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Nelson-Creston election candidates questioned on agriculture, DriveAble, early childhood education, housing

Election candidates Sjeng Derkx, Greg Garbula and Michelle Mungall answered questions on agriculture, DriveAble, housing...
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(From left) Green candidate Sjeng Derkx

Nelson-Creston provincial election candidates Sjeng DerkxGreg Garbula and Michelle Mungall answered questions from the public at an April 24 forum:

•Mark Douglas: Should government be involved in food security? Yes or no.

All candidates answered yes.

•What is your vision for the Agriculture Land Reserve and Agricultural Land Commission?

Garbula: A lot of areas in ALR can be revised. Times have changed since the 1970s and we need to rethink — it’s a balancing act. The ALC needs to be accountable.

Derkx: The ALR has 4.6 million hectares but only 2.8 million are farmed. We need to grow our own food — and lots more. Imported food should be taxed. We need to make land affordable for young farmers and to make farming profitable.

Mungall: The NDP will bring back the Buy BC program and promote the use of locally grown food in places like hospitals. The ALR was started by the NDP and has steadfastly supported it since. We need a long-term strategy for food security.

•Bob Ewashen asked about the DriveAble program used by the provincial government to assess the ability of senior drivers who could be a risk. He was not sure why a new way is needed to test drivers.

Derkx: Young drivers are statistically the worst drivers, not seniors. We need to bring decision-making down to a local level.

Mungall: “I have been fighting the DriveAble program for years.” We need to review the whole process that is absolutely disrespectful and offers no dignity to seniors.

Garbula: The program definitely needs to be reviewed. It’s flawed in a couple of ways. The driving test should be offered in hometowns in seniors’ own vehicles.  Perhaps a graduated licence needs to be considered. A transit system needs to be in place so that seniors who can no longer driver are not helpless.

•Dennis McDonald: Turning over operation of the CVWMA to Ducks Unlimited Canada was “an ill-considered decision” made without any opportunity for local public input. The government refuses to say why the decision was made or what options were considered.

Mungall said she was discouraged that she wasn’t consulted by the government despite asking questions of the Ministry of Environment.

“I was livid. We need to all work together. The CVWMA has too much value to continue to ignore it from a provincial government standpoint.”

Garbula: We need to fight hard so that there is total community co-operation and guidance.

Derkx: “You asked the question and gave the answer yourself.” Decisions about local issues should be made locally. “This shows local people are ignored and treated like a bunch of know-nothings.”

•Randy Meyer: B.C. has the lowest provincial budget for agriculture in the country. “The carbon tax on farm diesel takes a lot of money out of our pockets. Tractors have to run, trucks have to run — there is no alternative.” Why not give us a carbon credit for what we grow?

Garbula: The idea probably has merit, but the carbon tax is a regressive tax that doesn’t work in our farm communities. Liberals plan a credit towards purple fuel costs but “we need to work harder at it.”

Derkx: “That is a brilliant idea — I’d never thought about it.” He is hesitant to reduce carbon taxes but would fight for a carbon credit for farmers.

Mungall will bring this idea forward. “I like your idea.”

•Serena Naeve: Too many children are unprepared when they enter school. Reductions to child services programs result in rising vulnerability of young children.

Derkx: Absolutely. Many of these issues are related to poverty. Parents should have minimum income levels and more equitable health care is needed.

Mungall: “We need to bring in better supports for day care.” An NDP government will fund an additional $60 million for infant and toddler care “so children have success by six.”

Garbula: Early childhood education is a top priority. A strong economy is needed to provide more early childhood education initiatives.

•Terje Munkerud: Low-income housing is desperately needed.

Mungall: “Creston is the only Kootenay community without affordable housing for families.” We need a strong rural MLA who knows how to advocate and knows how the system works. “I really want to be at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.”

Garbula: “Rents are astronomical in this community for some reason.” As MLA, he would give you that support.

Derkx: “We’re all paying too much for housing.” The planned eight units for Creston are great but won’t solve the problem. Public land should be used for more co-op and affordable housing. “What we really need is to bring people out of poverty.”

•Dina Bambrick: Women’s inequality is important. There has been no increase in the number of female MLAs in 20 years. The court system is backed up and family violence isn’t getting the attention it deserves.

Garbula: Said he didn’t realize the situation was such an issue. “I would take it on.”

Derkx: All Greens are proponents of non-violence. “I will do whatever it takes.”

Mungall: “I wasn’t shocked at this information.” There aren’t enough services for victims of domestic violence. Access to justice has been lost under the Liberal government, a result of corporate tax cuts. A women’s equality ministry would work to create cross-ministry policies on women’s and family issues.