Hear From Our Local Cowichan-Connected Candidates - Vote Oct 19th
Six Questions & Answers from Local Candidates - BC Election October 2024
We asked each of the ten candidates in the newly-boundaried provincial electoral areas of Cowichan Valley, Juan de Fuca–Malahat, and Ladysmith-Oceanside six questions that reflect the concerns of many of our 3,000 local supporters. Short contexts, the questions and candidate responses are below. Each candidate was given 100 words to respond to each question. Candidate responses are published verbatum and appear alphabetically by last name for each electoral area. We very much thank the candidates who took the time to respond!
COWICHAN VALLEY ELECTORAL AREA - OCTOBER 19TH REMEMBER TO 
Eden Haythornthwaite
Independent Socialist - Cowichan Valley
1. Climate impacts grow more severe, carbon emissions continue to rise. Yet the 2023 UN Emissions Gap Report reports progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement shows the world is capable of change. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 were projected to rise by 16 per cent when the agreement was adopted. As of 2023 the projected increase was 3 per cent. However, predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions must still fall by 42% for a stable 1.5°C pathway. Globally and in BC we need faster economy-wide, low-carbon transformation focused on an energy transition.
Question: How do you plan to address the unfolding climate crisis provincially, and also support local governments in reducing emissions and repairing climate damage locally? Will you keep the BC Carbon Tax and make sure fossil fuel companies pay their fair share?
Eden Haythornthwaite: My platform is seeking public ownership of the land and resources of BC so we can manage those things democratically and make climate-collapse-based decisions rather than leave our fate to profit-mad corporations. As well I also call for Canada to become an antiwar demilitarised nation to cut our emissions from that significant source of GHG.
2. Covid-19 is still with us, with waves of infection peaking and hospitalizations continuing throughout each year since the virus arrived, negatively affecting many people’s health. Health care workers are stressed and waitlists for diagnostics and essential care in BC grow longer. There are public health solutions to protect British Columbians from getting sick that don’t put our economy at risk.
Question: What are your top priorities for improving both access to health care in BC and the health and well-being of people in the Cowichan Valley across all ages and life circumstances, including those most vulnerable? Where would you start?
Eden Hathornthwaite: We must resist the march to privatisation of healthcare and other services which will only worsen our services for the working majority. We must demand changes to our tax code to allow the recovery of over $30 billion a year from tax avoidance among the wealthiest citizens. These hoarded funds must be redirected to our health care system. The only thing preventing us from sustaining our public medical system is the lack of political will among the governing class.
3. The BC Old Growth Review Panel Report was released in April 2020. The BC government has yet to implement its recommendations. Meanwhile BC’s old growth forests continue to be logged, degrading forest ecosystems and watersheds.
Question: What provincial policies and actions would you put in place in response to this report to protect old growth forests and ancient ecosystems? Would you enact a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health across all sectors as the review recommends?
Eden Hathornthwaite: When I get to the Leg, I will be a strong voice for ending old growth logging including ending the export of raw logs and I will work to implement a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law. Again, we must take ownership away from the private corporate operators who have successfully demonstrated both their unwillingness to conserve and to establish sustainable practises with their hostility to such approaches.
4. The provincial government passed the “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA Declaration Act)” into law in November 2019. Some progress has been made and more is needed. A year ago, the BC Supreme Court gave the Province 18 months to work with BC First Nations to develop a new mineral tenure law consistent with DRIPA.
Question: Will you support acting on this, and on creating more Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas? What further concrete steps do you believe the BC government needs to take to address institutional racism and make meaningful progress on reconciliation with First Nations. Where would you start?
Eden Hathornthwaite: We must hand back land and, in fact, resources and in-kind to Indigenous people and continue in the process of establishing relationships on a nation-to-nation basis. We also need more healthcare and education funding targeted for antiracist practice and recognition of cultural and language requirements. In Cowichan we must proceed and include Indigenous Language Immersion in our schools in the same manner as we now have French Immersion.
5. The opioid crisis is taking more lives across the spectrum of BC’s population than Covid, including here in the Cowichan Valley. There is international evidence that safe supply and supervised injection sites save lives. BC tried and abandoned this program.
Question: Should BC try again, using lessons learned? What can the BC government do now to address this crisis, and how would you begin?
Eden Hathornthwaite: When I take my seat, I will add my voice and vote to reestablishing safe consumption sites and safe supply as well as opposing any general mandatory incarceration for treatment. Such measures do not work because there is no buy-in from the addicted person. We currently cannot even care for those who want treatment due to lack of resource allocation. All this is even more difficult as our medical system is in crisis, We must redirect the money we waste subsidizing the rich to our mental health and addiction services, healthcare and housing.
6. Many people would love to have train service back on the Island – “Island Corridor Foundation” supports this. In January 2024 the latest cost of restoring the E&N corridor to train service on Vancouver Island was estimated at $1.5 billion. “Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island” proposes converting the railbed to a multi-use trail, potentially accommodating both bicycles and e-bikes – a less expense option. First Nations rights and title will need to be addressed with either proposal.
Question: Where do you stand on each of these proposals. Whichever plan you support, how would you help make it happen?
