Age: 55
Occupation: Former journalist, now a communications consultant - most recently for the BC Parks Foundation
Where do you live? For how long? Pender Harbour/ kalpilin since 2020
Email: [email protected]
What are your top priorities for the Sunshine Coast?
From knocking on more than a thousand doors, the issues that stand out to voters in Powell River - Sunshine Coast are affordability, healthcare and housing. Improving highway safety for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists are also big concerns, and those would be my top priorities for this riding.
Where do you stand on the shíshálh swiya dock management plan proposal?
The latest dock management plan was reached through a dock management advisory council that included dock owners, the shíshálh Nation, and members of the SCCA. They worked to come up with recommendations to allow dock owners to keep their docks and work together to restore the biodiversity in the swiya.
How would you address local safety and crime concerns?
Sechelt Council has been working overtime with the community on solutions for public safety. Together with the community, including shíshálh Nation, business owners, RCMP and the provincial and federal governments, we can work on solutions to ensure everyone feels safe in the communities we love.
Does the Sunshine Coast need a new/improved highway?
I’ve heard from many residents we need to improve the safety of the highway for kids, pedestrians, active transportation users and motorists. We need to work with local governments and community groups to prioritize what we need, and I will fight for the funding to get it accomplished.
Should the province be providing subsidized housing on the Sunshine Coast?
The latest report on housing shows we need hundreds of affordable homes for our seniors, nurses, EA’s and construction workers. The province provides funding for affordable housing initiatives. Local governments need support to take advantage of these opportunities to ensure the Sunshine Coast remains a great, affordable place to live.
What more can the province be doing to help the Coast with its water woes?
A sustainable long term watershed strategy for the Sunshine Coast is critical. Working with local governments (who are shouldering this burden), along with the shíshálh Nation and the province are key to finding solutions that will ensure the safety of our watersheds for generations to come.
What does reconciliation mean to you?
Reconciliation means we need to come together as a community to understand the truth. The shíshálh, Squamish and Tla’amin Nations have a deep, beautiful history here that should be honoured and respected. Working together to create a sustainable future for our grandkids is what we should all be working towards.
Why should Coasters vote for you?
I’ve spent my career as a journalist asking the tough questions. It has been my privilege to raise people’s voices to make sure they are heard and get answers. I will be the squeaky wheel in Victoria who fights for what is important for the people who live here.
Read up on the other candidates: Chris Hergesheimer, BC Greens; Greg Reid, Independent and Chris Moore, BC Conservatives.
Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
