16 - North Shore News - Friday, October 16, 2015
NORTH VANCOUVER
Election 2015 2015 VOTE Federal Federal Election
Claire Martin Green
Payam Azad Independent
Name Party
Andrew Saxton Conservative (incumbent)
Age
53
49
51
Residence in riding?
Lonsdale area (22 years)
Near Capilano Mall
Deep Cove
What do you promise to do for your riding if elected?
Home for all (housing reform); comprehensive health care (including medicine, dental and vision treatments, physiotherapy, etc.); nationalization of banks, and an election on Canada’s form of government; a revisit of abortion-related laws; support for entrepreneurship and small free enterprises.
A strong, honest and independent voice for North Vancouver, implementing solutions to our issues and standing up for our community in Ottawa. Unlike other candidates, I am not told what bills to pass. I can vote with my conscience and work with other parties to represent our community first.
I will continue to deliver for North Vancouver. Here is the Conservative record: shipbuilding contracts (over 2,000 jobs), five new overpasses reducing train noise, two new SeaBuses, new film school for Cap U, new soccer bubble for NS Girls Soccer Club, etc. I will focus on solving the traffic issue.
What is the most pressing issue facing the Canadian economy and how will your party address it?
Housing. Many people spend up to 85% of their income on housing. Many cannot even afford a home. Secondly, comprehensive health care. Medicine, dental, and vision treatments are costly and unaffordable for many people.
Climate change. Climate action means strengthening our economy. We have an amazing opportunity to create jobs for thousands of Canadians by investing in new infrastructure projects and upgrades to our buildings that will save us all money, improve our quality of life and reduce carbon emissions. Let’s get to work!
Global instability. Canada needs our low tax, balanced budget plan to create jobs and grow the economy. The other parties will take more money out of your pocket and off your paycheque. They will spend billions more than we can afford, destabilize our fragile economy and further burden future generations.
Do you believe foreign ownership of local real estate is pushing Canadians out of the housing market? What will your party do to ensure housing affordability?
Yes, absolutely. Housing strategy: nationalize rental homes; prohibit and revoke foreign ownership on homes and other real estates; set limit on number of units anyone can own; set ceiling on home prices; construct new public homes
It’s one of many factors. Part of our housing strategy is to eliminate the program that makes it easier for foreign home owners to park their money here, without residence. Amongst our other solutions, we will give tax incentives for rental housing and promote “aging in place” senior care.
The prime minister recently committed to resolve this question and, if necessary, take concrete action to curb foreign speculation. Our goal is to help 700,000 more Canadians become homeowners by 2020, through initiatives like the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit, and enhancements to the Home Buyers’ Plan, and TFSA.
What do you identify as local transportation priorities and what will your party do to address these?
At least one more crossing must be built between North Vancouver and City of Vancouver. Provincial rules in passenger transportation industry that restrict and prohibit competition must be overcome. Residents of North Vancouver should get closer to their schools and workplaces.
We have made a commitment to spend $6.4 billion/year (1% of GST) in stable long-term funding to help improve traffic. I would work with the province and city to improve our roads, transit and cycling options and also offer transit pass tax breaks for businesses.
Resolving traffic congestion. I was proud to recently deliver $46 million in federal infrastructure funds to build upgraded interchanges and overpasses for the Upper Levels highway. This will end stop-and-go traffic on the Cut, improve traffic flow and ease gridlock on the approach to Second Narrows Bridge.
What commitment will your party make to funding a federal share of the Lions Gate sewage treatment plant and other local infrastructure priorities?
I will push for federal funding of Lions Gate sewage treatment plant. I will also press for federal funding for expansion and improvement of Lions Gate Hospital and construction of a new link between North Vancouver and City of Vancouver as stated above.
It must undergo upgrades by 2020. The federal government must commit to its due share of costs so that future municipal taxes are not increased. In a minority government with a handful of Green MPs – we can hold the balance of power – and ensure projects such as these happen.
The New Building Canada Plan includes the P3 Canada Fund, which is suited to supporting this type of project – a modern secondary treatment plant that will protect our marine environment. I will continue to assist Metro Vancouver in their efforts to secure such a contribution.
Candidate’s website Twitter Facebook
@Azad_Payam
vote4claire.ca @ClaireMartinGPC TheChoiceIsClaire
andrewsaxton.ca @AndrewSaxton1 northvanconservative
In 2012 electoral boundary redrawings, the riding lost the eastern portion from the Lynn Creek to Deep Cove to the new riding of Burnaby North-Seymour. GRAPHIC SUPPLIED
Close race in North Vancouver BRENT RICHTER brichter@nsnews.com
Like its two North Shore neighbours, the North Vancouver electoral district has also landed on many pundits’ “ridings to watch” lists and the parties appear to be treating it as a very close race. In 2011, the Conservatives won with more than 47 per cent of the vote, to the Liberals’ 29, New Democrats’ 16 per cent and Greens’ five per cent. In 2012 electoral boundary redrawings, the riding lost the eastern portion from Lynn Creek to Deep Cove to the new riding of Burnaby North-Seymour. Voters in that area heavily favoured the Conservatives in 2011. The seat has mostly been held by Conservative parties in recent decades. The Liberals’ Don Bell won the riding in 2004 and 2008, but prior to that, it was held by Ted White since 1993 as a Reform, Alliance and Conservative MP. The riding drew campaign stops from Elizabeth May, Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper, during the 11-week-long campaign, often an indication of how much energy a party is focusing on a riding. Big issues in the riding, as judged by what the party leaders were here to talk about: affordable housing (or the lack thereof), transportation and traffic as well as the closure of the Canadian Coast Guard station in Kitsilano. As demographics go, the riding is slightly older and wealthier than the Canadian average. Of its 45,000 households, roughly 30,000 are owned by their occupants. The average household income in 2010 was higher than the national average at $95,868. The riding contains wealthy ’burbs as well as a working class core in the City of North Vancouver. Voters in 2011 had a 67.7-per-cent turnout rate, higher than the national 61.1 per cent. The riding is home to numerous Port Metro Vancouver terminals, Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards and Squamish Nation land.