Eden Hathornthwaite: If we can sort out the land claim issues and produce the money, I must admit a train service would be a delightful useful amenity up and down the island. If those details are insoluble perhaps a walking/bike path is an acceptable outcome - it is all down to money, but if you tally the massive costs of maintaining and improving the highway that we have been enduring, it might turn out to be a long-term economical approach. Imagine having a good percentage of Malahat traffic reduced with the attendant improvement of pollution, noise and hazard.
Eden Hathornthwaite, Independent Socialist - Cowichan Valley
Contact Details 250-709-7975, [email protected] Website www.cowichansocialist24.ca
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cowichansocialist24
***
John Koury - BC Conservative - Cowichan Valley - Did Not Respond
***
Cammy Lockwood
BC Greens - Cowichan Valley
1. Climate impacts grow more severe, carbon emissions continue to rise. Yet the 2023 UN Emissions Gap Report reports progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement shows the world is capable of change. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 were projected to rise by 16 per cent when the agreement was adopted. As of 2023 the projected increase was 3 per cent. However, predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions must still fall by 42% for a stable 1.5°C pathway. Globally and in BC we need faster economy-wide, low-carbon transformation focused on an energy transition.
Question: How do you plan to address the unfolding climate crisis provincially, and also support local governments in reducing emissions and repairing climate damage locally? Will you keep the BC Carbon Tax and make sure fossil fuel companies pay their fair share?
Cammy Lockwood: This is a top priority for me - why I chose to run in this election. I proudly stand with the BC Greens, the only Party serious about tackling the climate crisis by halting all new fossil fuels projects, eliminating subsidies to gas and oil companies, and strict ‘no-greenwashing’ laws. Our plan includes a focus on alternative energy, incentives to reduce emissions and rebates to those who are doing so, utilizing the carbon tax program to jump start this transition. We’ll keep BC’s Carbon Tax, ensure fossil fuel companies contribute fairly, and support local governments with climate responsive initiatives.
2. Covid-19 is still with us, with waves of infection peaking and hospitalizations continuing throughout each year since the virus arrived, negatively affecting many people’s health. Health care workers are stressed and waitlists for diagnostics and essential care in BC grow longer. There are public health solutions to protect British Columbians from getting sick that don’t put our economy at risk.
Question: What are your top priorities for improving both access to health care in BC and the health and well-being of people in the Cowichan Valley across all ages and life circumstances, including those most vulnerable? Where would you start?
Cammy Lockwood: Our current health-care model is not working, for those providing care and those receiving it. For Cowichan Valley we have to ensure that we can hire and retain staff at our new hospital as well as to develop a Community Care Centre in the first year, as outlined in the BC Green platform. Improving access to healthcare in the Cowichan Valley means increasing support for hospitals, healthcare workers and mental health services. Expanding public health programs, preventive care, and reducing waitlists are essential. Strengthening rural healthcare and creating targeted solutions for vulnerable populations will improve well-being across the region.
3. The BC Old Growth Review Panel Report was released in April 2020. The BC government has yet to implement its recommendations. Meanwhile BC’s old growth forests continue to be logged, degrading forest ecosystems and watersheds.
Question: What provincial policies and actions would you put in place in response to this report to protect old growth forests and ancient ecosystems? Would you enact a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health across all sectors as the review recommends?
Cammy Lockwood: Yes, ABSOLUTELY! I proudly stood with Sonia Furstenau as we announced our forestry proposal designed to protect our forests:
- Expand the community forest program.
- No logging of primary/old growth forests.
- Fully fund the protection of primary/old growth forests and compensate First Nations for any lost revenues due to deferrals.
- Stop clearcut logging and switch to practices like selective logging, commercial thinning, and longer rotation cycles that mimic natural forest changes.
These policies will protect watersheds, ecosystems and biodiversity. Enacting a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law and implementing the Old Growth Review Panel’s recommendations will protect BC’s old-growth forests.
4. The provincial government passed the “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA Declaration Act)” into law in November 2019. Some progress has been made and more is needed. A year ago, the BC Supreme Court gave the Province 18 months to work with BC First Nations to develop a new mineral tenure law consistent with DRIPA.
Question: Will you support acting on this, and on creating more Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas? What further concrete steps do you believe the BC government needs to take to address institutional racism and make meaningful progress on reconciliation with First Nations. Where would you start?
Cammy Lockwood: We start by listening and taking responsibility for the harms of colonization and addressing systemic racism in our government institutions. Then we work together to define rights and titles and follow the recommendations of DRIPA. This is all front and center in the BC Greens platform. Indigenous rights are highlighted throughout. A new mineral tenure law aligned with DRIPA is vital, along with expanding Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Concrete steps toward reconciliation should include empowering First Nation communities in land and resource decisions, addressing institutional racism, and ensuring policies are co-developed with First Nation leadership to promote equity and justice.
5. The opioid crisis is taking more lives across the spectrum of BC’s population than Covid, including here in the Cowichan Valley. There is international evidence that safe supply and supervised injection sites save lives. BC tried and abandoned this program.
Question: Should BC try again, using lessons learned? What can the BC government do now to address this crisis, and how would you begin?
