October 4

We had four very special guests at this ASK Salt Spring gathering – all of our MLA candidates (in alphabetical order): 

Rob Botterell (Green): vote.botterell.ca, 

David Busch (Conservative): https://www.conservativebc.ca/busch,

Amy Haysom (Independent): https://www.aimforamy.ca/, and

Sarah Riddell (NDP): https://sarahriddell.bcndp.ca/.

Need to learn more? These candidates will be debating this Wednesday, October 9, 5:00-6:30 at ArtSpring in an event sponsored by the Salt Spring Forum and the Gulf Islands Driftwood (https://artspring.ca/event/ss-forum-2024-provincial-election-candidates-debate/). 

And, when and where can I vote? The election is Saturday, October 19 with advance polling on October 10-13 and October 15-16. Read all the details at: https://elections.bc.ca/2024-provincial-election/. 

With a standing room only crowd of over 50, after a lovely Territorial Acknowledgement by Amy, we began our conversation with our first always question: “What excites and delights you?” 

Rob, telling us that, as a budding politician, he will keep it short, began by expressing his love of sailing, recalling a recent voyage from his home on North Pender to Salt Spring that clearly illustrated to him what is so special about our part of the world. 

David told us that he is enjoying all his campaign traveling but that he is also looking forward to getting home to spend time with is two young boys, aged seven and eight, also looking forward to his eldest son’s birthday next week. He spoke briefly of the amazement of watching them grow and change each day. 

A Salt Springer for 15 years, Amy is thrilled to have deep connections to this riding as a small business owner, as well as the mother of a 14-year old daughter. She is committed to bringing the voices of youth into the political realm.·

Sarah is “excited and delighted” by bringing folks together to collaboratively to solve challenges. With family on Salt Spring, she lives in Brentwood Bay and spoke with enthusiasm of a recent challenge of meeting local bike lane expectations while also staying within budget. Working with all involved, alternatives that pleased all were found. She looks forward to many such fruitful collaborations as MLA.  

After this introduction to our candidates, participants began asking questions that ranged from road safety worries, healthcare, and the climate to housing, nonprofits, and farming.  

Transportation: Our first participant expressed her increasing anxiety about traffic congestion, calling the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure“absolutely delinquent on transportation.” She asked participants how they would make our roads better. 

David acknowledged our road concerns, telling us that he had fretted about getting to ASK Salt Spring on time due to Ganges Hill project delays. It is his opinion that, as a result of Salt Spring’s governance structure, it does not have access to funding earmarked for municipalities. Promising to address this unfairness, he looks forward to bringing forward legislation addressing transportation issues.  

Amy mentioned that, while this gathering may not be the best for participants to fully address their concerns, she looks forward to exploring issues like transportation in a series of community conversations. She stated that transportation is an absolute priority for her and that she would develop her strategy collaboratively to be a strong legislative voice for our road safety concerns. She has already received rich constituent feedback about transportation issues. 

Sarah told us that road safety is a huge priority for the NDP who have brought forth legislation for vulnerable users. She mentioned that there is funding available for Salt Spring:https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/funding-engagement-permits/funding-grants/active-transportation-infrastructure-grants (Note: the LCC is applying for this grant for the bike/pedestrian lanes on the south side of Rainbow Road.) 

Rob spoke briefly of the the Gulf Islands Forum, (https://southerngulfislandsforum.ca/). Established in 2021 by MLA Adam Olsen, this forum includes federal, provincial, local, Regional Districts, and First Nations leadership. When elected, he plans to use this Forum to identify next steps, possibly including a private member’s bill. Already successful getting $30 million allocated for road improvements in another BC community, he is confident he will successfully address our transportation priories.

Healthcare:Candidates were then asked about their experience with healthcare and how they would address our need to recruit more doctors as well as other healthcare providers. 

Rob began by saying that, while he would begin by focusing on doctor recruitment, he recognizes that all levels of healthcare workers are needed. Reminding us that everything is connected, he mentioned our lack of housing as being another factor in our healthcare shortages. Maintaining that there are more doctors in BC per capita than other provinces, Rob will create a local roundtable to identify and address the challenges Salt Spring faces getting doctors here. While he will wait for the conclusions of this roundtable, he suspects that a community health centre may be our solution. 

