A4 | NEWS
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FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017
NORTH VANCOUVER – SEYMOUR
Provincial Election 2017 ALL CANDIDATES MEETINGS:
Joshua Johnson Green
Michael Charrois NDP
Name Party
Jane Thornthwaite Liberal
Clayton Welwood Libertarian
Age
54
19
58
38
Do you live in riding?
Since Canada Day 2006.
Yes, for seven years.
Yes, for 26 years.
Yes, for four years.
What should be done to address housing affordability?
New Democrats will build 114,000 housing units to deal with the supply side of the housing affordability crisis; (implement) a two per cent absentee speculation tax with proceeds into a housing affordability fund; establish a $400 yearly renters rebate.
We must make housing sustainable for future generations. Invest heavily in affordable and rental housing, increase the foreign buyers tax, restrict reno/demovictions, implement progressive property transfer tax and speculation tax, award income-based homeowners grants, and rethink zoning.
Work with municipalities to increase housing and rental supply; $700 million for B.C. Home Partnership program, providing mortgage down payment assistance; smart transit expansion; 15 per cent foreign buyers tax; property purchase tax exemption on new homes.
Government rules that restrict housing supply cause it to be more expensive. We should work with municipalities to reduce development costs, streamline building permit processes, and simplify and accelerate rezoning.
How would your government combat climate change?
We’ll set and meet clear targets to reduce CO2 emissions, stop the Kinder Morgan pipeline, make polluters pay their bills and hire more conservation officers.
Commit 80 per cent emissions reduction by 2050. Raise carbon tax, use revenue to invest in public transit, renewable energy and providing low-carbon alternatives for everyday activities.
First North America jurisdiction to introduce revenue neutral carbon tax; ensure principles of affordability, competitiveness, and revenue neutrality confirmed in Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change.
By allowing civil society and the market to come up with innovative voluntary solutions, rather than taxing fuel (which doesn’t fix the problem).
Each project must be assessed on its own merits. Kinder Morgan is opposed by First Nations, has no community consent – it’s not worth the risk.
We will stop Kinder Morgan, new LNG plants, and thermal coal. We are trying to wean off fossil fuels; expanding the industry is the wrong approach.
Established five clear, principled conditions recognized as required framework for movement of heavy oil; will ensure LNG developments are globally competitive and clean.
We should let companies build LNG plants, if they’ll be held liable if they harm the environment. But no taxpayer subsidies.
Should the province fight or embrace oil pipeline and LNG projects?
How would your government deal with traffic congestion and support expanding transit?
We support the mayors’ transit plan and will fund 40 per cent. We’ll put more busses on the road, expand routes and improve road safety for bikes.
Traffic is the product of poor transit and unaffordability. We’ll heavily fund rapid-transit projects, and build affordable housing so people can live and work nearby.
$198-million Lower Lynn interchange project; matching the federal government’s $2.2-billion investment in Metro Vancouver transit; new Seabus; expanded hours and more buses.
Let the municipalities sort it out. No reason taxpayers in Vanderhoof should have to pay for bridges and buses in Vancouver.
Should campaign finance laws be reformed? How?
Yes. New Democrats would ban corporate and union donations, donations from out of province and put a cap on yearly donations from individuals.
B.C. Greens are the only party to ban corporate and union donations. We also support limits on personal contributions, and on lobbying for former politicians.
Will commission independent panel to review proposals on political fundraising reform and make recommendations to improve system; implement real-time reporting for all political parties.
Government has too much power to make arbitrary rules favouring one group over another. Reduce its scope and you lower the stakes of electoral politics.
We will increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour and bring in $10-a-day daycare (as well as an) immediate $100 monthly increase to disability support payments.
We need a provincewide poverty reduction strategy to address homelessness, addiction and hunger. We will also introduce a pilot guaranteed income project.
Continue Single Parent Employment Initiative; implementing LIFT for skills upgrading; $7 million to develop/implement poverty reduction strategies in communities; $3.1 billion targeted to families in need.
Make it easier to start business and hire people by reducing red tape. Axe the carbon tax and PST to leave people with more income.
What is your plan to support high-paying local job growth?
We’ll increase investments in Creative BC to support B.C. artists and the film and TV industries, and double our investment in the BC Arts Council.
Create an emerging economy task force to address changing business climate, implement a progressive tax system promoting innovation/entrepreneurship, and modernize labour laws.
BC Jobs Plan has delivered 220,000 new jobs (90 per cent full time). Continue investing in industries like film and hightech. Protect forest workers and softwood lumber deal.
We don’t engage in pork-barrel politics. More local profitable businesses means more local high-paying jobs. Let’s make starting and growing businesses easier.
Candidate’s website Twitter Facebook
michaelcharrois@bcndp.ca @mcharrois
bcgreens.ca/nvs @joshasjohnson /JoshuaJohnsonBCGreens
janethornthwaite.com @jthornthwaite /jane.thornthwaite
welwood.ca @BC_Libertarians /clayton.welwood
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 29 and 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 our upcoming following print editions: North Vancouver-Lonsdale Sunday, April 30 edition West Vancouver-Capilano Wednesday, May 3 edition West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Friday, May 5 edition