South Delta provincial election candidates went head-to-head Tuesday night in a lively debate on a variety of topics.
Hosted by the Delta Chamber of Commerce at the Lois E. Jackson Kinsmen Centre for Children (Reach) in Ladner, the 90-minute debate was broadcasted live by Delta Cable and Eastlink.
Before the question and answer period, each candidate had time for a two-minute introduction.
Liberal candidate Ian Paton spoke about his local farming roots, growing up in Ladner as well as his time on Delta council, noting his involvement with agriculture-related committees for Delta and Metro Vancouver.
Paton also spoke about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Deltans and slammed John Horgan and the BC NDP for calling the snap election.
Green candidate Peter Van der Velden introduced himself as a retired construction manager, a businessman and a consultant working in both public and private sectors.
NDP candidate Bruce Reid referenced his time working in public education. He also took aim at the Liberals, saying he has seen first-hand what the party's neglect has done to teachers.
The first two questions of the evening had to do with public transit to Tilbury and Annacis Island industrial parks and each party's plan to replace the George Massey Tunnel.
Paton explained how the Liberal’s replacement project would provide the solution to employers in the industrial parks seeking more efficient transit for their employees.
He said the projects' highway widening component will serve as additional HOV lanes so that more busses can travel down Highway 99, over the bridge and onto Tilbury industrial park and Annacis Island.
“It's a huge issue for employees that live on the other side of the river in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Vancouver, that they have easy access to get to their jobs,” Paton said.
He also took the opportunity to point out how the NDP killed the Liberal’s bridge project in 2017 and how Tsawwassen First Nation leaders have openly opposed a tunnel, an idea championed by the NDP.
“[Tsawwassen First Nations] do not want to see a massive concrete tube going through the Fraser River for obviously environmental reasons, for the protection of salmon and sturgeon," he said.
Reid said his party is looking at improving transportation across the province, adding the importance of completing a new Massey crossing as soon as possible so that the industrial parks and their workers can get there more efficiently.
Reid mentioned the NDP’s plans for the new crossing are in the works, but he won't have exact information until after the election.
To combat Paton’s remark about TFN leaders being against a tunnel, Reid referenced an article written by Mayor George Harvie discussing concern over the footprint a bridge would leave on farmland as well as traffic noise to nearby residents.
van der Velden opened by saying he respectfully disagreed with Paton, saying the bridge proposed by the Liberals was never meant to move traffic, instead indicating it was so the Port of Vancouver could have deeper hulled ships move into the Fraser River.
He said the BC Greens would establish a regional governance body, which would overcome fractured decision making on such issues, adding that the Greens would support the NDP's plan for the George Massey crossing because it has been precipitated by regional councils.
van der Velden suggested traffic gridlock could be alleviated by adding more transit and placing regulations on trucking so that fewer semis would be on the road during peak hours.
Another question asked was if the candidates supported the addition of mega mansions on agricultural land, which is currently banned through Bill 52.
Paton said the bill has created many problems for farmers and renters, pointing to a Facebook group called Changes to Bill 52 as an example.
He said he and a Liberal government offered to repeal Bill 52 and Bill 15 to give farmers the opportunities to add value to their property.
“I do not like mega mansions. We stopped it here in Delta when I was on city council. We adopted the BC Liberals bylaw standard of 5,200 square feet as the biggest house you can build,” he said. “You don't see mega mansions in Delta, you see tons of them in Steveston and Richmond.”
van der Velden said he disagreed with Paton.
“I think that farmland should be kept farmland. We want to develop our farmland, the Greens support our farm community and the saving of our agricultural land,” he said.
Reid denounced mega mansions built on farmland, but made it clear there could be exceptions made, saying there was no objection to families building additional homes on their land so long as they work on the farm.
“If you’re going to have them there as just a way of getting cheap housing then that's just not right,” Reid said.
Candidates were also asked if they supported LRT or SkyTrain service from Richmond to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, what their party’s plans are to bring more affordable rental and social housing to Delta, how their energy policy would reduce demand for fossil fuels and how each party will support small businesses that are struggling to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residents can view a replay of the evening at:SportsWave TV.
