Skip to content

Federal election: Q&A with North Vancouver and West Vancouver candidates

18 candidates running for three seats on Sept. 20
Political Signs web
Candidates signs from the 2021 federal election dot the North Shore landscape.

As we do in every election cycle, we have asked the candidates running in all three North Shore ridings a series of key questions about how their parties would govern and what impact they could have on the community.

Their responses are posted below in alphabetical order, by riding.

Burnaby North-Seymour

Liberal (incumbent)

Name: Terry Beech

Age: 40

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Myself, my wife Ravi and my two daughters, Nova and Solar, live in the riding on Burnaby Mountain. I met my wife, Ravi, at SFU in 2002 so I’ve studied and lived here in Burnaby for nearly 20 years.

How will your party fight climate change?

We will continue to raise the National Price on Pollution, invest in green public transportation, ban single-use plastics, protect critical environments, and more. We will also ensure we exceed our 2030 and Paris targets.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Expanding on our $70-billion National Housing Strategy, we will provide another 1.4 million homes, invest in co-ops, and establish a Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

We will continue to work on all Calls to Action, while continuing meaningful consultations with Indigenous Peoples, Inuit, and Metis through all policy processes.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

It is critical that everyone eligible gets vaccinated. We will keep supporting businesses, families, and essential workers so we can reduce the spread of COVID-19.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

We will continue to lower our debt-to-GDP ratio and invest in businesses by ensuring they’re able to hire staff and keep Canada working.

Find out more about Terry Beech here, on Facebook or on Twitter.

 

Green Party

Name: Peter Dolling

Age: 33

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

No, I live in Vancouver

How will your party fight climate change?

Use science-based decision making and bold policy to achieve the changes required to meet our climate targets. Follow the IPCC guidance and the SDG framework.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Tackle homelessness head-on with affordable and subsidized housing, limit foreign investment into real-estate, and increase access for first time home buyers.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Listen to them, elevate their voices, and ask them what changes/policies need to be enacted to reach reconciliation.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Follow the lead of medical science and ensure best practices are employed and followed.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Investment in green housing, and infrastructure, while strengthening the working population by increasing accessibility for those seeking post-secondary education.

Find out more about Peter Dolling here or on Facebook.

 

NDP

Name: Jim Hanson

Age: 60

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Born and raised in the riding, and have lived here all but eight years of my life.

How will your party fight climate change?

Justin Trudeau increased both emissions and subsidies to Big Oil – our plan reduces emissions by 50% by 2030 and redirects subsidies to renewable energy. And we’ll power Canada with net-zero electricity by 2030.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Build over 500,000 units of affordable housing, give immediate relief to renters who need it, and stop big-money investors from driving up housing costs.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Via a new nation-to-nation relationship, we'll enact the Calls To Action, deliver justice on residential schools & close the health gap in Indigenous communities.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

The best way out of COVID is vaccinations. We’d make them mandatory for federally regulated workers and help provinces increase uptake in low-vaccination areas.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Trudeau and O’Toole protect those who profited on the pandemic. We’d make the ultra-rich and big corporations pay their fair share for our economic recovery.

Find out more about Jim Hanson here, on Facebook or Twitter.

 

People’s Party

Name: Brad Nickerson

Age: 62

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes, for 40 years

How will your party fight climate change?

Environmental reforms need to be carefully balanced against risk of permanent damage to the Canadian economy. There are also specific local issues concerning the inner-harbour district of Burnaby North-Seymour re: oil tankers

What is your plan for housing affordability?

1) Work with local governments to enhance housing density options 2) mandate/fund an inter-agency security task force to stop money-laundering thru our real estate.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Generate political momentum to change legislation and increase economic opportunities, while ensuring Aboriginal people participate in the decision-making processes.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Reduce or eliminate the unscientific application of NPI's by government. Protect the vulnerable, focus on effective treatment. See, https://gbdeclaration.org

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

1. Ensure that fiscal AND monetary policy are under full parliamentary control, 2) rebuild our industrial base 3) review imbalanced/unfair trade relationships.