Cammy Lockwood: Absolutely. Restarting safe supply programs and supervised injection sites is critical. A compassionate, evidence-based approach will save lives and needs to be done in conjunction with: expanding access to mental health and addiction services, improving harm reduction efforts at the community level, and creating low or no barriers to safe and secure housing. These programs are foreground in the BC Greens platform. This issue MUST be addressed with URGENCY.
6. Many people would love to have train service back on the Island – “Island Corridor Foundation” supports this. In January 2024 the latest cost of restoring the E&N corridor to train service on Vancouver Island was estimated at $1.5 billion. “Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island” proposes converting the railbed to a multi-use trail, potentially accommodating both bicycles and e-bikes – a less expense option. First Nations rights and title will need to be addressed with either proposal.
Question: Where do you stand on each of these proposals. Whichever plan you support, how would you help make it happen?
Cammy Lockwood: Restoring rail service poses challenges, but other transportation improvements can help. The BC Greens will prioritize reliable bus services and converting the current rail right-of-way into accessible trails. Respecting First Nations rights and title in the process is crucial. This approach would reduce emissions, promote active transport, and create green infrastructure that supports local economic development. Reliable bus service and the ability to manage public transit will, while reducing congestion, act as a stepping stone to seeing a high-speed commuter railway in the future.
Cammy Lockwood - BC Greens - Cowichan Valley
Electoral Area Cowichan Valley
Contact Details [email protected]; 250-597-7336; Campaign Office: #201-481 Trans-Canada Highway, Duncan, BC
Website bcgreens2024.ca/your-candidates/cammy-lockwood Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cowichanbcgreens
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cammyforcowichan Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@cammyforcowichan
***
Debra Toporowski
BC NDP - Cowichan Valley
1. Climate impacts grow more severe, carbon emissions continue to rise. Yet the 2023 UN Emissions Gap Report reports progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement shows the world is capable of change. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 were projected to rise by 16 per cent when the agreement was adopted. As of 2023 the projected increase was 3 per cent. However, predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions must still fall by 42% for a stable 1.5°C pathway. Globally and in BC we need faster economy-wide, low-carbon transformation focused on an energy transition.
Question: How do you plan to address the unfolding climate crisis provincially, and also support local governments in reducing emissions and repairing climate damage locally? Will you keep the BC Carbon Tax and make sure fossil fuel companies pay their fair share?
Debra Toporowski: British Columbians are seeing the threat of climate change. The BC NDP will address the climate crisis by meeting our GHG reduction targets, capping emissions from the biggest polluters and working with local governments to build strong, prepared communities. We believe that big polluters should pay the carbon tax, not average families who are facing higher costs. John Rustad calls climate science “a lie” and he's promising to rip up the climate plan we developed with the Green Party. That's too big of a risk for BC. we can't let him threaten our communities.
2. Covid-19 is still with us, with waves of infection peaking and hospitalizations continuing throughout each year since the virus arrived, negatively affecting many people’s health. Healthcare workers are stressed and waitlists for diagnostics and essential care in BC grow longer. There are public health solutions to protect British Columbians from getting sick that don’t put our economy at risk.
Question: What are your top priorities for improving both access to health care in BC and the health and well-being of people in the Cowichan Valley across all ages and life circumstances, including those most vulnerable? Where would you start?
Debra Toporowski: Everyone deserves to access health care when they need it. We're taking action to make health care better by training and recruiting more medical practitioners, matching people to doctors and nurse practitioners, making diagnostic testing more available and expanding hospitals and clinics, including building the new Cowichan District Hospital. We are connecting 588 people a day to a family doctor through the Health Connect Registry. We expect to have everyone on the Registry matched by the end of 2025. By allowing pharmacists to treat minor ailments and renew certain prescriptions, we've made it easier for people to access care.
3. The BC Old Growth Review Panel Report was released in April 2020, and the BC government has yet to implement its recommendations. Meanwhile BC’s old growth forests continue to be logged, degrading forest ecosystems and watersheds.
Question: What provincial policies and actions would you put in place in response to this report to protect old growth forests and ancient ecosystems? Would you enact a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health across all sectors as the review recommends?
Debra Toporowski: BC is home to the richest ecosystems in Canada and it's our collective responsibility to protect them. We worked with First Nations title holders to defer over 2.4 million hectares of B.C.'s most at-risk forests, and we're committed to completing the commitments of the Old Growth Strategic Review. We will drive a new strategy to protect biodiversity and ecosystems alongside First Nations, communities and industry. Through this work BC is breaking from outdated conservation models and will deliver on science-based targets to protect water and natural systems. We can’t put our progress at risk.
4. The provincial government passed the “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA Declaration Act)” into law in November 2019. Some progress has been made and more is needed. A year ago, the BC Supreme Court gave the Province 18 months to work with BC First Nations to develop a new mineral tenure law consistent with DRIPA.
Question: Will you support acting on this, and on creating more Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas? What further concrete steps do you believe the BC government needs to take to address institutional racism and make meaningful progress on reconciliation with First Nations. Where would you start?
