taking action to make renting more affordable, fair and stable.
We plan to discourage foreign money speculation, support an increase in affordable housing and bring in protection for both renters and landlords.
Housing unaffordability is a product of excess taxation and regulation. The government takes 20-30 per cent of income directly in income tax. Further, about 35 per cent of the cost of a new condo is taxes and municipal fees.
We will continue to help British Columbians buy their first home by helping with their down payment, while making major investments in affordable housing.
How would your government combat climate change?
We will invest in public transit, energy efficiency, and clean technology to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while creating tens of thousands of sustainable jobs.
By discouraging the use of fossil fuels via taxing carbon, meeting our emissions targets and moving to clean and green technology we can succeed.
It is not an appropriate function of the government to alter the climate. Subsidies to oil and gas distort economies and contribute to pollution.
Our Climate Leadership Plan will create up to 66,000 green jobs — reducing net annual GHG emissions up to 25 million tonnes below current forecasts by 2050.
Should the province fight or embrace oil pipeline and LNG projects?
Kinder Morgan is not worth the risk. We must develop natural resources in an environmentally sustainable way that meaningfully includes First Nations.
We need to move away from fossil fuels as soon as practicable. Our energy needs can and should be fulfilled from renewables energy sources.
The province should avoid universal positions on these things. The province should protect property rights in affected areas and represent stakeholders of property they control.
We need to do resource development the B.C. way — protecting our environment, creating jobs, and securing benefits for all British Columbians.
How would your government deal with traffic congestion and support expanding transit?
We have committed to supporting the mayors’ council’s 10-year plan for capital projects and public transit that are essential to breaking traffic gridlock.
We firmly believe the best way is via urban mobility pricing, supporting the mayors’ plan and supporting better more efficient transportation options.
More user pay: toll every bridge and highway; transit users pay for transit. Also, eliminate HOV lanes to cheaply increase capacity. Stop fake accounting.
Through a strong economy and five balanced budgets, we’ve committed major funding towards transit projects including increased SeaBus service, and initiated the $198-million Lower Lynn improvement project.
Should campaign finance laws be reformed? How?
Yes. We will take big money out of politics, ban corporate and union donations, set limits on individual contributions, ban out-of-province donations, and require transparency.
Yes. We see three areas of necessary reform; limiting donations, banning corporate and union donations and by defining better lobbying and fundraising rules.
Increased campaign finance laws sound “nice,” but they always risk limiting freedom of speech, which needs to be guarded against.
We’re committed to real-time reporting of contributions and have announced an independent panel to regularly review B.C.’s electoral financing system and make recommendations for reform.
B.C. needs a poverty reduction plan. We’ll increase disability rates by $100, support assistance recipients with re-entering the workforce, and end the bus pass clawback.
Poverty can be alleviated by providing livable wages, supporting a guaranteed minimum income and providing income assistance to people with disabilities.
Eliminate minimum wage and social assistance. Minimum wage reduces low-skilled and entry-level jobs. Welfare incentivizes poverty and dependancy. Taxes make jobs less interesting. Regulations impoverish.
Reducing workforce barriers through programs like our Single-Parent Employment Initiative is the best way to help people find a job and build the lives they want.
What is your plan to support high-paying local job growth?
We will invest in infrastructure, creating 96,000 construction jobs building new roads, housing and public transit. We will spark growth in high-tech and creative industries.
We see future economic job growth in emerging industries in the tech sector, especially clean and green, in renewable energy infrastructure and the service industry.
See plan on poverty. Reducing the burden of government will increase prosperity. Taxes and regulations are a drag on jobs and productivity, and cause poverty.
Job creation has been the heart of our vision. Through the B.C. Jobs Plan we’ve led the country with over 226,000 new jobs, and we’ll continue.
Candidate’s website Twitter Facebook
bowinnma.bcndp.ca @BowinnMa /BowinnMa
richard.warrington@bcgreens.ca @Warrington4MLA
facebook.com/uselessgov @DNSWilson
bcliberals.com/candidate/ naomi-yamamoto2017/ @naomiyamamoto /naomiyamamoto.northvan
What should be done to reduce poverty?
ALL-CANDIDATES MEETING FOR WEST VANCOUVERCAPILANO The Edgemont and Upper Capilano Community Association will host a meeting with an opportunity for the public to ask questions of the candidates and to hear their responses Tuesday, May 2, 7-9 p.m. at Highlands United Church, 3255 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver. ALL-CANDIDATES MEETING Come meet the local candidates running in the upcoming provincial election, Wednesday, May 3, 1-3 p.m. at the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre, 695 21st St. Info: jlait@ westvancouver.ca. ALL-CANDIDATES MEETING FOR NORTH VANCOUVERSEYMOUR RIDING This is a chance to ask questions of the candidates and to hear them respond to questions submitted from local community associations, Thursday, May 4, 7-9 p.m. at Mount Seymour United Church, 1200 Parkgate Ave. Send details of election/ candidates meetings to listings@nsnews.com.
@northshorenews NORTH SHORE NEWS Advance voting is available on April 30, and May 3, 4, 5 and 6 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find a map of advance voting places at elections.bc.ca. Election Day: Tuesday, May 9 Voting is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time), and eligible voters can vote at any voting place in B.C. Preliminary results are announced after the polls close. For complete results visit nsnews.com/bc-election. Look for responses from candidates in the North Shore’s other ridings in these print editions: North Vancouver-Seymour Friday, April 28 edition and online at nsnews.com West Vancouver-Capilano Wednesday, May 3 edition West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Friday, May 5 edition