Find out more about Brad Nickerson here or on Twitter.

 

Conservative

Name: Kelsey Shein

Age: 31

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes, I was born and raised here.

How will your party fight climate change?

Canada’s Conservative have a serious plan to combat climate change that allows us to meet our targets and reduce emissions by 2030. We will fight climate change and protect the environment.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

The Conservative party will help lower the price of homes by increasing supply thru freeing up federal lands to build 1 million homes over the next three years.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

As a Métis woman, it is my duty to use my voice for reconciliation in parliament. There is no bigger priority for me personally than achieving true reconciliation.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Vaccines are the most important tool in the fight against COVID. We will create a strategic stockpile of essential PPE/vaccines and ramp up production here at home.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

The key to securing our economy is to get Canadians back working, businesses flourishing and our deficit under control.

Find out more about Kelsey Shein here or on Facebook.

 

North Vancouver

NDP

Name: Tammy Bentz

Age: 55

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes, 19 years

How will your party fight climate change?

NDP's Green New Deal will tackle the climate crisis and address inequality in parallel by creating low-carbon economy jobs and providing training to help workers in the fossil fuel sector make a just transition to new work.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Spend $14 billion building 500,000 units of affordable housing in the next ten years. Implement a 20 per cent Foreign Buyer's Tax.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Work with Indigenous peoples to co-develop a National Action Plan for Reconciliation. Fully implement UNDRIP and the TRC's 94 Calls to Action.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Help our healthcare system with the resources it needs by using federal powers to spur the production of medical supplies and equipment here in Canada.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Expand income security programs to build to a point where everyone has access to a guaranteed livable basic income. Tax the Ultra-rich and their corporations.

Learn more about Tammy Bentz here, on Facebook or Twitter.

 

People's Party

Name: John Galloway

Age: 34

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

No

How will your party fight climate change?

Enhance educational efforts associated with the carbon cost of renewable energies. Offer government rebates to incentivize citizens to participate in alternative energy sources.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Offer tax credits or reduction in property taxes for homeowners who live at the same residence for 3+ years.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Start the dialogue with indigenous leaders on how to best move forward with reconciliation efforts, and where we've failed in the past.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Health is a personal decision best left to the individual. We oppose vaccine passports, lockdown measures, emergency mandates which violate constitutional rights.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Shrink government to where they are responsible for the basic needs of citizens. Adopt policies that aim to have a budget surplus, not deficit.

 

Conservative

Name: Les Jickling

Age: 54

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes. Born in North Vancouver

How will your party fight climate change?

A serious plan validated by Navius Research. Will achieve the same emissions reductions as the government’s current plan in 2030, while resulting in a boost to jobs and the economy. Policy incentives to lower emissions.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Build 1M homes. Convert 15% of Fed buildings. Restrict foreign speculators. Credits for new rental properties. Remove unnecessary roadblocks for mortgages.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Implement TRC recommendations 71-76. $1b in funding for mental health. Tackle clean drinking water. Empower self-determination. Fund residential school investigation

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Domestic vaccine supply, encourage vaccinations, rapid testing, partnering with pharma for critical medicines. PHAC responsibility to qualified MD. Restore GPHIN.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Canada's Recovery Plan will recover 1M jobs in 1st year. Investments in innovation, rehiring, retraining, small business, mental health, gig economy, loans and equip

Find out more about Les Jickling here, on Facebook or on Twitter.

 

Green Party

Name: Archie Kaario

Age: 73

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

1953 to present with about 17 years away

How will your party fight climate change?

Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent by 2030, and invest heavily in renewable energy to move away from fossil fuels. This process will create a sustainable green economy and effectively fight climate change.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Through the housing Co-operative approach that has not been actively used since the 1980's in British Columbia an effective plan for affordability can be achieved.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Effective consultation with all levels of government and indigenous groups must take place within which they articulate their priorities and governments respond.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Vaccine passports be put in place for everyone over 12 years of age and efforts be made to ease concerns of the public to work towards a higher rate of vaccination.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Incentives for employers to create more jobs through short term wage subsidies and loans to new business's . New taxes on the 1% and introduction of an estate tax.

