In time for the Dec. 11 federal byelection for South Surrey-White Rock voters – following the resignation of Dianne Watts in September after the 2015 general election – Peace Arch News asked the seven declared candidates to highlight some of their major issues.
In addition to name, age, party, city of residence and profession, we asked them for their top five issues in the riding and top five issues federally (each in three words or less).
Lastly, we asked them: “How will you make a difference?”(in 100 words or less),
These are their responses.
• • •
Larry Colero, 64
Green Party
Tsawwassen
Consensus facilitator, advisor
Top issues in riding:
1) Toxic Trains / Relocation
2) Seniors / Health Funding
3) Real Estate Speculation
4) Globalization / Investor Rights
5) Divisive Local Politics
Top issues federally:
1) Renewable Energy Transition
2) Parties Breaking Promises
3) Overdue Electoral Reform
This by-election offers a unique opportunity to vote from the heart. Set aside the notion of ‘strategic voting’ this time and vote for what you truly want. Green parties locally, nationwide and worldwide share common purpose and an overriding vision based on six principles: Nonviolence, Social Justice, Ecological Wisdom, Sustainability, Respect for Diversity, and Participatory Democracy - which includes proportional representation. Greens are changing the way we do government in BC. Let’s take that to Ottawa. On Dec. 11, help me join Elizabeth May and over 400 Green parliamentarians around the world to serve you, future generations and the planet.
• • •
Kerry-Lynne Findlay, 62
Conservative Party
White Rock
Lawyer, mediator, politician
Top issues in riding:
1) Affordability for seniors
2) Taxing working families
3) Taxing local businesses
4) Rejecting diabetic receipts
5) Drugs and crime
Top issues federally:
1) Keeping Ottawa honest
2) Taxing working families
3) Supporting our veterans
The Ottawa Liberal policies we’ve seen so far hurt the very people they claim to help. It’s clear working-class families in South Surrey-White Rock deserve a voice that will stand against those decisions, not someone who has to toe the Ottawa Liberal line. If elected, I will be a tireless representative for our community, and will keep Ottawa Liberals honest. Whether it’s their decision to hike taxes on local businesses, or to deny diabetic tax claims, while they spend frivolously on temporary ice rinks and everything else, I will proudly stand up and hold this Liberal government to account.
• • •
Gordie Hogg, 71
Liberal Party
White Rock
Lifetime community advocate
Top issues in riding:
1) More affordable housing
2) Protecting our environment
3) Better health care
4) Better roads, transit
5) Crime Reduction
Top issues federally:
1) Stronger middle class
2) Creating new jobs
3) Support for families
For the past 40 years I have been fortunate to work with the people of our community and I will never stop working hard to build a better future for families in South Surrey – White Rock. As a father, foster parent, probation officer, Mayor and MLA, I have seen our community from many perspectives. I understand our priorities for affordable housing and safe communities, improved healthcare and the protection of our environment for our kids and grandkids. I will work with Justin Trudeau on these important issues and be a strong voice for South Surrey-White Rock.
• • •
Michael Huenefeld, 41
Progressive Canadian Party
Vancouver
Business instructor
Top issues in riding:
1) Transportation infrastructure
2) Health care
3) Building economic opportunity
4) Education
5) Public Safety
Top issues federally:
1) Building Economic Opportunity
2) Trade
3) Environment
As our MP for South Surrey-White Rock, PC Party candidate Michael Huenefeld, BA(Hons), MA, MBA, will bring a unique set of financial, policy, and management skills; extensive experience in federal, provincial, and municipal politics and in business; and fluency in French and Spanish. Michael teaches business at Columbia College and SFU. He worked as Operations Manager at Vancouver Community College, Policy Analyst in the Office of the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of B.C., Policy Writer at Scotia Bank, and Research Officer at the BC Legislative Assembly. He interned with the BC Securities Commission and the Asia Pacific Foundation.
• • •
Jonathan Silveira, 40
NDP
Surrey
Mortgage broker / Realtor
Top issues in riding:
1) Pharmacare
2) Housing
3) Education
4) Economy
5) Federal-provincial relationship
Top issues federally:
1) Economy and Trade
2) Environmental Protection
3) Legalization of marijuana
I am dedicated, and I will work to bring people together and gets results. And I stand with the party of my late brother, Tommy Douglas, the party of healthcare for all, the party that believes in action to protect our ecosystem, the party that fights for equal opportunity for women, the party that believes in a more inclusive, and better Canada for all, and with your assistance, keep me steadfast, in due performance and achievement of the same.
• • •
Rod Taylor, 66
Christian Heritage Party
Telkwa, B.C.
National Leader CHP
Top issues in riding:
1) Housing Affordability
2) Parental Education Choices
3) Seniors and Healthcare
4) Crime and Drugs
5) Energy and Jobs
Top issues federally:
1) Protecting Human Life
2) National Security
3) Justice and Freedom
As National Leader of the Christian Heritage Party (CHP Canada), I will represent the citizens of South Surrey-White Rock as well as their children and grandchildren. Canada’s history and heritage are based on Judeo-Christian principles of love and justice. Returning to those principles will restore safety, prosperity and freedom to Canada. I’ll say NO to M-103 and Sharia Law, NO to legalized marijuana, NO to intrusive gender activism in public schools. I’ll say YES to jobs and the development and transportation of energy resources, YES to smaller government and balanced budgets, YES to freedom of speech. Learn more at www.chp.ca
• • •
Donald Wilson, 33
Libertarian Party of Canada
New Westminster
Lawyer
Top issues in riding:
1) Excessive taxation
2) Excessive regulation
3) Too many laws
4) Dissipation of responsibility
5)
Top issues federally:
1) Absurd federal debt
2) Overly complex tax code
3) Punch-drunk spending
I will constantly insist that tax dollars are treated as the property of the tax-payers, and not power-hungry politicians. Fewer giant inflatable ducks and less counselling for ISIS soldiers, for instance. I will work to eliminate all tax credits and flatten the tax code so you do not need a PHD to determine what your tax liability is. I will draft legislation to eliminate the state’s immoral monopoly on health care, the dairy board, and other residual statutory cartels/oligopolies. In general, I will follow a principal that decentralizes power from Ottawa down to those actually affected by decisions.