Election Update: Candidate Question & Answer

With election day fast approaching, we’ve been eagerly awaiting responses from candidates in our local ridings. Weeks ago, we sent out questions to all the candidates in both the Cowichan-Malahat and Juan de Fuca-Malahat ridings. True to form, only two of them bothered to reply—and, no surprise, both are from the BC Conservatives.

John Koury, MLA Candidate for Cowichan-Malahat, and Dr. Marina Sapozhnikov, MLA Candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat, took the time to address our questions. As for the rest of the field? Crickets. It seems like if you’re not voting Conservative, you might be voting for someone who can’t even respond to an email.

1. Do you support the creation of the Office of Superintendent that will take the self-governance away from health care professionals? (Bill36)

Marina: Creation of the Office of Superintendent is part of Bill 36, and our Health Care platform is calling for repealing the Health Professions and Occupations Act (Bill 36) and thus removing the authoritarian political control imposed by the NDP government.

John: We are committed to repealing Bill 36. My Colleague Dr. Marina Sapozhnikov, will provide context and rationale in this edition.

2. What will you do to create a balance between private property rights and the rights of First Nations in future deliberations, especially after the BC Government implemented DRIPA?

Marina: While UDRIP can be used as a guiding principle for reconciliation with the First Nations, DRIPA creates tension between people and we do not support it. The principle of economic reconciliation proposed by BC Conservatives intends to create more opportunities for everyone. 

John: Industry and economic development has ground to a halt for everyone in BC because of the uncertainty and arbitrary nature of DRIPA.  BC is the only province that has adopted UNDRIP and the mass confusion that is a result has caused immeasurable harm, especially to small communities for lack of clarity and certainty on how to govern and how to do business. We will move forward with economic reconciliation with First Nations for the benefit of all British Columbian’s.

3. How will you address the housing crisis alongside large immigration numbers in our province? How will you build the infrastructure needed to sustain current residents’ needs while welcoming a growing immigrant population?

Marina: CPBC is calling for increased provincial control over immigration similar to Quebec. We are advocating for skilled immigration, stronger integration policies. We need to be able to accommodate people coming to the province, which includes housing, healthcare services and education, among others. The strain on building new housing will be reduced through removing regulatory burden, reducing cost of building materials with the ending of carbon tax and working with municipalities to expedite permitting process.

John: We will continue to legislate where possible and advocate to the federal government more power and control over immigration in BC to make sure labour market needs are met in the province (like Quebec) and that re-certification and integration is streamlined. We will cut unnecessary regulations to home building, reduce fuel taxes, and provide incentives to local governments to build homes faster through it’s zoning and permitting procedures. I do not support the Duncan Slum Village model as a solution to the housing crisis the NDP/Green agenda has created. In addition, I will advocate that surplus Crown lands that can be identified close to our core communities be made for sale for new homes to be built upon.

 4. The following text is quoted from BC Bill-44: “5. Section 464 is amended. (c) by adding the following subsection:  (3) A local government must not hold a public hearing on a proposed zoning bylaw if:

(a) an official community plan is in effect for the area that is subject to the zoning bylaw,
(b) the bylaw is consistent with the official community plan;
(c) the sole purpose of the bylaw is to permit a development that is, in whole or in part, a residential development, and
(d) the residential component of the development accounts for at least half of the gross floor area of all buildings and other structures proposed as part of the developments 6. Section 464 is amended by adding the following subsection:
(4) A local government must not hold a public hearing on a zoning bylaw proposed for the sole purpose of complying with section 481.3 [zoning bylaws and small-scale multi-family housing].” 

With public input being removed from local meetings regarding new builds within the UCB in local OCPs (Bill 44), would you amend this policy to restore community involvement, or do you defend this decision? If so, why? 

Marina: Parts of Bill 44 are undemocratic and authoritarian, including the intent to prohibit holding public hearings. The BC Conservative Party commitment to working with the municipalities, not simply overriding their decisions is the right way to go forward. As our Party Leader John Rustad has stated in his interviews, we are planning to amend Bill 44 according to the principles of democracy.