David identified healthcare as one of the major reasons he wants to be our next MLA. With a degree in biochemistry, a degree and experience both nursing and teaching nursing, a law degree, and a wife who is a cardiologist, he feels well-qualified to implement solutions to our healthcare worker shortage. He supports John Rustad’s recruitment and retention Healthcare Plan (https://www.conservativebc.ca/patients_first) to address the BC shortfall of 6,000 nurses as well as serious shortages of all health care workers including lab techs and physiotherapists. He told us of too many cases in which fully-trained doctors from other countries cannot practice. Also, BC simply does not have enough residency spots. Reminding us that housing is an important factor in healthcare worker recruitment and retention, he lamented a plan to build healthcare worker housing that was rejected by Island Health. 

Amy lauded BC’s Health Care Matters (https://bchealthcarematters.com/), telling us also that she is one of many who does not have a doctor. As an Independent, she does not stand on a party platform but will be collecting public comments from Our Voice on her website as well as community engagement opportunities. She already has a wealth of feedback, including the suggestion for an expanded role for nurse practitioners, purchase of more MRI machines, development of two medical school pathways, and exploration of more Artificial Intelligence to improve efficiency. 

Sarah told us of her passion about healthcare, illustrated by her Masters in Health Administration, her deep understanding of our healthcare system acquired while in the Auditor General Office, and her successful development of a new payment model for doctor compensation while a Director in the Ministry of Health. In addition to this personal experience, she is proud of the NDP record of bringing 800 Canadian doctors and 900 foreign trained doctors to BC, establishing a new medical school to begin in 2026, and hiring 6,300 nurses last year. With workload as a major issue, the NDP has implemented a better nurse-to-patient ratio, created forgivable healthcare training loans for longterm BC residents, and established a system to bring other healthcare workers into our BC system in six weeks. 

Before we left the subject of healthcare, Amy asked other candidates to comment on Bill 36, https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/bills/billsprevious/3rd42nd:gov36-3, a law that significantly changes the province’s oversight and regulation of health professionals. 

David believes that health care professions are no longer self governing as a result of Bill 36 (just like Bill 21 for the legal profession). Their board is now governed predominantly by government appointees with the government overriding the expertise of our doctors. When professionals are not free to speak due to government oversight, our democracy is at risk. The Conservatives will repeal this bill.

Rob told us that the key issue for Salt Spring is not Bill 36 but our need for a nonprofit community health centre tailored to address local recruitment and retention issues. Gathering local experts, including healthcare professionals, CRD, Islands Trust, and Elizabeth May, he is confident that, with his 25 years of experience advocating to the province, he will be successful helping us to establish our needed community health care centre.  

Sarah agreed that there is much that needs to be done on Salt Spring concerning healthcare, confident that, with her strong healthcare relationships in place, she will be successful addressing our needs. Concerning Bill 36, she highlighted the good relationship between the NDP government and health care experts, believing that government and healthcare professionals should be at the same table making decisions.

Climate: A participant asked candidates what they would do for our children so that they do not face climate tragedy. 

Sarah responded that the environment is a huge priority about which she cares deeply with the issue of old-growth very close to her heart.  She told us that the NDP have developed, in collaboration with the Greens, a strong environmental programme . Despite this progress, there is still so much to do. She would focus on an old growth review as well as tackling emissions legislation, more encouragement for heat pumps, and new environmental investments. 

Amy responded that we should ask the kids about the environment. She spoke briefly about her work with the Canadian Commission to UNESCO. While creating a Youth Advisory Group, she examined best practices from youth from all across the country. “Why aren’t we dong better implementing best practices from throughout the world?” Even at a young age, she was an environmentalist, wryly sharing that, as a child, she insisted her family bring their own cutlery to restaurants. As our MLA, she will create a Youth Advisory Group for this riding.

David responded that he is already talking to the kids having just come from Fulford Elementary School to listen to sixth and seventh grade classes. He spoke of the Conservative’s plan to protect 40% of the 65-66% of BC that is forested. In addition to protecting 40% of BC’s forested areas, it will also give logging companies certainty where they can sustainably log. Seeking that balance between protecting our forests and providing needed building materials, David promised that this plan will be in place before 2030. 