Friday, October 16, 2015 - North Shore News - 17
NORTH VANCOUVER nsnews.com/election-2015
@northshorenews
NORTH SHORE NEWS
Polls open: Monday, Oct. 19, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Carleen Thomas New Democratic
Name Party
Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal
Ismet Yetisen Libertarian
Age
54
50
Residence in riding?
Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Capilano Highlands(17 years)
no response provided
What do you promise to do for your riding if elected?
Represent, with great energy, the people of North Vancouver and to defend our interests. I will make myself available to my constituents and will work alongside elected municipal and provincial leaders to give voice to pro-North Vancouver on all legislation relevant to our riding.
To be an accountable two-way link between the citizens of North Vancouver and the federal government. To develop collaborative solutions on local issues like traffic congestion and affordable housing. To make North Vancouver proud of its MP as we work together to build a better Canada.
I would hire, out of my MP pay — #1) a small team of university political science students to check all federal laws and regulations for relevancy and which should be abolished and #2) a team of forensic auditors to price the savings from the sunset provisions of #1.
What is the most pressing issue facing the Canadian economy and how will your party address it?
How to jumpstart our languishing economy. The Harper Conservatives have left us in a sorry state. Growth rates and manufacturing exports are dismal. Unemployment is rising. We will stimulate the economy by lowering small business taxes to 9% and spending billions on much-needed infrastructure projects and the development of green energy technology.
Canada faces a massive infrastructure deficit. Our cities risk being incapable of providing an effective platform for future growth. The Liberal party has announced an historic infrastructure program that will kickstart our economy now and will provide the platform for growth for future decades.
Free trade between provinces should be wide open. No subsidies on dairy products, poultry and eggs or meat. The Canadian consumer would pay much less for more products than now.
Do you believe foreign ownership of local real estate is pushing Canadians out of the housing market? What will your party do to ensure housing affordability?
As New Democrats we fervently believe that there is a strong role for our federal government to play in providing greater access to safe, affordable housing. By partnering with provincial and civic leaders, the Mulcair government will renew funding for social housing programs that have been cut or are about to expire in the next few years.
We currently lack the research to answer the question because, until this campaign, the Harper government didn’t bother to look for the data. A Liberal government will – and will then work with local governments to develop the appropriate policy responses. Also, our National Housing Strategy will expand affordable housing options.
The free market should operate to provide shelter and housing. Regulations should be as flexible as possible to allow for affordable, multiple unit complexes to be built. I would work hard to get property rights entrenched in Canada’s Constitution.
What do you identify as local transportation priorities and what will your party do to address these?
Traffic congestion. The NDP is committed to solving this issue by spending $1.3 billion in new funding annually across the country. This will double direct transfers to municipalities for transit infrastructure. These will start in cities with acute concerns such as North Vancouver.
The Liberal’s $60-billion infrastructure fund will help support priorities identified by local government: improved public transit, ie. an upgrade of the Phibbs Exchange and improved SeaBus frequency; a comprehensive and accelerated attack on unacceptable congestion bottlenecks, including a widened Lynn Creek Bridge.
Public transportation such as buses, ferries should be selfsupporting — contracted out to private providers and locally governed. Monopolies would not be allowed with a number of competitive providers being ideal. Uber model for taxis is a good idea.
What commitment will your party make to funding a federal share of the Lions Gate sewage treatment plant and other local infrastructure priorities?
Canada’s municipal infrastructure deficit is a staggering $172 billion and rising. Municipalities own 60% of our public infrastructure, yet collect only eight cents of every tax dollar. Working with municipal and provincial leaders, the NDP will provide funding to rectify this lamentable state.
Must be operating by 2020 due to federal regulations, but the Harper government refuses to commit its one-third share of funding despite being asked by local government more than a year ago. I will work diligently to ensure Liberal infrastructure funds are committed to the project.
Sewage is a local municipal responsibility and funded by local taxation. The same applies to other local municipal projects as recreation, libraries, police, firefighting and medical services. The principle of userpay should apply, example, recreation.
Candidate’s website Twitter Facebook
carleenthomas.ndp.ca @CAThomas7 CarleenTforNDP
jonathanwilkinson.liberal.ca @JonathanWNV JonathanWilkinsonNorthVancouver