A large crowd (we stopped counting at about 68!) came to this ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome all four of our MLA candidates (alphabetically), Kala Bryson (NDP), Emily Lowan (Green), Richard (Rick) Smith (Centre), and Ryan Windsor (Conservative). 

After Emily offered our Acknowledgement, we learned what “excited and delighted” our candidates. Kala shared her delight with being in the room full of folks who care deeply about our future. As a lawyer, she must sometime operate in a silo, so she is excited about the opportunity that campaigning has offered to her to engage in conversations with the local activists she has met. 

Emily appreciated the somewhat whimsical question, sharing her delight with the ferry trip to Salt Spring. This short voyage brought her a joy and aliveness , reminding her of the preciousness of the land we are protecting from tankers and pipelines. 

Ryan, currently mayor of central Saanich, is always “excited and delighted” by his kayaking trips in Brentwood Bay exploring Tod Inlet, his favourite getaway to reconnect and appreciate the magic of the beautiful land all around us. 

Rick loves playing with his grandchildren as well as open ocean sailing with his preferred duties as night watch to most-fully experience the stars and nighttime-wonders of our ocean.

Candidates were then offered a brief time to tell us why they were hoping to become our next MLA, beginning with Ryan who outlined the three things most important to him: 1) Developing a solid, economically sustainable plan to support our rural and agricultural roots; 2) Improving BC Ferries, beginning by listening – rather than firing – employees with good ideas for change; and 3) Improving our active transportation options so that we can get around without driving our autos everywhere. 

Emily spoke of her deep roots on the Saanich Peninsula, passionate about representing the riding where she grew up. Recognizing that we are the crown jewel of British Columbia, her love for our paradise became a call for action when she recognized the threats facing us. Fearful of these threats and inspired by MP Elizabeth May on Parliament Hill, she threw herself into options to address our climate crisis, regulation of the fossil fuel industry, and control of the corporations that are threatening our democracy and our future.

Kala, a 27 year old lawyer, committed to pro bono work for those with low incomes and disabilities, is running to make sure legislation and policies are in place to better protect them. While she is proud of all that the NDP has accomplished, including an ambitious green policy and rents that have fallen, there is so much more that needs to be done. She will be a fierce advocate to create opportunity for seniors and workers, advocate for good ferry service, and make sure community voices inform government decisions.

Rick is not a politician, but he is weary of the same old themes. He is determined to fight for legislation that is based on facts . He is also committed to giving our islands a stronger voice through his advocacy.  

Question: Less than a kilometre away, at Greenwoods and Lady Minto Hospital Long Term Care wing, are our most vulnerable. Struggling with health challenges, they have no voice. Will our candidates commit to visiting these facilities to fully understand and bette advocate for patients there?

Kala committed to visit these facilities. She reminded us that these seniors fought for her generation and her education. She is confident that an NDP government would get the job done. She cited the NDP pledge for 5,600 more long-term care spaces, funding for six new care homes, and a pathway for funding a seniors’ care hub at the currently-vacant Oak Bay Lodge location. She also said that our government has more to do.

Emily offered her enthusiastic “Yes” to visiting these local facilities.Concerned about deteriorating conditions, she would love to visit, participate in round table discussions, and complete a comprehensive study of this as well as other issues threatening Salt Spring. She promised to use her leverage to create a plan to escalate improvements.

Ryan spoke of his recent visits to local Amica senior homes. In Central Saanich, when the Aryze Development proposed to partner with Legion Manor Victoria and the South Vancouver Housing Society to build a 57 affordable housing unit for seniors, his support of this private venture was not popular. Despite the flack he received, he remains committed to affordable housing, especially for seniors. He is disappointed in the NDP which has gone back and forth with its support for such housing.

Rick replied with his commitment to visit these facilities, reminding us that how we treat our elders is a measure of our society. He believes that it is a shame that conditions are poor, and he will advocate for improvements. He has lived in co-op housing and would bring his experience of alternate housing options to his work as our MLA.

Question: A senior living at Pioneer Village complained about too many vehicles passing her home everyday, reminding us that we cannot continue to accommodate them. With 863 accidents in BC every day, she wants to know what is going on with ICBC.