Debra Toporowski: The BC NDP is committed to continuing the implementation of the Declaration Act Action Plan. Together with Indigenous peoples, we will work to advance reconciliation in tangible and measurable ways. We will meet our shared commitment to protecting 30% of B.C.'s land and water by 2030 in partnership with First Nations communities. We've taken a number of actions to address institutional racism like introducing the Anti-Racism Data Act, building homes on reserve and supporting Indigenous education, and we will continue to work with Indigenous communities to support reconciliation and self-determination.
5. The opioid crisis is taking more lives across the spectrum of BC’s population than Covid, including here in the Cowichan Valley. There is international evidence that safe supply and supervised injection sites save lives. BC tried and abandoned this program.
Question: Should BC try again, using lessons learned? What can the BC government do now to address this crisis, and how would you begin?
Debra Toporowski: These losses are devastating. They are our family, our friends, and our neighbours. We're taking action on all fronts to fight the toxic drug crisis to save lives and get people treatment so they can recover, in addition to maintaining measures that keep people safe like prescribed alternatives and supervised consumption sites. So far, we opened more than 650 new treatment beds across BC and are opening more beds and building new treatment facilities. Rustad would make cuts to the healthcare services people need. People who need treatment can't afford that. He's done it before and will do it again.
6. Many people would love to have train service back on the Island – “Island Corridor Foundation” supports this. In January 2024 the latest cost of restoring the E&N corridor to train service on Vancouver Island was estimated at $1.5 billion. “Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island” proposes converting the railbed to a multi-use trail, potentially accommodating both bicycles and e-bikes – a less expense option. First Nations rights and title will need to be addressed with either proposal.
Question: Where do you stand on each of these proposals. Whichever plan you support, how would you help make it happen?
Debra Toporowski: Our communities are growing, and people need to be able to go to work, run errands, and get home quickly. David Eby and the BC NDP team will partner with communities to anticipate growth and increased demands and deliver transit options that make your commutes faster and more efficient. With funds from our government, a segment of the E&N Corridor was converted to cycling infrastructure, connecting downtown Victoria to the regional trail network and neighbouring communities. We will continue to work with communities to expand active transportation options that help make communities cleaner and more livable.
Debra Toporowski, BC NDP - Cowichan Valley
Contact Details [email protected] Website https://debratoporowski.bcndp.ca/
Note: While we sent these six questions directly to all the candidates, the response for the three NDP candidates in our electoral areas came from the BC NDP Party Policy Team.
***
JUAN DE FUCA - MALAHAT ELECTORAL AREA - OCTOBER 19TH REMEMBER TO
David Evans
BC Greens - Juan de Fuca - Malahat
1. Climate impacts grow more severe, carbon emissions continue to rise. Yet the 2023 UN Emissions Gap Report reports progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement shows the world is capable of change. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 were projected to rise by 16 per cent when the agreement was adopted. As of 2023 the projected increase was 3 per cent. However, predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions must still fall by 42% for a stable 1.5°C pathway. Globally and in BC we need faster economy-wide, low-carbon transformation focused on an energy transition.
Question: How do you plan to address the unfolding climate crisis provincially, and also support local governments in reducing emissions and repairing climate damage locally? Will you keep the BC Carbon Tax and make sure fossil fuel companies pay their fair share?
David Evans: Let me acknowledge that 100 words to distill a multiple page policy plank will be difficult for each of these questions! Addressing the climate crisis is critical. BC Greens will invest in renewable electrical capacity with much coming through Indigenous and community-led initiatives. This will allow electrification of more transportation and also replacement of diesel interim power generation. We will enact the Zero Carbon Step Code for all new construction ASAP. We will reform the carbon tax to focus on big polluters by eliminating current exemptions for industry.
2. Covid-19 is still with us, with waves of infection peaking and hospitalizations continuing throughout each year since the virus arrived, negatively affecting many people’s health. Health care workers are stressed and waitlists for diagnostics and essential care in BC grow longer. There are public health solutions to protect British Columbians from getting sick that don’t put our economy at risk.
Question: What are your top priorities for improving both access to health care in BC and the health and well-being of people in the Cowichan Valley across all ages and life circumstances, including those most vulnerable? Where would you start?
David Evans: Improving BC’s heath care system is a priority. Adding more money isn’t the solution to healthcare, more efficient delivery can be. BC has the highest ratio of doctors to patients in Canada, but doctors say they’re spending up to one third of their time filing paperwork. Meanwhile, Health Authorities across the province have more VPs than Germany’s healthcare system! BC Greens plan a network of Regional Health Hubs - our Dogwood Model - regional home bases for all residents providing a more complete range of healthcare professionals under one roof, sharing administration, space, utilities and providing a more efficient level of care.
3. The BC Old Growth Review Panel Report was released in April 2020. The BC government has yet to implement its recommendations. Meanwhile BC’s old growth forests continue to be logged, degrading forest ecosystems and watersheds.
Question: What provincial policies and actions would you put in place in response to this report to protect old growth forests and ancient ecosystems? Would you enact a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health across all sectors as the review recommends?
David Evans: BC old growth forests need to be protected, and the BC Greens have a very exciting policy plank on BC Forests to do that. We would implement all the recommendations of The BC Old Growth Strategic Review Panel Report, including the recommended Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law. I highly recommend downloading a copy of the BC Greens Platform 2024 from www.BCGreens.ca
4. The provincial government passed the “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA Declaration Act)” into law in November 2019. Some progress has been made and more is needed. A year ago, the BC Supreme Court gave the Province 18 months to work with BC First Nations to develop a new mineral tenure law consistent with DRIPA.
