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Meet NDP candidate Bruce Reid

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.
Bruce Reid
South Delta NDP candidate Bruce Reid with two of his grandkids, Catherine and James.

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.

Bruce Reid has dedicated his life to public education as a teacher, counsellor, and now as a school trustee standing up for our kids. He has seen first-hand how the BC Liberals’ neglect and their war on teachers undermined the public education system – a harmful legacy that inspired Bruce to take action and get involved in politics. He is proud that the BC NDP is making record investments in our schools, which have gone a long way to repairing that damage, and more improvements are on their way.

A former pastor with the Salvation Army, Bruce is committed to helping people dealing with poverty, mental health, and addictions issues, and wants to be part of a government focused on solutions. A retired teacher and school counselor, Bruce firmly believes that we need to spend more time listening to each other to identify and relieve the struggles that people face every day.

As a proud long-time resident of South Delta, Bruce will stand up for this community and work hard to make life better for people here.

Q: What is your position on a replacement for the George Massey Tunnel?

A: The BC NDP has worked to get this right for people in Delta, Surrey and Richmond. We’re full steamahead on plans for a toll-free Massey replacement, which is on track for final approval by the end ofthe year. The BC Liberals want to completely change course, risking federal financing and setting theproject back years. That would bring us back to the drawing board. Instead, we need to get thisproject finished so people can get where they need to go!

Q: How would your government protect and enhance the ALR in Delta?

A: We all benefit when we keep our best farmland in production and affordable for farmers – JohnHorgan and the BC NDP have been clear that farmland is for farming. The BC Liberals worked toundermine the ALR – we put a stop to that and put in new protections that stopped the proliferationof mega-homes and illegal dumping on prime agricultural land. The BC NDP will continue to createopportunities to support farmers in Delta and ensure people in BC can access fresh locally grownfood. Our platform includes a new Regenerative Agricultural Network to improve production withcutting-edge technology – improvements that will create jobs for workers, new opportunities forfarmers, and make farming more sustainable.

Q: What is your position on port expansion at Roberts Bank?

A: When the federal environmental assessment process is complete, BC – and a re-elected BC NDP government – will make its own determination based on full information. We support a process that engages First Nations, communities and people impacted by the project, and ensures community livability and sustainability to protect the critically important ecosystem. That means supporting our trade infrastructure in a way that protects our communities and the resources they depend on, while providing benefits for people in B.C.

Q: How would your government further assist small business in Delta?

A: John Horgan and the BC NDP will keep working hard to make sure small businesses can weather the pandemic. When we first formed government, we cut the small business tax rate and it’s now the second lowest in the country. We worked very closely with small businesses as we developed Stronger BC, our economic recovery plan. Our supports include a 15% tax credit on new payroll, $300 million in grants for small businesses to protect jobs, a PST exemption for new machinery, and many other programs that provide jobs and skills training.

Q: How would your government assist the City of Delta in improving housing options?

A: Thanks to the partnership of many local governments, including the city of Delta, we have made good progress on our commitment to deliver 114,000 new affordable homes – including 360 right here in this community. The BC Liberals let the speculative housing market spin out of control and we’re still cleaning up the mess. There is much more to do and we will be counting on our strong partnerships with local governments to keep bringing new rentals to market – whether they are the next set of publicly-funded social housing projects, or tens of thousands of new market rental options delivered through the additional low-cost loans we will provide through our HousingHub program. We also plan to partner with non-profit and co-op housing providers to acquire and preserve existing rental housing.