Rick told us that there its a tug of war within ICBC as they transition to No Fault insurance. He is concerned that we are leaving behind those who have been seriously injured but no longer have the right to sue for adequate compensation. Rick believes we need a system that allows those who need additional funding due to the injuries of an accident to seek it, possibly even by going to court.

Ryan recognizes that insurance rates may have come down and ICBC is funding local safety improvements, which is good, but he also recognizes that those with catastrophic accidents may not be adequately supported in a timely manner. He would like to advocate for a sustainable system where ICBC funds are invested back, possibly to enhance active transportation options.

Emily believes that the current ICBC No Faultinsurance is not serving us. Not supportive of a private model like that of Ontario, she believes that we need a better way to support compensation for those injured. She spoke briefly of her father who, as the result of an accident, has endured eight years of chronic migraines. The current ICBC model is not working for him. She would like a review and rethink of the ICBC system with hope that evaluative care and consideration can be improved as well as more funding for active transportation options.

Kalais proud of the work the NDP has done to improve our transit system, enhancing access and affordability. She cited the Get On Board Program offering free rides to all who are 12 years old and under, a significant benefit to families, especially with children taking the bus to school five days a week. When ICBC shifted its model from a traditional litigation-based system to one of no fault, personal injury lawyers could no longer take large shares of client awards. She prefers a system in which compensation goes to victims rather than lawyers. 

Question: Candidates were asked about their position on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). 

Kala appreciated the question as a very important one for the future of our young people. She told us that the NDP, considering LNG as a “transition fuel,” has approached the environmental impact of LNG primarily through mandating electrification of the LNG plants and integration with the province’s clean power grid. It is the NDP’s position that BC-produced LNG with provincial regulatory standards can displace dirtier energy sources, like coal in Asian markets, and lower global greenhouse gas emissions. Asking us not to let perfection be the enemy of improvement, Kala believes that providing cleaner energy in northern BC as well as exporting LNG to markets currently relying on coal is a net win.

Emily began by saying that clean LNG is an oxymoron. She told us that the Greens believe that the current government’s claims that by electrifying LNG, it is clean are simply not true. After all, it all begins with fracking! Consistently opposed to LNG, both the federal and BC Greens strongly oppose public funding, tax credits, and financial support (such as BC’s $200 million investment in transmission/electrification for Cedar LNG) directed toward fossil fuel and LNG infrastructure. With profits going to American corporations, BC taxpayer dollars could better spent on renewable energy and more BC jobs. She is inspired by the just-released 36 page Green Plan and encouraged us to read it.

Ryan reminded us that China derives 59% of its energy from coal. He is convinced that LGN is an essential transition fuel that will allow BC to export LNG to Asia temporarily capturing royalties and reducing world emissions. But, we also need to better support alternate fuels, citing work that needs to be done to make solar energy a good alternative. 

Rick noted that it is contradictory to advocate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and then sell products that emit them. There must be a better way. 

Question: If a federal advance request for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) were passed, it would allow individuals who are still mentally capable to legally consent in advance to receiving MAID after they lose decision-making capacity. Would you advocate for this advance request option to be implemented in BC?

Rick, with two people close to him having chosen MAID, believes that we should all have the right to determine our own life span.

Ryan, with apersonal belief tending towards “Yes,” would want to also work with physicians to make sure autonomy for all is respected. 

Emily offered a cautious “Yes,” a strong advocate for proactive planning before reduced mental capability becomes a reality. She reminded us, however, that heartbreaking cases of seniors requesting MAID because of unsustainable financial circumstances must be addressed with other solutions. 

Kala strongly supports people deciding their own future, but, like Emily, cautioned us to make sure that MAID is an option only to end unbearable suffering, not because the care needed is not available. 

Question: Our next question was our most succinct if not our simplest: Housing?

Kala while she agrees that more needs to be done, she also strongly believes in continuing the progress the NDP has made, including lower rents, our supportive housing facility on Drake Road, BC Builds, province-wide up-zoning, and the Speculation and Vacancy Tax.

Emily has many concerns about the top down impacts of the recently-passed Bill 44, officially known as the Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act. She is also distressed about the pause in the Community Housing Fund that forced shovel-ready projects to be suddenly halted. With no provincial willpower to build appropriate non-market housing, too many are forced into precarious housing situations like RVs. She also reminded us that existing housing needs funding for upkeep.