Question: Will you support acting on this, and on creating more Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas? What further concrete steps do you believe the BC government needs to take to address institutional racism and make meaningful progress on reconciliation with First Nations. Where would you start?
David Evans: Yes, I fully support this. BC Greens would start by recognizing and empowering Indigenous governments, ensuring equitable access to resources and decision-making authority. BC needs to ensure public servants are informed as to the history, rights and laws of Indigenous peoples. Our province needs to ensure that legislation and decision-making processes uphold the rights of Indigenous people.
5. The opioid crisis is taking more lives across the spectrum of BC’s population than Covid, including here in the Cowichan Valley. There is international evidence that safe supply and supervised injection sites save lives. BC tried and abandoned this program.
Question: Should BC try again, using lessons learned? What can the BC government do now to address this crisis, and how would you begin?
David Evans: BC must maintain safe supply because addiction should not be a potential death sentence. The lesson BC needs to learn is that safe supply is The First Step to recovery. Our Public Health Officer and our Chief Coroner know this, but politicians have been unwilling to acknowledge the truth. We must provide housing, security, safety, stability. Then when people have some stability, rehabilitation comes into play. The NDP government implemented one of the necessary steps to address this crisis, then turned its back when that did not solve it. It was performative politics, running away from an unpopular but necessary decision.
6. Many people would love to have train service back on the Island – “Island Corridor Foundation” supports this. In January 2024 the latest cost of restoring the E&N corridor to train service on Vancouver Island was estimated at $1.5 billion. “Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island” proposes converting the railbed to a multi-use trail, potentially accommodating both bicycles and e-bikes – a less expense option. First Nations rights and title will need to be addressed with either proposal.
Question: Where do you stand on each of these proposals. Whichever plan you support, how would you help make it happen?
David Evans: I rode the E&N quite a lot when I was a kid! The corridor presents such an exciting opportunity, and we need to acknowledge that multiple levels of government must work together before anything can happen on the tracks. BC Greens would work to convene a roundtable including Indigenous government as well as municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments to determine next steps. It would be a shame to lose the opportunity to run a train on the E&N tracks again and first we need to be sure that all levels of government are willing to have the conversation.
David Evans, BC Greens - Juan de Fuca - Malahat
Contact Details [email protected] Website https://bcgreens2024.ca/your-candidates/david-evans/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cowichanbcgreens Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cammyforcowichan
Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@cammyforcowichan
***
Dana Lajeunesse
BC NDP - Juan de Fuca - Malahat
1. Climate impacts grow more severe, carbon emissions continue to rise. Yet the 2023 UN Emissions Gap Report reports progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement shows the world is capable of change. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 were projected to rise by 16 per cent when the agreement was adopted. As of 2023 the projected increase was 3 per cent. However, predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions must still fall by 42% for a stable 1.5°C pathway. Globally and in BC we need faster economy-wide, low-carbon transformation focused on an energy transition.
Question: How do you plan to address the unfolding climate crisis provincially, and also support local governments in reducing emissions and repairing climate damage locally? Will you keep the BC Carbon Tax and make sure fossil fuel companies pay their fair share?
Dana Lajeunesse: British Columbians are seeing the threat of climate change. The BC NDP will address the climate crisis by meeting our GHG reduction targets, capping emissions from the biggest polluters and working with local governments to build strong, prepared communities. We believe that big polluters should pay the carbon tax, not average families who are facing higher costs. John Rustad calls climate science “a lie” and he's promising to rip up the climate plan we developed with the Green Party. That's too big of a risk for BC. we can't let him threaten our communities.
2. Covid-19 is still with us, with waves of infection peaking and hospitalizations continuing throughout each year since the virus arrived, negatively affecting many people’s health. Healthcare workers are stressed and waitlists for diagnostics and essential care in BC grow longer. There are public health solutions to protect British Columbians from getting sick that don’t put our economy at risk.
Question: What are your top priorities for improving both access to health care in BC and the health and well-being of people in the Cowichan Valley across all ages and life circumstances, including those most vulnerable? Where would you start?
Dana Lajeunesse: Everyone deserves to access health care when they need it. We're taking action to make health care better by training and recruiting more medical practitioners, matching people to doctors and nurse practitioners, making diagnostic testing more available and expanding hospitals and clinics, including building the new Cowichan District Hospital. We are connecting 588 people a day to a family doctor through the Health Connect Registry. We expect to have everyone on the Registry matched by the end of 2025. By allowing pharmacists to treat minor ailments and renew certain prescriptions, we've made it easier for people to access care.
3. The BC Old Growth Review Panel Report was released in April 2020, and the BC government has yet to implement its recommendations. Meanwhile BC’s old growth forests continue to be logged, degrading forest ecosystems and watersheds.
Question: What provincial policies and actions would you put in place in response to this report to protect old growth forests and ancient ecosystems? Would you enact a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health across all sectors as the review recommends?
