The following is a Q&A that was distributed to all Gibsons candidates.
Candidate name
Annemarie De Andrade
Age
62
Occupation (s)
Municipal councillor for the Town of Gibsons
Which position are you running for?
Councillor
Incumbent? If so how many years on council?
4 years
Live in Gibsons? For how long?
10+ years
What are your priorities if elected?
Water security, climate resilience, develop a land use strategy, identify sites for a range of HOUSING OPTIONS, meaningful community engagement to promote sustainable growth, support an active & age-friendly community.
Should Gibsons facilitate creation of more affordable housing? How?
Yes. Implement Gibsons’ Housing Strategy (June 2022); Develop a land use strategy, identify sites for a range of AH; Explore tools, partnerships for delivery of workforce and seniors housing; Advocate to senior governments for housing and support for vulnerable populations
What should council be doing to protect the Town’s water supply?
Maintain the aquifer monitoring and water infrastructure management programs; develop a watershed governance model with regional partners for protection of the aquifer recharge area; Keep growth within the aquifer’s capacity
Should Gibsons prepare for climate change? If so how?
Yes. Gibsons is leading in natural asset management and making substantial efforts towards climate preparedness. Projects I will continue to support include: aquifer mapping, Coast resilience and Source-to-Sea projects; Updating tree preservation bylaw /development permit areas; eelgrass restoration, creeks assessment/monitoring
How can council mitigate the many upward pressures on property taxes?
The Town retains just 43% of the total property taxes it collects. Unfortunately, the only way to reduce taxes is to cut the level of services provided to the community.
How would you balance pushback on development with need for housing?
Invite residents to help develop a land use strategy focused on identifying sites for market, below market and affordable housing. Involve people in all stages of the process. Residents’ concerns should be addressed in a respectful and systematic way.
What do you wish we'd asked you?
Why running? As an incumbent, I have the knowledge and experience to hit the ground running and advance relevant ongoing work aimed to address the pressing needs of our community.
Who else is running for Gibsons council? See profiles for David Croal, Desmond Delaney, Stafford Lumley, Blake MacLeod, Bob Morris, Greig Soohen, Christi Thompson, Leslie Thomson, Silas White and Phil Yeung.