Rob is confident that great strides can be made with the environment, quickly establishing an environmental roundtable to establish priorities. He would begin by fully-implementing the recommendations of the Old Growth panel to protect, in collaboration with First Nations, 2.7 million hectares. He would also remove oil and gas subsidies and tackle the issue of freighters anchoring in our waters. If elected, he is confident that by 2030 30% of our land and water will be protected. And, yes, he will listen to our youth in a very tangible way as well: He will lower the voting age to 16.  

A follow-up climate question asked specifically about the BC Carbon Tax (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/clean-economy/carbon-tax), wondering if John Rustad believes in climate change and why David Eby has pulled back on the carbon tax. 

Amy, speaking as one in the low-middle income, she believes that the carbon tax was not presented well to communities. Many saw it as just another of many taxes, few recognizing that there are rebates available to those with lower incomes. Recognizing that bold action is needed on the climate, she would like to focus on higher taxes for luxury homes. 

David clarified that John Rustad does believe in human-made climate change, he just proposes to approach it differently. He believes that the carbon tax is not doing what it is intended to do. When BC first began the carbon tax, it was revenue neutral; this has changed and the revenue that is put into the general budget adds an extra tax burden. David suggests looking at climate action from a universal perspective by working with other countries to lower emissions. He focused on the worldwide need to stop using coal, telling us that a new coal plant is built every four days somewhere in the world. An example of what should not be happening is the wind farm in Germany that was bulldozed to mine the coal underneath.

Sarah told us that she empathizes with the concern that the carbon tax is hurting consumers. We learned that this carbon tax was introduced in 2008; it might be time to review it. Saying that the NDP has a very strong climate plan, their emphasis is shifting away from consumers over to big polluters. Concerning the bulldozing of the wind farm, she stated that it was an end of life wind farm and that other components of this agreement came with significant climate benefits. 

Warning that we are on the road to leaving huge problems for our kids, Rob said that we all need to do our part to address the climate crisis. We cannot simply ignore this looming crisis. Our government must make some very hard decisions to secure our children’s future. The Carbon Tax must continue and be made to work.

A participant asked about the newly-released review on logging of old growth forests, promising only deferrals not cessation. He asked “So how long will it take to halt old growth logging in the province?”

Rob replied that, as our MLA, he would have to consult with First Nations. He promised that this consultation and the permanent protection of old growth would be complete within two years. Without this consultation, any action could be tied up with court challenges. Once agreement had been reached, the question of funding and compensation would need to be resolved. 

David said that the issue of old growth would be addressed within the planned protection of 40% of the 65-66% of BC’s forests. He told us that this 40% protection would be completed within three years and that needed consultation with First Nations would be completed within his first term. He also noted that the NDP have only protected 2% of our old growth forests.

Amy asked when 90% of British Columbians want our old growth forests protected, why are we deferring? With only 1% left, we simply cannot wait any longer. 

Sarah responded that she and the NDP wants to see the complete protection of our remaining old growth forests as soon as possible. Currently working with First Nations to mitigate impact, she mentioned the $300 million First Nations Conservation Fund (https://bcparksfoundation.ca/projects/bc-conservation-fund/) designed to mitigate impacts of this logging prohibition on First Nations. 

Housing: Although all candidates had already referred to our housing crisis, a participant asked our candidates to talk specifically about their strategy to help Salt Spring build the affordable housing needed for its workers.

Rob agreed that worker housing, the key to keeping our businesses solvent, is a huge problem on North Pender as well. He noted the plethora of mobile homes scattered all over Salt Spring, too many in disrepair. He believes that the solution is to find available land, work effectively with CRD and the Islands Trust, and support nonprofits, solving the problem together. Using a roundtable approach, he is confident that viable solutions will be identified. 

David responded that water and transportation issues have further complicated worker housing projects.He mentioned the Islands Trust for their important role identifying the best land for housing. He spoke briefly about a local nonprofit with land that has worker housing potential, currently stymied by complicated regulatory requirements. He believes that we need to increase densification in optimal locations. He concluded by saying that, when elected, the Conservatives will allocate $1 billion for housing projects and that he will ensure that Salt Spring gets its fair share of this funding.

