A4 | NEWS
nsnews.com north shore news
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2017
WEST VANCOUVER – CAPILANO
Provincial Election 2017 RIDING PROFILE: WEST VANCOUVER-CAPILANO
The strongest of strongholds Mehdi Russel NDP
Michael Markwick Green
Name Party
Ralph Sultan Liberal
Age
52
47
83
Do you live in riding?
Yes. Dundarave for 25 years.
Yes. For nine years.
Yes. 28 years (and MLA for 16)
What should be done to address housing affordability?
I will work with municipal and federal governments to make land and capital available for the creation of permanently affordable non-market, neighbourhood-enhancing housing for families of every kind. We will curb housing speculation.
Through partnerships, we’ll build 114,000 new rental, social and co-op, owner-purchase housing units; work with all partners to secure land to build housing; make renting affordable and close loopholes that help speculators drive up prices.
Other parties have untested and un-costed ideas. B.C. Liberals invested $1 billion per year in housing and introduced a foreign buyers tax to cool the market. Municipalities need to speed up permitting to increase supply.
How would your government combat climate change?
Action on climate change is essential for a 21st century innovation economy. We’ll set achievable targets (40 per cent by 2030), update the carbon tax, fund research.
We will set and meet carbon reduction targets, we’ll invest in public transit, energy efficiency, clean technology and initiatives that reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
B.C. is a world leader in applying a revenue neutral carbon tax, as recognized and applauded by the United Nations. High-time other provinces catch up.
Should the province fight or embrace oil pipeline and LNG projects?
No pipelines: Oxford forecasts a “revolutionary” shift away from fossil fuels in four years. B.C. must be a leader in the era of renewable energy.
All projects must meet the necessary conditions of providing benefits without putting our environment and our economy at unreasonable risk.
Ottawa approved Kinder Morgan only after the B.C. Liberal government’s Five Conditions were met. B.C’.s LNG resources will be developed when world markets dictate.
How would your government deal with traffic congestion and support expanding transit?
We will work with local government to give more choices for getting around. We will fully match the $460 million federal contribution to public transit infrastructure.
We’ll partner with federal and local governments to build and fund transit priorities; partner with communities to make travelling safer for users of active transportation.
BC Liberals invested $198 million to clear up the Cut. Next priority is the Taylor Way/ Marine bypass. A rapid transit tunnel under the inlet has merit.
Should campaign finance laws be reformed? How?
Democracy is at risk as long as unions and corporations fund political parties. This must stop. We’re the only party funded solely by individuals.
Yes. Immediately ban corporate and union donations, and set limits on individual contributions; ban out-ofprovince donations and require transparency in advertising.
Yes. Premier Clark suggests tossing this thorn to an independent bipartisan commission after election and I agree. We should also agree to adopt its recommendations.
What should be done to reduce poverty?
Tackling child poverty is part of our comprehensive anti-poverty strategy, attach homeowner grants to income, increase incomes for people with disabilities, abolish the Medical Services Plan tax.
Comprehensive poverty reduction plan with legislated targets and timelines, developed by disability advocates, people living in poverty, poverty reduction groups and others must be implemented.
Best way to support children is with a job. Relief for lowincome families provided by Single Parent Employment Initiative and 5,000 more childcare spaces in 2017.
What is your plan to support high-paying local job growth?
West Vancouver-Capilano houses genius essential for B.C.’s leadership in the innovation economy. We’ll foster lifelong learning, create an Innovation Commission, invest $50 million in business incubators.
We’ll invest in local jobs, including investing in traditional sectors and growing our tech sector. We’ll also launch a major jobs initiative in clean energy.
Don’t put your job at risk with high spend/high tax schemes of other parties. Sustainable jobs require low taxes, controlled spending, and investment – the B.C. Liberal advantage.
markwick.ca @VoteMichael /drmichael.markwick
mehdirussel.ca @RusselMehdi /mehdi.russel
Candidate’s website Twitter Facebook
@ralph_sultan
BRENT RICHTER brichter@nsnews.com
Probably not on any pundits’ ridings-to-watch lists on May 9, West Vancouver-Capilano is as safe a riding as they come for the B.C. Liberals.
Octogenarian Ralph Sultan has coasted to victory in the affluent riding four times since 2001 and is looking for one more. Sultan was last elected with 67 per cent of the vote – the highest in the province. The NDP’s highest result since 1991 was 23.5 per cent. The B.C. Green Party’s best result came in 2001 with 13.7 per cent. West Vancouver Mayor Mike Smith recently remarked at council that the Liberals could run Daffy Duck in the riding and still win, and the NDP could nominate Mother Teresa and still lose. Nonetheless, the NDP and Green Party have recruited candidates with serious credentials: The NDP have nominated medical doctor and pharmaceutical consultant Mehdi Russel and the B.C. Green Party is fielding Capilano University communications professor Michael Markwick. Running from Upper Lonsdale in the east to Rodgers Creek in the west, the riding contains the British Properties, Ambleside, Dundarave, Grousewoods, Edgemont, Delbrook and Pemberton Heights – mostly neighbourhoods with high-end single-family homes. Just more than 60 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in 2013. DEMOGRAPHICS Population (2014): 57,173 Median age (2011 census): 47.6 The big issues in the riding: HOUSING The presence of foreign money in the real estate market is both a blessing and a curse in West Vancouver-Capilano, with some cashing out for millions and others feeling squeezed by monster homes that impose on neighbourhood character. Smith frequently pushes his council to develop more rental housing and smaller condo units in an effort to allow the area to be home for local first responders, service workers, civil servants and low-income families. As a municipality, West Vancouver was one of the only communities in the Lower Mainland to have a declining population, according to the 2016 census. TAXES With sky-high property assessments and high-income tax brackets, West Vancouver-Capilano residents pay hefty tax bills and there is little appetite for perceived waste in Victoria. TRANSPORTATION During their commutes, drivers from both sides of the Capilano River jockey for position on the Lions Gate Bridge. No party is entertaining expanding or replacing the bridge. Smith frequently remarks that his community receives too little from the province when it comes to transit and road infrastructure dollars. The Liberals say Lower Mainland mayors will have to hold another referendum if they want to pay for more TransLink services with any new funding sources that don’t involve raising property taxes.
@northshorenews NORTH SHORE NEWS Advance voting is available on May 3, 4, 5 and 6 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find a map of advance voting places at elections.bc.ca. Election Day: Tuesday, May 9 Voting is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific time), and eligible voters can vote at any voting place in B.C. Preliminary results are announced after the polls close.