Ryan saw that Bill 44 created problems, noting that his Central Saanich planning staff were forced to spend months updating bylaws rather than planning the housing needed. Despite this, he is proud that Central Saanich built hundreds of housing units and 61 rental units during his terms as Mayor. He made a difference in his community and is committed to do the hard work of making housing affordable when elected. Determined to develop a sustainable plan, access to transit and walking options are important components of his affordable housing plan.

Rick told us that four of his five daughters could not afford a home.While committed to affordable housing, he reminded us that infrastructure is also important. Maybe we should first focus on solving our limited water supply?

Question: What is your party’s position on protection of old-growth forests?

Rick, from California originally, is very familiar with irreplaceable old-growth forests, such as the Redwoods. Stated simply: “We should leave them alone!” 

Ryan believes that our old growth trees need to be protected, but he also believes that we need to respect the rights of our First Nations to sustain their community financially by harvesting them when needed.

Emily and the BC Greens support the protection of old-growth forests, a promise that the NDP has not kept. By not providing the funding needed to support First Nations to develop other sustainable sources of income, we are pitting British Columbians against each other in failing to provide long term solutions. Emily stated, a comment that was later challenged by Ryan, that First Nations would be open to considering revenue options other than logging old growth were sufficient transition funding provided. 

Kala, offering credit to Greens Adam Olsen and Rob Botterell for their tenacity,told us that the NDP has protected 75% more old growth forests than in 2015 and is on track to protect 30% of BC’s total land by 2030. She cherishes old-growth forests and will advocate to protect them. One way of doing this is to modify mills to profit from 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th growth forest products rather than old growth.

Question: If you disagreed with your party’s policy on old-growth logging, would you vote against it?

Kala: Yes, I would, as a representative, my personal values would be to advocate for my constituents. The NDP values different perspectives.

Emily: You can count on Greens to collectively be staunch supporters for old-growth

Ryan: Members of cabinet that disagree with one’s party, should resign from cabinet, although not the caucus. I would have no choice but to resign from cabinet if I disagreed with my party, but it is still possible that I could disagree.

Rick would examine the facts, vote with his conscience

Question: Do you support data centres?

Ryan shares the concern about data centres, but he sees a distinction: AI centers are prohibited in Central Saanich; there may be a need for data centers for complex services such as heath care, etc. 

With technologies coming at us fast and furiously, Emily told us that the BC Greens are the only party to support a moratorium to data centres until their impact has been evaluated. In addition to risks about AI-specific centres, she is also concerned about the high energy usage of these centres. 

Kala supports the recently-passed NDP Bill 31, theEnergy Statutes Amendment Act as a proactive move that limits energy going into data centres, gave First Nations an economic interest in these centres, and allowed BC Hydro discretion on allocating energy to centres. She criticized the Greens for not supporting this bill, with Emily responding that this bill provides for dirty energy as well as allowing BC Hydro’s refusal to help Haida Gwaii with battery power. 

Rick reminded us that governments look at data centres as cash cows. He would distinguish between the kind of AI utilized in any proposed data centre.

Question: The Islands Trust has requested tools from the province to help it to do its job better, a request that has been refused by the current government. How would you help? 

Kala is an expert in municipal law and recognizes that special government powers, like the Islands Trust, matter. She is familiar with the issue and would use her legal training and knowledge to make a case for prioritizing the Islands Trust’s request for help. 

Rick would respond: “How can I help?”We need to establish better relations between our government and local communities by being more open and listening. . .and, he would do exactly that.

Emily sees an important role of an MLA to be the convener, collaborating to find a path forward. She would use her role as party leader as well as her professional experience to bring groups together to find solutions.

Ryan, with his 12 years on the CRD Board, is familiar with Islands Trust and would be prepared to explore options.

Question: Why are we having an election? 

Kalaexpressed her appreciation for the opportunity to answer this question.She, too, was initially frustrated by the sudden snap election although she now better understands. While the NDP retains a majority, this majority was dependent upon one vote. The Speaker of the House was often relied upon as the tie-breaking vote. It became difficult to pass legislation amidst life events like cancer treatment and child birth, and the Greens had ended their cooperation agreement. The election was called to provide stability to government and to the province. 

Ryan disagreed with this NDP explanation, strongly criticizing the estimated $100 million spent on the election, the chaos it has created, and the disrespect to all British Columbians it signals.