Amy, a renter who has lost friends who could not find housing on Salt Spring, sees hope in creative housing options, like tiny homes and geodesic domes. She has high hopes for the CRD Rural Housing Project (https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/news/article/2024/07/22/crd-is-developing-a-rural-housing-program-pilot-project) developed by Justine Starke. She suggested we put our suggestions in the Our Voice section of her website. She closed by saying that, just like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model, we cannot solve such issues as our healthcare crisis until we solve our housing crisis.

Sarah agreed that we have a significant need for housing especially on public land. Concerning supply, she told us that factory-built homes can be built in 12-weeks. In addition to affordable housing projects, she is concerned that too many landowners with space to rent are fearful. She will move quickly to fund subsidized insurance to protect landlords from property damage or loss of money. As our MLA, she will also listen very carefully to both sides of the issue of Salt Spring’s inclusion in the Speculation and Vacancy Tax (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/speculation-vacancy-tax) 

Nonprofits: A participant asked what candidates would do if they recognized mistreatment of individuals by a nonprofit, or, for that matter, any agency, even government. We learned that, without this abuse, she would be working as an Early Childcare Educator, a severely understaffed profession on Salt Spring. 

Sarah responded by thanking the participant for standing up and raising these difficult and emotional issues. She mentioned that, as a Central Saanich City Councilor, she hears many concerning stories and that this participant could count on her to listen and respond. She told us that the NDP government has made very good progress concerning child care but that we need to do more to remove barriers to qualified child care practitioners wanting to work in BC.

Amy told us about a youth organisation with which she use to work that used a Māori heart circle to empower those with trauma to speak from their heart. Recognizing that there is abuse in nonprofits as well as government, she shared her trauma of being barred from seeking the Green Party nomination due to an anonymous complaint. Believing that transparency and accountability was missing, she also mentioned a recent Local Community Commission Town Hall at which bylaw enforcement transparency and accountability was a heated topic. 

David thanked the participant for sharing traumatic challenges with the group. A too common occurrence in his experience, he spoke of the importance of mental health support as well as pro bono legal help to identify injustices. He believes that it is time for a change in government and that this participant should reach out to him so that he can offer support. 

Rob told us that he had seen too many such situations while working with First Nations. Especially traumatic were the instances in which social services were delivered inadequately or inappropriately and when children were taken from their homes. Working to change the system, fewer children are now being separated from their families. He welcomed this participant to reach out to him so that, when elected, he can hit the ground running on this issue.

Agriculture:Referring to the conflict between homeowners wanting quiet and the rooster noise of nearby farms (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/roosters-salt-spring-noise-1.6455268), a participant asked candidates what they would do to support and restore agriculture on Salt Spring. 

We learned from Sarah that over 70% of the land in Brentwood Bay is agricultural. She asked: “How do we protect our agricultural land?” Recognizing how difficult it is to make a living on small Salt Spring farms, she believes that the first step is to fully understand local challenges and how to work with governments to address these challenges. She is excited about the  NDP plan matching new farmers with the land they need. 

Amy stated that we need to prioritize small scale farming, asking how we can protect small scale farmers and prioritize food security. She highlighted the importance of ensuring healthy environments and sufficient resources for small scale farming, particularly in rural remote communities within our province. 

Admitting that he is not as informed on this issue as he will soon be, David told us that BC Conservatives are very concerned about small scale farmers and the need to ensure food security. Concerning the current issue on Salt Spring, he would like to explore changes in the legal code to protect both homeowners as well as small farm operations. 

Rob told us that he had recently attended a Farmers Institute Town Hall with a great discussion of these issues. The Greens have a plan, including $90 million to fund a publicly owned land bank for small scale farmers; raising the threshold for farm status from two to 10 acres as an incentive for farmers with larger parcels to lease productive land, access to a sustainable water supply for farms, food hubs, and a universal school lunch programme with 30-40% of the food provided by local farmers.

Our time together over too soon, we applauded our candidates, thanking them for their tenacity, vision, hard work, and courage running in this hotly-contested riding. We ended with one last frivolous question: “If elected, which one of you will join us at ASK Salt Spring each month as did Adam?” There appeared to be interest from all candidates to plan a day with us on Salt Spring each month :). (A heartfelt thank-you to Sarah, Amy, David, and Rob!)