The stage has been set for Surrey-White Rock and Surrey South provincial election candidates to explain their plan for homelessness to housing on the Semiahmoo Peninsula.
The Peninsula Homeless to Housing Task Force (PH2H) and Semiahmoo Seniors Planning Table are hosting an all-candidates forum April 25.
Surrey-White Rock candidates Tracy Redies (BC Liberal Party), Niovi Patsicakis (NDP) and Bill Marshall (Green) have confirmed their participation.
Surrey South candidates Stephanie Cadieux (BC Liberal Party) and Jonathan Silveira (NDP) have confirmed.
Only candidates represented by a party that has a seat in Victoria were invited to the all-candidates forum.
As of Monday, Elections BC listed additional local candidates, including: Tom Bryant (independent) in Surrey-White Rock; and Gary Hee (independent), Peter Njenga (independent) and Fabiola Palomino (Your Political Party of BC) in Surrey South.
“We really want to hold the feet to the fire of a party that will get elected to power in Victoria so come after May 9 we can go back to these candidates and say ‘this is what you said around housing and security issues, now when is that going to be implemented?’” Rick Bayer told Peace Arch News Monday, chairman of PH2H.
Candidates have until April 18, 1 p.m., to submit nomination papers.
Attendees of PH2H’s monthly meeting Friday brainstormed questions they might pose to the candidates.
Task force member Neil Fernyhough pitched the idea of asking candidates if they support giving municipalities the power to zone for rental accommodation.
“Municipalities cannot zone for rental housing in the province, which hamstrings municipalities in having to get carrots and sticks to entice developers to do that,” Fernyhough said at the meeting.
P2H2 will also accept some questions from the audience.
The event will take place at Gracepoint Community Church (3487 King George Hwy.) from 7 to 9 p.m.
Advance voting for the May 9 provincial election will take place April 29-30, and May 3-6. For more information on voting, visit elections.bc.ca