Dana Lajeunesse: BC is home to the richest ecosystems in Canada and it's our collective responsibility to protect them. We worked with First Nations title holders to defer over 2.4 million hectares of B.C.'s most at-risk forests, and we're committed to completing the commitments of the Old Growth Strategic Review. We will drive a new strategy to protect biodiversity and ecosystems alongside First Nations, communities and industry. Through this work BC is breaking from outdated conservation models and will deliver on science-based targets to protect water and natural systems. We can’t put our progress at risk.
4. The provincial government passed the “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA Declaration Act)” into law in November 2019. Some progress has been made and more is needed. A year ago, the BC Supreme Court gave the Province 18 months to work with BC First Nations to develop a new mineral tenure law consistent with DRIPA.
Question: Will you support acting on this, and on creating more Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas? What further concrete steps do you believe the BC government needs to take to address institutional racism and make meaningful progress on reconciliation with First Nations. Where would you start?
Dana Lajeunesse: The BC NDP is committed to continuing the implementation of the Declaration Act Action Plan. Together with Indigenous peoples, we will work to advance reconciliation in tangible and measurable ways. We will meet our shared commitment to protecting 30% of B.C.'s land and water by 2030 in partnership with First Nations communities. We've taken a number of actions to address institutional racism like introducing the Anti-Racism Data Act, building homes on reserve and supporting Indigenous education, and we will continue to work with Indigenous communities to support reconciliation and self-determination.
5. The opioid crisis is taking more lives across the spectrum of BC’s population than Covid, including here in the Cowichan Valley. There is international evidence that safe supply and supervised injection sites save lives. BC tried and abandoned this program.
Question: Should BC try again, using lessons learned? What can the BC government do now to address this crisis, and how would you begin?
Dana Lajeunesse: These losses are devastating. They are our family, our friends, and our neighbours. We're taking action on all fronts to fight the toxic drug crisis to save lives and get people treatment so they can recover, in addition to maintaining measures that keep people safe like prescribed alternatives and supervised consumption sites. So far, we opened more than 650 new treatment beds across BC and are opening more beds and building new treatment facilities. Rustad would make cuts to the healthcare services people need. People who need treatment can't afford that. He's done it before and will do it again.
6. Many people would love to have train service back on the Island – “Island Corridor Foundation” supports this. In January 2024 the latest cost of restoring the E&N corridor to train service on Vancouver Island was estimated at $1.5 billion. “Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island” proposes converting the railbed to a multi-use trail, potentially accommodating both bicycles and e-bikes – a less expense option. First Nations rights and title will need to be addressed with either proposal.
Question: Where do you stand on each of these proposals. Whichever plan you support, how would you help make it happen?
Dana Lajeunesse: Our communities are growing, and people need to be able to go to work, run errands, and get home quickly. David Eby and the BC NDP team will partner with communities to anticipate growth and increased demands and deliver transit options that make your commutes faster and more efficient. With funds from our government, a segment of the E&N Corridor was converted to cycling infrastructure, connecting downtown Victoria to the regional trail network and neighbouring communities. We will continue to work with communities to expand active transportation options that help make communities cleaner and more livable.
Dana Lajeunesse, BC NDP - Juan de Fuca-Malahat
Contact Details [email protected] Website https://danalajeunesse.bcndp.ca/
Note: While we sent these six questions directly to all the candidates, the response for the three NDP candidates in our electoral areas came from the BC NDP Party Policy Team.
***
Marina Sapozhnikov, BC Conservative - Juan de Fuca-Malahat - - Did Not Respond
***
LADYSMITH - OCEANSIDE ELECTORAL AREA - OCTOBER 19TH REMEMBER TO
Brett Fee - BC Conservative - Ladysmith Oceanside - Did Not Respond
***
Stephanie Higginson
NDP - Ladysmith-Oceanside
1. Climate impacts grow more severe, carbon emissions continue to rise. Yet the 2023 UN Emissions Gap Report reports progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement shows the world is capable of change. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 were projected to rise by 16 per cent when the agreement was adopted. As of 2023 the projected increase was 3 per cent. However, predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions must still fall by 42% for a stable 1.5°C pathway. Globally and in BC we need faster economy-wide, low-carbon transformation focused on an energy transition.
Question: How do you plan to address the unfolding climate crisis provincially, and also support local governments in reducing emissions and repairing climate damage locally? Will you keep the BC Carbon Tax and make sure fossil fuel companies pay their fair share?
Stephanie Higginson: British Columbians are seeing the threat of climate change. The BC NDP will address the climate crisis by meeting our GHG reduction targets, capping emissions from the biggest polluters and working with local governments to build strong, prepared communities. We believe that big polluters should pay the carbon tax, not average families who are facing higher costs. John Rustad calls climate science “a lie” and he's promising to rip up the climate plan we developed with the Green Party. That's too big of a risk for BC. we can't let him threaten our communities.
2. Covid-19 is still with us, with waves of infection peaking and hospitalizations continuing throughout each year since the virus arrived, negatively affecting many people’s health. Healthcare workers are stressed and waitlists for diagnostics and essential care in BC grow longer. There are public health solutions to protect British Columbians from getting sick that don’t put our economy at risk.
