With BC election day looming, the Advance asked the three major candidates in the Nelson-Creston constituency to comment on five issues that should be of interest to local voters: forestry, water, infrastructure, agriculture and trade.
Tanya Wall - BC Liberals
Forestry has been a foundation employer here in the Creston Valley and is very critical to the valley and this riding. Being employed by J.H. Huscroft Ltd., and as a member of the Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Association, it is extremely important that we have a representative that understands the forestry industry first hand, and one who will stand up for our industry. In these challenging times, we are faced with the unknown elements of the future while the Softwood Lumber Agreement is being negotiated. Forestry and all of the related jobs in the economy is a large part of many of the communities in this riding.
Water is a vital resource in our community and we have seen a significant investment from the provincial government, especially on the Arrow Creek Water Line Project. After receiving just over $7 million in the last four years, this year we will see the completion of that project, but there are still issues that we need to stay focused on. We need to ensure that the government understands the high cost that residents are facing and that we have many small water systems that are operated and maintained by volunteers and small water districts. These small water systems are facing regulations from IHA and understanding the changing regulations is a continuous challenge. Support both financially and through resources and personal are critical to the future sustainability of these systems.
Roads, wastewater treatment plants and hospitals are just a few examples of infrastructure that need to be supported by the provincial government. In the Creston Valley we have seen all of these supported over the past 10 years but there is still so much room for improvement. I am going to be bold here and say that we have seen the investments we have because of the work of our local government, and not of our current MLA. Our local government has worked extremely hard and remained focused on significant projects in our area. We have built strong and respected relationships within the current government, and we have been planning for our future. Ensuring that our concerns and issues are heard remains a focus in our future. Investment in infrastructure comes at high costs and we need to be strategic on the ask for these projects.
The Creston Valley is rich in agriculture but even richer in farmers and producers with a leading edge in farming. Passion and the love of the land is what drives farmers to be creative and to do what they love. Over the last year I have been an Impact Team member in the Fields Forward initiative. We have been able to work with the provincial government and showcase the importance of rural community producers. The Creston Valley is a clear example of how important farming is to our local food sustainability. As a RDCK director I have been advocating for the investment into agriculture in our area and truly believe that we are making huge strides forward by leading with the attitude of “see what we have done” and not the “we need help to do”. When we walk into a room people know what Creston Valley agriculture stands for. Grassroots producers with inventive and sustainable farming practices are feeding our community and area. We need to continue with the investment in agriculture and open doors for more opportunity.
In unsettling times, and trade markets at question we need to ensure that we have representation that is going to lead in the negotiations of our products and resources. Today we are faced with many challenges and to ensure that we have a strong economy and that we remain strong is critical to leadership. BC’s economy is at its strongest and our province is leading Canada. Protection of our resources and development of new initiatives comes at very high costs and we cannot afford to throw our future away. That is why I have run in this election for the BC Liberals. I want to be part of the team that works to continue to strengthen our economy and ensure that we have a strong future for years to come.
Michelle Mungall - BC NDP
Over the last 8 years as MLA for Nelson-Creston, I have worked hard on the issues that matter to the Kootenays. I have advocated to protect our natural surroundings and been a force for Jumbo wild. Our region values fairness and equality, which has led me to introduce legislation for a poverty reduction plan six times while also successfully fighting to end three unfair government policies that worsened poverty for children and people with disabilities. Advocating for the healthcare services we deserve and standing up with teachers and parents to advocate for kids’ best interests in schools has always been a priority for me, along with local economic development and good paying jobs through agriculture, tourism and sustainable development.
I believe a strong economy is when everyone is doing better, not just those at the top. Our plan includes the creation of 96,000 construction jobs across the province as we retrofit public buildings like Creston Valley Hospital and Adam Robertson Elementary School for energy savings. We’ll support the growing tech sector with strategic investment in infrastructure and developing and attracting world class talent to both urban and and rural areas. And we will better support local governments to meet their infrastructure needs whether it be water and sewer or health and recreation.
Through programs like Grow BC, Buy BC and Feed BC the BC NDP will increase the use of BC grown and processed foods in government facilities and support local agriculture. Imagine eating Canyon carrots at the hospital instead of reheated vegetables from overseas. Imagine seeing our cherries, apples and asparagus marketed in a Buy BC program. And imagine our land properly protected and farmers getting the supports they need to grow to their full potential. John Horgan, the NDP and I want to deliver on this plan that will have incredibly positive impacts for our local agricultural sector.
Creston’s arts and culture sector are also part of the NDP plan. We will double investment in the BC Arts Council so that this important economic sector has what it needs to increase not only our enjoyment of life and heritage, but to increase its economic output.