Find out more about Archie Kaario here, on Facebook or Twitter.

 

Liberal (incumbent)

Name: Jonathan Wilkinson

Age: 56

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes - I have lived in North Vancouver for over two decades

How will your party fight climate change?

Implement our comprehensive climate plan - a science aligned plan including: a price on pollution, phase out of coal power, deployment of zero emissions vehicles and mandated declines in oil and gas emissions to net zero.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Build/repair 1.4M homes, ban foreign ownership for 2 years, expand vacant house tax, crack down on house flipping and speculation, support first-time buyers.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Implement UNDRIP, end remaining boil-water advisories, empower Indigenous peoples to lead on housing, health, and family services. Work with them on climate action.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Encourage higher vaccination rates by mandating vaccines for federal civil servants and sectors like airlines and trains. Support provincial vaccine passports.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Invest more in infrastructure, technology development and skills training to allow Canada to thrive in the low-carbon future. Focus on reducing debt-to-GDP ratio.

Find out more about Jonathan Wilkinson here, on Facebook or Twitter.

 

West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country

People’s Party

Name: Doug Bebb

Age: 64

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes. 8 years

How will your party fight climate change?

We will withdraw from the Paris Accord and defund climate alarmism

What is your plan for housing affordability?

We will reduce immigration to sustainable levels and tackle looming inflation by instituting sound money policies.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

We will replace the paternalistic Indian Act with a new legal framework that guarantees equal rights and responsibilities to indigenous people as Canadians.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

We will honour the Canadian charter of rights an freedoms and rescind all COVID-19 lockdown and vaccine mandates

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

We will balance the budget in a single term and return to a sound money policy with a zero percent inflation target for the Bank of Canada

Find out more about Doug Bebb here, or on Twitter.

 

Independent

Name: Terry Grimwood

Age: 69

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes. 20 years

How will your party fight climate change?

We need a new division of our Armed Forces to fight climate change issues. Forest fire suppression needs Federal Government funding in every Province. Our Air Force needs thousands of new waterbombers and helicopters.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

All levels of Government need to make land available for housing. Affordability starts with land. Stop taxing housing. Use our Pension funds to finance housing.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Reconciliation will only happen when we make information available to all Canadians. We also need to assimilate all ethnic groups along with educational programs.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Canada is #1 in the world in Education: We need to do a better job of providing the needed information that Canadians can trust.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Canadians need to insist that more of our pension funds be invested in Canada. Use the Armed Forces for civil work to get us back on track

 

NDP

Name: Avi Lewis

Age: 54

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

I do. Full-time since June 2020. Part-time since 2005.

How will your party fight climate change?

Create good local jobs to retrofit homes & schools, electrify highways & transit, and restore damaged ecosystems. We’ll protect workers & retirees (instead of big banks & billionaires) during the transition off fossil fuels

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Use federal lands & money to build cooperative, nonmarket, & social housing while cracking down on speculators. Eliminate GST when constructing affordable rentals.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

The NDP will appoint a special prosecutor to pursue those who harmed Indigenous children. Indigenous rights are at the heart of our climate crisis plans.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Expand sickness benefits from 15 to 50 weeks. Expand employment insurance, funded by taxing multi-millionaires & corporations taking excess profits during COVID.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

End corporate welfare for fossil polluters, big banks, & multi-millionaires. Create millions of good jobs caring for seniors, kids, our infrastructure, & the planet.

Find out more about Avi Lewis here, on Facebook or on Twitter.

 

Independent

Chris MacGregor NEW web

 

Name: Chris MacGregor

Age: 62

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

28 years

How will your party fight climate change?

