What are the skills, experiences and beliefs that make you the choice for voters in Nanaimo – North Cowichan? What policies and commitments has your party made that will make B.C. and Nanaimo – North Cowichan a better place to live?
I feel fortunate to have represented the Nanaimo-North Cowichan area for 15 years which has given me a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that exist in our coastal communities.
Most of my years as an MLA were spent in opposition watching our community suffer through a rising poverty and housing crisis and fighting for the investments and improved services that we needed.
This last term has been drastically different – we have seen a new urgent care clinic, the islands first nurse practitioner led clinic, new and expanded hospitals, new and upgraded schools, more investments in affordable housing, lowered child care fees and long-awaited projects like Crofton Road are finally becoming a reality.
Over the years I have worked with so many organizations and individuals who never gave up advocating for these projects and investments. I am incredibly grateful for their efforts and I am proud to have been part of the government who worked with our community to make them happen.
I am running for re-election because there is still so much work left to do, and I want to continue moving our community forward.
I fed my family working in the oil and gas industry for 20 years. Working with my hands taught me the value of stable resource jobs. My time as a city councillor in Estevan Saskatchewan taught me how important it is to be accessible to my community when in a role of service.
Opening our small business in Chemainus, exposed me to my community’s frustrations with the provincial government. I learned that the most important problems we need to fix are in the government’s hands. It was their lack of action that inspired me to run for MLA. I’ve had an impact on local decisions as an advocate for our shared natural spaces.
I know I can have a real impact on the provincial level as Green MLA advocating for our communities and our larger environment.
I have many hobbies but climbing mountains is a passion. When I head out to the mountains, I research the terrain and map out the journey. I ensure I take along the right safety equipment and check in with my family regularly. It’s the same approach I’ll take as your MLA.
I have over 30 years as a councillor for the Town of Ladysmith. In that time I have had numerous opportunities to listen to people concerns as well as being a part of a lot of good solutions. It has also given me a good understanding of how government works and how to work with them.
I also have over 40 years of community service and volunteer work from Kinsmen, Ladysmith Festival of Lights, Show ‘n’ Shine, Cops for Cancer, Loggers Sports as well as raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for many community playgrounds, spay park, wheelchair ramps, you name it. Right now I’m the fundraiser for the new downtown washrooms in Ladysmith.
During my council time I’m often asked who our MLA is, and I believe after 15 years our present MLA should be known, but he’s not. I will not only be totally accessible, but I will be visible and will be in all areas of the riding to let folks know what is going on.
Another reason why I’m running is we are going to have a huge debt that we’re going to have to start repaying. I don’t want my grandchildren (of which Tracy and I have six) to have it hung on them or their children! We need to find new and innovative ways to create new sources of revenue and try not to make the poor taxpayer foot the bill again. We need to economically as well as environmentally to put BC on track again.
We are facing huge problems from Homelessness, to Mental Health and Addictions, to Seniors Care, to Education… in fact all across North America it’s the same story. I see us working collaboratively with other provinces, the federal government and even foreign governments to help find solutions. The BC Liberals are working on plans to address these issues provincially, as it’s our citizens that come first, but if we go beyond for help and advice there’s nothing wrong with that.
Our present MLA tells us what the existing government, which just turned it’s back on the people of BC, has done, but he doesn’t state what he’s done… even the Crofton Road is not done and they’ve made the same Cowichan Hospital announcement twice, and still nothing. I will tell the folks, of the riding, what is happening IN the riding as that is what is important to them as well as what is happening provincially.
Candidates responses to this question have been added in the order received. Go to the Election Questions list to see questions that have been submitted to the Forum.
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