When it comes to our forestry sector, the NDP’s philosophy is BC logs for BC jobs. Christy Clark’s practice of exporting raw logs has hurt our local economy and the province has lost a total of 30,000 jobs in forestry alone. The BC NDP plan to keep more logs in BC for processing, and we plan to invest in reforestation to give a boost to our local forestry sector. In addition, we are committed to using BC lumber and using new wood-based products manufactured here in BC when building public buildings. Government can use its power to build up BC’s forestry sector, and I look forward to making this happen.
Having done considerable research on water issues, including hosting an internet talk show called women and water, I am aware of the value water has for our wellbeing. Everyone has a right to clean water. That is why I look forward to working on initiatives that protect our drinking water and ensure agriculture has access to the water it needs for our food production.
The issue of water also requires us to take care of our lake, our entire fishery is in flux. Other water issues involve the Columbia River Treaty, hydro power and wetlands like the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. With such limited space, it is impossible to go into detail here, but know that they are all getting my attention.
Christy Clark is the boss of the BC Liberals and serves her big money donors. As a result of her decisions, life for everyday people in the Kootenays has become less affordable and too many are struggling to make ends meet. That’s not okay and we need change in government.
I love our region and am passionate about getting things done that matter to us. It would be a tremendous privilege to keep doing this work to build a better BC with an NDP government and John Horgan as Premier.
Kim Charlesworth - Greens of British Columbia
The BC Green objective is to optimize the value of BC’s forests by recognizing multiple values, including soil and water quality, recreation, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, community health and Indigenous interests as well as maximizing the economic contribution of forest fibre. Currently we are experiencing loss of jobs and instability in the forest industry as well as increasing environmental degradation because the current government has given all responsibility for monitoring, research, oversight, protection, compliance and enforcement to the large multinational forest corporations that control the majority of the annual cut. The forests are public assets and we must begin managing them as such. The BC Greens will complete a full review of the Forest Industry in partnership with multiple stakeholders and introduce legislation that will address resilience planning and cumulative effects. We will protect old growth forests from further logging and curb the export of raw logs.
It distresses me to see how hard our local watershed groups have to work to protect their clean water supplies, primarily due to the complete lack of oversight of the Forest Industry by the BC Liberals. As mentioned above the BC Greens will work to ensure that monitoring and compliance are taken out of the hands of industry, and that Forestry plans are based on ecosystem based management which takes into consideration watersheds and cumulative effects. There is also a role for an opposition MLA in facilitating and assisting to coordinate work that is being done by all the Watershed groups in the riding.
Due to growing population, climate change and industrial use, many of our communities are entering an era of water insecurity. The 2016 Water Sustainability Act provides important new tools and updates for managing BC’s water, but there are significant gaps, and effectiveness relies on the accompanying regulations that have yet to be determined. We need a government that is not beholden to industry to take a strong stand on protecting water and initiate comprehensive, province-wide water and watershed planning in collaboration with all the stakeholders.
The BC Greens believe public infrastructure is a valuable asset that if properly planned and invested in will provide benefits to all into the future. Part of building resilient communities is addressing how and where our infrastructure is built. In the Nelson Creston riding we are already experiencing major weather events that are an indication of how climate change will continue to affect us into the future. And we are faced with the challenge of moving people and goods over long distances even within the riding, making shifting to increased public transportation more challenging.
Municipalities have been forced to bear more and more of the costs of public infrastructure. The BC Greens will work with local governments to address funding for community and regional transportation infrastructure. We will foster the climate needed for innovation to develop new low carbon alternatives. We will develop sustainability criteria, including consideration of cumulative impacts that will be applied to all future capital projects including infrastructure investments.
Agriculture has the potential to be a major economic driver in many areas of BC, including the Nelson Creston riding. The current government has ignored that potential. BC Greens would invest $30 million to enhance the long-term viability of the agriculture sector. A further $40 million will be invested in research and providing support to farmers to adapt to changing climate. We also need to address the difficulty for new farmers to access affordable land, and will do so by exploring models such as cooperatives, land trusts and land sharing agreements. We will enhance protection of agricultural land, and address property speculation and the use of ALR for non-agricultural uses. We will introduce measures to address labour shortages in agriculture, including establishment of agricultural apprenticeship programs.
International trade forms an important part of the economy for many sectors in BC. Unfortunately much of what is exported leaves BC as a raw resource to be imported back as a value added product. Raw logs, live animals, and unrefined oil products are examples. The initial focus of the BC Greens is to create jobs in BC through supporting the creation of value added industry.