Age: 44
Occupation: Community worker/ researcher/ social justice worker
Where do you live? For how long?: Halfmoon Bay, 4 years; Roberts Creek 14 years
Email: [email protected]
Web: bcgreens2024.ca/your-candidates/chris-hergesheimer
What are your top priorities for the Sunshine Coast?
Learning, listening and respecting the diverse voices in our region; investing in resilient, diverse community building; bridging divides and re-invigorating collaborative dialogue and cooperative policy solutions; affordable, diverse and accessible housing; significant public transit expansion; climate change mitigation at multiple levels; local economic development; holistic health care model reforms; ecosystem, biodiversity and natural landscape protections; poverty elimination; investments in social service and education.
Where do you stand on the shíshálh swiya dock management plan proposal?
The BC Green party is committed to a journey of reconciliation and justice which includes shared land management decision making. Reconciliation should inspire both Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals. We advocate for supportive, cooperative, transparent and effective dialogue and decision making as we navigate this collective journey with respect and optimism.
How would you address local safety and crime concerns?
Local crime and safety are the symptoms of a system producing growing inequality, increasing poverty and lack of investment in the holistic support systems needed. Investing in the root causes (housing, mental health supports, income security, public transportation) is the most cost effective and logical place to tackle this challenge.
Does the Sunshine Coast need a new/improved highway?
Sure. But without dedicated conversations about the ways in which we animate that highway or our existing one –– drastically improved public transit, active transportation corridors -- we continue to maintain a system that excludes individuals from fully participating and finding belonging in society simply because they do not own a vehicle.
Should the province be providing subsidized housing on the Sunshine Coast?
Absolutely. There are so many populations who can benefit from some level of subsidized housing. The stigma around subsidized housing remains a barrier we need to break. Furthermore, we continually subsidize so many industries in this province that do not have returns to a thriving and equitable region.
What more can the province be doing to help the Coast with its water woes?
Water stewardship councils for shared control and collaborative decision making; reform water use; penalize wasteful users; explore, invest significantly in and regulate innovate solutions (grey water, water catchment) at the household and industry level; protect our watersheds with whatever regulatory tools are available and whatever must be done. Non negotiable.
What does reconciliation mean to you?
Reconciliation is our collective journey and one that should inspire us. A brighter and more equitable future together. We don’t know where this journey will lead us, but we know we are in it together. The future of redefined relationships and values is the only way to move forward.
Why should Coasters vote for you?
I have dedicated my work, passions and hobbies to being a community worker and a community leader. I love this community and believe that an MLA should have direct knowledge of the issues facing their communities and work for the people of the riding not a party. Greens embody this.
Read up on the other candidates: Greg Reid, Independent, Chris Moore, BC Conservatives and Randene Neill, BC NDP.
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