Emily agreed with Ryan, saying that the election was called for self-interest not for the welfare of British Columbians, neither justifications nor excuses work. 

Rick sees this as a cynical, desperate call for an election for which politicians were unprepared. He is also very concerned about voter confusion as it coincides/conflicts with local elections.

Question: What is your position on DRIPA, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act?

Ryan supports repealing DRIPA. It has created legal confusion. Instead, he believes that we need to get back to a focus on working together.

Emily lamented the year of fear mongering, using the Cowichan judgment as an excuse to call for the repeal of DRIPA. DRIPA is supported by the Greens, and the Greens are disappointed that its implementation has been crippled by government delays, inaction, lack of resources, and years of talk with no substance.

Kalais glad thatthe NDP supports DRIPA. She noted progress, including the opening of 17 Indigenous Justice Centres, the First Nations Guardian Program, and a number of excellent NDP First Nations candidates. She underscored the importance of stopping the racist rhetoric, particularly in the legal system, and making sure DRIPA is a meaningful tool.

Rick believes that we need to manage and implement change better, creating clear legislation with clearly-defined terminology.

Question: What improvements would you like to see to rural/remote healthcare?

Rick reminded us that healthcare is an issue that is intertwined with other complex issues. He noted that Shoreline Medical Clinic is a successful solution to a local problem with a track record of recruiting many doctors to two clinics, serving 16,000 patients, hiring a physician recruiter, and even offering micro loans to entice physicians. He sees no reason this model could not be replicated on Salt Spring.

Ryan spoke of 1991 federal cuts under an NDP government that limited medical training, part of reason we are now struggling to find doctors. A longtime problem, an immediate solution is both unwise and unlikely. Instead, we need a sustainable model to enhance our healthcare. Having helped to fast-track the creation of Shoreline Clinic, he supports similar sustainable models. 

Kala will examine other successful models of health care, with clinics high on her list. Her solutions will be grounded in the needs of patients, with both long- and short-term strategies. On a bright note: We learned the BC has the best physician/patient ratio in all of Canada.

Emily: The status quo is not working. She would like to bring team-based community health centres to every community. The Greens fought for, and won, a just completed study of community health networks across the province. Funding? While we are challenged by a serious deficit, by taxing our richest, we could bring in a substantial amount to support programs for all.

Question: Candidates were then offered the opportunity to offer us one last comment about why they should be our next MLA

Kala thanked everyone for coming, saying that she loves those who care! She is running because she knows we can’t afford to go backwards. We care about the environment and so many other issues, like affordable child care. She wants her clients to benefit from good policy decisions and is determined to help to make them. She welcomes people to contact her office at kala.bryson@bcndp.ca, and she will call anyone who wants to speak with her. 

Emily is weary of fear mongering, choosing between slow decline or fast decline. We need to centre our solutions on what people need, and she is the fighter who can get it done! She would be honoured to fight alongside this feisty and caring community, Salt Spring. She asked that we elect her so that we can all work together to stop this pipeline and to ensure that everyone can live a dignified life.

Ryan: We need an environmentally and economically sustainable province. However did we get to where we are? Something needs to be done!

Rick: Did you know that polls show that half of BC voters do not want an NDP government? They do not seem to want to vote for a Conservative either. My party offers a political home for people who don’t like the extremes. This is a really important election. Let’s elect the people with the skills and character to represent you. I will be a good listener and good advocate.

With applause for all our MLA candidates who took the time to be with us today despite their crazy-busy schedules, we bid them an appreciative farewell. (Thanks Ryan, Rick, Emily, and Kala!) 

Want to hear more from our MLA candidates? They will be answering questions at Fulford Hall Wednesday, October 21 from 5:30-7:00 pm. 

And, Don’t Forget to Vote in the Provincial Election! 

Advance voting for the provincial election is from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17 and Monday, October 19 at the Community Gospel Chapel on 147 Vesuvius Bay Road.

Final provincial voting day is Saturday, October 24 at Fernwood and Fulford Elementary Schools as well as the Gulf Islands Secondary School on Rainbow Road, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm. 

Just in case you are interested. . . .This report has been written by Gayle Baker, founder of ASK Salt Spring, currently also a Salt Spring Local Community Commissioner. It has been reviewed by our MLA Candidates.