I would look at alternative solutions to the oil and gas industry. 1 ton of hemp reduces 1.67 tonnes of carbon dioxide which is more efficient than trees, therefore growing hemp could save our forests too and enrich the soil

What is your plan for housing affordability?

work with existing agencies like habitat for humanity and require each multi unit new build to be required to have 20 percent affordable housing

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

this is simple. just listen to our Indigenous brothers they will provide the answers and healing

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

more transparency from pharmaceutical companies stop all lockdowns and mandatory jabs. Stop the fear campaign and try to heal the division in this country

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

look at alternative industries like Hemp as a wood alternative, clothing, oils, food source

 

Green Party

Name: Mike Simpson

Age: 56

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes. For 9 years.

How will your party fight climate change?

To cut 60% of carbon emissions by 2030, we will end fossil fuel subsidies, cancel the Trans Mountain pipeline, make electric vehicles affordable, renew the national forest strategy, and invest in clean energy infrastructure.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

We will invest in co-ops, rentals, social housing and supportive housing to build and restore quality, energy efficient housing in collaboration with provinces.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

We will honour treaties, implement land claims agreements, respect the inherent right to self-government, and build a genuine nation-to-nation relationship.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

We need to follow the science: vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. This is our best tool to stop the pandemic.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Only a healthy planet ensures prosperity. Transitioning to a green economy is the only way to provide economic returns for generations to come.

Learn more about Mike Simpson here, on Facebook or on Twitter.

 

Liberal (incumbent)

Name: Patrick Weiler

Age: 35

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes, for the vast majority of my life.

How will your party fight climate change?

With the world’s most comprehensive climate plan, we’ll reduce emissions by 45% by 2030, as the law now requires. Former BC Green Party leader/IPCC scientist Andrew Weaver called it this election’s only “credible” plan.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Building 1.4 million more homes, incentivizing municipalities to build, grants & TFSAs to make homes more affordable and banning inflationary practices like blind bidding.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Building on trusted relationships to accelerate self government agreements and Indigenous-led service delivery, while closing infrastructure and service gaps.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Playing a leadership role in getting Canada to herd immunity by requiring federally-regulated workers and interprovincial train and air travelers be vaccinated.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

Employment is higher in B.C. than before the pandemic. We’ll continue to strengthen the economy with programs in growth areas like digital, bio and cleantech.

Find out more about Patrick Weiler here, on Facebook or on Twitter.

 

Conservative

Name: John Weston

Age: 63

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes, lived in our beautiful riding for over 23 years.

How will your party fight climate change?

Meet our Paris Accord commitments by putting a price on carbon, empowering individuals through our Low Carbon Personal Savings Account; curb industrial emissions; increase zero emissions vehicles; stand up to major polluters.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Reject Liberals’ plan to tax capital gains on principal residences; create 1M new houses within 3 years; ease mortgage constraints; ban foreign speculation on homes.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Real action, not just words; specific funding, timelines on missing children; tackle homelessness in communities; restore 1M jobs in first year for all Canadians.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Our plan includes measures to face future pandemics; promote vaccinations while ensuring everyone's right to own health choices; & stand with frontline workers.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

We will Secure the Future by restoring one million jobs; helping businesses rehire staff; changing course from the reckless Liberal plan, supported by NDP, Greens.

Find out more about John Weston here, on Facebook or on Twitter.

 

Rhinoceros Party

Name: Gordon Jeffrey

Age: 34

Do you live in the riding? For how long?

Yes, for 12 years.

How will your party fight climate change?

Remove all oil subsidies, review and overhaul recycling programs, phase out single use plastics, and tax rebates for home gardens to reduce impacts of goods transportation.

What is your plan for housing affordability?

Increased foreign buyers taxes, introduce a 1st-time buyers tax credit, and change the taxation structure that discourages developers to build affordable homes.

What is your plan to advance reconciliation with Indigenous people?

Improve living conditions and supply clean drinking water for all, pursue justice for residential school survivors, and formally separate from the British Empire.

What is your plan to help the country resolve COVID-19?

Our current government is pushing a plan based on herd immunity that many experts say is not possible with variants, so we need to look for other answers.

How will you strengthen the economy and the country's finances?

By encouraging Canadians to get back to work. Raising the currently low bar for employment insurance payouts and lifting lock-downs.