Question: What are your top priorities for improving both access to health care in BC and the health and well-being of people in the Cowichan Valley across all ages and life circumstances, including those most vulnerable? Where would you start?
Stephanie Higginson: Everyone deserves to access health care when they need it. We're taking action to make health care better by training and recruiting more medical practitioners, matching people to doctors and nurse practitioners, making diagnostic testing more available and expanding hospitals and clinics, including building the new Cowichan District Hospital. We are connecting 588 people a day to a family doctor through the Health Connect Registry. We expect to have everyone on the Registry matched by the end of 2025. By allowing pharmacists to treat minor ailments and renew certain prescriptions, we've made it easier for people to access care.
3. The BC Old Growth Review Panel Report was released in April 2020, and the BC government has yet to implement its recommendations. Meanwhile BC’s old growth forests continue to be logged, degrading forest ecosystems and watersheds.
Question: What provincial policies and actions would you put in place in response to this report to protect old growth forests and ancient ecosystems? Would you enact a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health across all sectors as the review recommends?
Stephanie Higginson: BC is home to the richest ecosystems in Canada and it's our collective responsibility to protect them. We worked with First Nations title holders to defer over 2.4 million hectares of B.C.'s most at-risk forests, and we're committed to completing the commitments of the Old Growth Strategic Review. We will drive a new strategy to protect biodiversity and ecosystems alongside First Nations, communities and industry. Through this work BC is breaking from outdated conservation models and will deliver on science-based targets to protect water and natural systems. We can’t put our progress at risk.
4. The provincial government passed the “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA Declaration Act)” into law in November 2019. Some progress has been made and more is needed. A year ago, the BC Supreme Court gave the Province 18 months to work with BC First Nations to develop a new mineral tenure law consistent with DRIPA.
Question: Will you support acting on this, and on creating more Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas? What further concrete steps do you believe the BC government needs to take to address institutional racism and make meaningful progress on reconciliation with First Nations. Where would you start?
Stephanie Higginson: The BC NDP is committed to continuing the implementation of the Declaration Act Action Plan. Together with Indigenous peoples, we will work to advance reconciliation in tangible and measurable ways. We will meet our shared commitment to protecting 30% of B.C.'s land and water by 2030 in partnership with First Nations communities. We've taken a number of actions to address institutional racism like introducing the Anti-Racism Data Act, building homes on reserve and supporting Indigenous education, and we will continue to work with Indigenous communities to support reconciliation and self-determination.
5. The opioid crisis is taking more lives across the spectrum of BC’s population than Covid, including here in the Cowichan Valley. There is international evidence that safe supply and supervised injection sites save lives. BC tried and abandoned this program.
Question: Should BC try again, using lessons learned? What can the BC government do now to address this crisis, and how would you begin?
Stephanie Higginson: These losses are devastating. They are our family, our friends, and our neighbours. We're taking action on all fronts to fight the toxic drug crisis to save lives and get people treatment so they can recover, in addition to maintaining measures that keep people safe like prescribed alternatives and supervised consumption sites. So far, we opened more than 650 new treatment beds across BC and are opening more beds and building new treatment facilities. Rustad would make cuts to the healthcare services people need. People who need treatment can't afford that. He's done it before and will do it again.
6. Many people would love to have train service back on the Island – “Island Corridor Foundation” supports this. In January 2024 the latest cost of restoring the E&N corridor to train service on Vancouver Island was estimated at $1.5 billion. “Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island” proposes converting the railbed to a multi-use trail, potentially accommodating both bicycles and e-bikes – a less expense option. First Nations rights and title will need to be addressed with either proposal.
Question: Where do you stand on each of these proposals. Whichever plan you support, how would you help make it happen?
Stephanie Higginson: Our communities are growing, and people need to be able to go to work, run errands, and get home quickly. David Eby and the BC NDP team will partner with communities to anticipate growth and increased demands and deliver transit options that make your commutes faster and more efficient. With funds from our government, a segment of the E&N Corridor was converted to cycling infrastructure, connecting downtown Victoria to the regional trail network and neighbouring communities. We will continue to work with communities to expand active transportation options that help make communities cleaner and more livable.
Stephanie Higginson - BC NDP - Ladysmith Oceanside
Contact Details [email protected] Website https://stephaniehigginson.bcndp.ca/
Note: While we sent these six questions directly to all the candidates, the response for the three NDP candidates in our electoral areas came from the BC NDP Party Policy Team.
***
Adam Walker
Independent - Ladysmith - Oceanside
1. Climate impacts grow more severe; carbon emissions continue to rise. Yet the 2023 UN Emissions Gap Report reports progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement shows the world is capable of change. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 were projected to rise by 16 per cent when the agreement was adopted. As of 2023 the projected increase was 3 per cent. However, predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions must still fall by 42% for a stable 1.5°C pathway. Globally and in BC we need faster economy-wide, low-carbon transformation focused on an energy transition.
Question: How do you plan to address the unfolding climate crisis provincially, and also support local governments in reducing emissions and repairing climate damage locally? Will you keep the BC Carbon Tax and make sure fossil fuel companies pay their fair share?