The Conservative Party will work with local municipalities and incentivize them to create vibrant communities with well-maintained infrastructure, including roads, clean water and sewer, creating green spaces and reliable transportation, rather than force their hand to densify at any cost.

John: We are committed to amending Bill 44. I support public hearing bylaws for all zoning, re-zoning, and major development permit applications. I also support the autonomy of municipal bylaw decision-making. Elections have consequences and it’s important for voters to check the skill sets for competency and track record of anyone vying for civic office.

5. The BC Infants Act has been a controversial topic since its introduction. The Act sets no minimum age for consent to medical procedures but excludes tattoos and other ‘mature’ rights. If elected, would you seek to amend the Act to introduce a minimum age—typically 16, as in other provinces—for consenting to medical procedures without parental approval?

Marina: Parents have the right and responsibility to protect their children, and must be protected when exercising those rights. As section 6.1.2 of the Conservative Party Policy declaration states:” Parents are the most important and significant factor in a child’s upbringing, and as such must have a protected sphere, without beliefs and moral upbringing.” I agree with the need to introduce the minimal age of consent. It will require a broad debate what the specific age would be.

John: I would advocate to affirm parental consent at a reasonable age for medical procedures for their kids. My colleague, Dr. Marina Sapozhnikov, expands on this in her reply.

6. If elected, how would you address youth substance abuse? Would you support judge-ordered detox or rehab? Many parents have lost children to drugs, as all treatments in BC are voluntary. Given that youths under the influence may not be capable of making informed decisions, would you support parents advocating before a judge to have their children detained for a set period for treatment?

Marina: CPBC supports focus on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation when dealing with drug addictions. We have been strong advocates for parental involvement in treatment of their children for drug addictions. Our plan will introduce voluntary and mandatory rehabilitation, giving those suffering from addiction an opportunity to get clean and rebuild their lives. There is a need to carefully balance personal freedoms with compassionate treatment, rather than leaving people to their own devices. These decisions should never be taken lightly and only considered as a last resort.

John: We support investing in treatment and recovery services, involuntary treatment where necessary to protect the public and individuals, and restoring mental health facilities as a means to end the destruction of human life people have to witness every day. We will end safe supply, harm reduction policies and human suffering on the streets just as fast as we can.

7. Glyphosate has been in the news in recent years, linked to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in several lawsuits. Recent verdicts have resulted in significant damages for plaintiffs, and ongoing settlements continue to address concerns about the herbicide’s safety. Would you support a moratorium on spraying this chemical in our forests, as currently practiced by the forest industry and the provincial government? (You can read more here: www.wwind.ca/spraying-and-fires-in-bc/)

Marina: As part of the BC Conservative commitment to creating healthier habitats, we propose to stop all aerial spraying of Glyphosate. More information about our forestry and landscaping policy can be found on CPBC website.

John: We are committed to ending Glyphosate spraying.

8. Will you support the private sector partnering with First Nations wherein the island corridor lands can be owned and operated by a First Nations/Private sector company to create a functioning rail line again on the island?

Marina: As part of our commitment to economic reconciliation with the First Nations we’ll consider various ways to create economic opportunities and collaboration, focusing on “people to people” connection. I view partnership between the private sector and First Nations through this lens. Creating a rail line will allow more environmentally responsible transportation and reduce road congestions. However, it will require large scale investment and thorough analysis of the demand for this service.

John: I support a viable rail link based on a business model that facilitates an industrial movement of goods and promotes residential and commercial mixed-use growth in all the communities along the line where restoration takes place. This is the model legacy the national railway was built upon and ought to continue. Restoring rail service today would by nature be widely consultative, over a billion dollars of investment, and a commitment to economic growth by local governments. Until such time there is a critical mass of business interest, private sector investment, and political will, the most important thing to do is preserve the rail bed itself until the stars align and work can begin to restore the railway.