Editor’s note: The Optimist asked all three candidates in Delta South a series of five questions. Below is their responses as well as any other information they wished to provide.
My family immigrated to Canada in 1963. I’ve lived and worked in four different provinces and spent time as a municipal councillor and director for volunteer organizations. I’ve lived in Tsawwassen for 10 years and you may have read my letters to the Optimist. I’ve spoken about housing, traffic and the T2 and Tilbury proposals. When elected I’ll champion:
Improving care for seniors: We are fortunate in South Delta to have a good standard of care for our seniors. Many of the province for-profit care homes are subsidized with public money. The BC Green Party has introduced a plan to shift to a mix of public, community-based services and co-ops. We will recognise caregivers as health care professionals and pay commensurate salaries. This could include more home care for those who wish to stay home.
Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies: Restoring confidence: The millions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies should go to our communities. Your taxes would support a new, green and renewable economy to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Greens will support strengthening communities to sustain our province. We will provide communities the support they need to boost our economy and help those that need it most. This will restore confidence.
Reviewing the viability of the Tilbury Expansion Project: There is an expansion plan to increase LNG production 90 times its original operation and export LNG over the Fraser River. This is in violation of international safety standards and endangers lives in Delta and Richmond with the potential for a catastrophic accident.
Q: What is your position on a replacement for the George Massey Tunnel?
A: We need an immediate solution to our tunnel congestion. Congestion could be improved by regulating truck traffic at peak hours. Transit desperately needs to be improved to this area and would take cars off the road. The Liberals 10-lane bridge was never planned to alleviate traffic issues, but was designed for the Port of Vancouver to bring deep ships up the Fraser. The NDP has designed a plan for a new crossing with regional government. While completing this plan the short-term solutions should be implemented to help commuters and business with traffic in this corridor.
One major concern is the disruption of Highway 99 through a long construction period. With the Liberal plan, the tunnel may well be closed at times and local business and commuters would suffer.
Q: How would your government protect and enhance the ALR in Delta?
A: The ALR has been under threat since the Liberal reign. We need to tighten the ALR regulations and enforcement. Delta is pressured for industrial and residential land. This will only worsen with a new Fraser crossing. The Green platform is built around the issue of Food Security. This can be achieved through protecting our agricultural land and development of agricultural innovation
Q: What is your position on port expansion at Roberts Bank?
A: Ottawa buried a vital report from Environment Canada that exposed irreversible loss of significant habitat impacting resident whales, salmon, and migratory shorebirds of the Pacific Flyway. This proposal should not be allowed to go ahead. It has a flawed business case and the environmental damage is not acceptable.
Q: How would your government further assist small business in Delta?
A: We will help business owners get through this winter with $300 million for a six-month rent subsidy program. It would cover 25% of the rental costs for qualifying small businesses. We would work with business to look at new models to help growing families succeed through our COVID-19 and climate change issues.
Q: How would your government assist the City of Delta in improving housing options?
A: We would increase the supply of affordable housing, curb speculation and enhance financial stability. The B.C. Greens would earmark $500 million for a program to lower income earners paying more than 30% of income in rent.
We will work with local and regional governments to reform our finance system to ensure communities are getting the support they need. Support like funding for sustainable projects such as bike lanes, paths, parks, community spaces, and pedestrian-only streets.
This province needs Green representatives to continue the legislation achieved with our minority government the past three years.