Adam Walker: BC’s emissions are still rising, and we need change for both environmental and economic reasons. I support smart development to prevent urban sprawl, increased provincial funding for transit and EV charging, and stronger incentives for solar power and heat pumps. We must eliminate subsidies for multinational fossil fuel companies. The royalties we collect are unacceptable compared to places like Norway. The carbon tax, while flawed, is still our best tool for reducing emissions. I support reforming it so that more funds stay in local communities and sectors, like agriculture, and ensuring large emitters don’t receive unfair subsidies.
2. Covid-19 is still with us, with waves of infection peaking and hospitalizations continuing throughout each year since the virus arrived, negatively affecting many people’s health. Healthcare workers are stressed and waitlists for diagnostics and essential care in BC grow longer. There are public health solutions to protect British Columbians from getting sick that don’t put our economy at risk.
Question: What are your top priorities for improving both access to health care in BC and the health and well-being of people in the Cowichan Valley across all ages and life circumstances, including those most vulnerable? Where would you start?
Adam Walker: Our first priority must be making sure everyone has access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. When I became an independent MLA (2020), our office grew from 2 to 6 staff, allowing us to develop a plan for a 15-room, team-based, community-led medical clinic, with a mobile unit for those unable to access care otherwise. We need more initiatives like this. We also need to expand mental health support, make counseling more accessible under MSP, and open more treatment and detox facilities without delay. Supporting local non-profits that are already doing great work is also key to improving health for all.
3. The BC Old Growth Review Panel Report was released in April 2020, and the BC government has yet to implement its recommendations. Meanwhile BC’s old growth forests continue to be logged, degrading forest ecosystems and watersheds.
Question: What provincial policies and actions would you put in place in response to this report to protect old growth forests and ancient ecosystems? Would you enact a Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Law prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health across all sectors as the review recommends?
Adam Walker: The year after the Old Growth Review was published, old growth logging actually increased, this is unacceptable. These ancient trees are crucial for biodiversity, climate resilience, and future generations. We must expand Special Tree Protection to cover more of the remaining large trees, as the current thresholds are too lenient. Compensation is needed to help old-growth logging communities transition, while developing sustainable long-term opportunities like eco-tourism and carbon credits. I support appointing a Chief Ecologist, enhancing landscape-level planning, strengthening species-at-risk laws, and implementing Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health frameworks to protect vital ecosystems.
4. The provincial government passed the “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA Declaration Act)” into law in November 2019. Some progress has been made and more is needed. A year ago, the BC Supreme Court gave the Province 18 months to work with BC First Nations to develop a new mineral tenure law consistent with DRIPA.
Question: Will you support acting on this, and on creating more Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas? What further concrete steps do you believe the BC government needs to take to address institutional racism and make meaningful progress on reconciliation with First Nations. Where would you start?
Adam Walker: We can't keep doing the same thing and expect positive change. The BC government must honour court rulings and fulfill its commitments to First Nations, while involving all British Columbians in reconciliation. As a first step, we should foster community gatherings where leaders and the public—both Indigenous and non-Indigenous—can come together, learn from each other, and understand shared values and the treaty process. Reconciliation is more than words—it’s action, collaboration, and a shared journey forward. We need leadership that unites communities. I strongly support creating new Indigenous Protected & Conserved Areas to protect our shared land.
5. The opioid crisis is taking more lives across the spectrum of BC’s population than Covid, including here in the Cowichan Valley. There is international evidence that safe supply and supervised injection sites save lives. BC tried and abandoned this program.
Question: Should BC try again, using lessons learned? What can the BC government do now to address this crisis, and how would you begin?
Adam Walker: The opioid crisis is taking too many lives, and we need urgent action. While safe supply has reduced deaths, Alberta's focus on expanding treatment has been even more effective. BC must do better—treatment beds aren't just announcements; they need to be real and available. If someone wants help, they shouldn't be risking their life while waiting. Government must provide healthcare, including medications to keep people alive until treatment is available. We need more non-profit residential treatment options, no barriers to entry, and strong aftercare—mental health support, housing, and access to specialists—to truly help people rebuild their lives.
6. Many people would love to have train service back on the Island – “Island Corridor Foundation” supports this. In January 2024 the latest cost of restoring the E&N corridor to train service on Vancouver Island was estimated at $1.5 billion. “Friends of Rails to Trails - Vancouver Island” proposes converting the railbed to a multi-use trail, potentially accommodating both bicycles and e-bikes – a less expense option. First Nations rights and title will need to be addressed with either proposal.
Question: Where do you stand on each of these proposals? Whichever plan you support, how would you help make it happen?
Adam Walker: With the Snaw-Naw-As having removed the tracks from their reserve, it's less likely that we'll see a return of the train service from my youth. However, it's critical to preserve the corridor's integrity. As our Island's population grows, many parts of the Island Highway can't be expanded to meet future demand. I support expanding active transportation along the corridor—like multi-use trails—but we must also consider future rapid transit needs. We need to prioritize working with local governments and first nations to explore rapid rail in urban areas and eventually connect suburban areas, ensuring we’re ready to meet long-term transportation demands.
Adam Walker, Independent - Ladysmith Oceanside
Contact Details: [email protected], p: 250-947-5115 Website: www.adamwalker.ca
Election Day is October 19th - Remember to Vote