FOUR candidates in the West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding answered questions from a small crowd of about 60 at an all-candidates meeting held at the Kay Meek Centre on Sunday.
B.C. Liberal candidate Jordan Sturdy started things off by stating his 12 years of experience in politics and his time served as mayor of Pemberton have given him the knowledge and the tools needed to successfully represent his constituents.
"I will be a strong voice for a fiscally responsible, environmentally sustainable and socially sensitive government regardless of any outcomes on May 14," he said.
Conservative candidate Ian McLeod said it's important to balance the budget, but also to represent the people and not his party at every turn. He promised to cut down "bloated" bureaucracy, cut taxes and eliminate the carbon tax.
"I decided to run because I believe the two parties, both left-wing parties, the New Democrats and the Liberals have not represented British Columbia well in the last 20 years," he said.
NDP candidate Ana Santos said education is the most important investment and that she planned on improving that during her tenure as MLA. "It provides equal opportunity," she said. "In a province like ours, this is not a small thing."
Last minute Green Party candidate Richard Warrington admitted he only became a politician "about a week ago," but said that doesn't mean he doesn't have principles or cannot represent the people. "I know nothing about politics, I have to be honest," he said. But he said he believes in the democratic process and is happy to represent the ideals of the Green Party.
The first question was directed at Santos, questioning the NDP's commitment to its principles and if she would stick with hers.
Santos responded that she must be able to adapt as new information comes in, and that she makes the most informed decisions with the information she has before her.
Sturdy said the NDP have flip-flopped too much in the past and asked how they can be trusted. "In the case of the NDP you never know what's actually going to happen," he said.
McLeod said the Liberals have changed their minds too and pointed to the scrapped toll-booth plan for the Coquihalla Highway.
Santos was asked if she was an environmentalist ahead of being pro-business.
Santos said she believes in creating an environmentally conscious province, but that's not to say she's not pro-development or industry.
McLeod said the Conservatives are focusing on the budget, but he agrees there should be balance between industry and the environment.
Candidates were asked if they supported open fish farming on B.C.'s coastal waters.
Sturdy said it's a "complicated issue" that "clearly needs additional research."
However, he agreed there shouldn't be fish farms on migratory routes, but said he would support farms adjacent to them.
McLeod was opposed to fish farming and says it promotes disease among the fish. "I do think it hurts our wild salmon and we need to focus on ways to grow our wild salmon population, and spend money on hatcheries," he said.
Santos said the NDP has committed to removing salmon farms on harmful routes, and has seen first-hand the negative effects of fish farms. "Their impact is incredible; I don't need to be convinced," she said.
Warrington said he worked in Port McNeil when they introduced fish farming in the '80s and is opposed now as he was then.
"It's not a sensible, sustainable thing to do," he said. "I'm very pleased to say the Green Party does not support farmed salmon."
Sturdy was then asked if he recognized the B.C. Liberal party's follies in the past decade, and what he would do to convince his constituents that he will listen and represent them.
Sturdy said he believes the Liberals have done a lot of good in the past 10 years, and offered his record as mayor of Pemberton as proof that he has listened. "This has been a good government that has built the Sea-to-Sky, that has helped a great Olympics, that has invested in our community of Pemberton, that has helped build infrastructure, that has opened up the economy," he said.
McLeod said it's "laughable" the amount of debt the Liberals have added in the past decade. "They make the NDP government in the 1990s look like Scrooge," he said.
Warrington said people are tired of switching back and forth between the Liberals and the NDP, and simply asked, "Why not try Green?" He said the Green Party will create legislation which requires political parties to live up to their party platforms during their campaign.
Candidates were then asked for specific answers regarding their feelings and policies towards the plan to ship liquefied natural gas facility from facilities yet to be built.
McLeod said the Conservatives have a policy to encourage development, but if he found his constituents disagreed with the LNG facility he would vote against it.
Santos said the NDP promotes new forms of energy, but there has to be more research into the effects of fracking, carbon-dioxide emissions from such a facility, and the potential environmental impact it could have before she would make any decisions.
Warrington admitted he did not know about the facility, but the Green Party is not supportive of that type of industry.
Sturdy said the site is only proposed right now and would have to pass through environmental assessments before being approved. Until then, there is no real plan he could comment on or commit any action to.
Candidates were then asked about the economy, and how their parties would utilize current resources and foster job growth.
Santos said the NDP wants to apply the carbon tax to major polluters like the oil and gas industry, which would gain them more money to spend on new technologies for alternative energy sources and green initiatives.
Sturdy disagreed with the focus on alternative energy. "This province was built on resources, built on renewable and non-renewable resources, and we have a great future there and this is how we're going to pay for that great future," he said.
McLeod said to grow the economy the province needs to lower taxes and make a "lean" government, and create more jobs with industry and trade.
All the candidates were then asked what skill they would bring if elected.
Sturdy said his experience as mayor and a business owner can be applied to government, and he understands the system to fully represent his constituents and be effective.
McLeod said he has financial expertise, as he's run a profitable business for the past seven years. "When it comes to money I know what I'm talking about," he said. McLeod said he's a good mediator and can reach consensus in the most difficult situations.
Santos said she was raised in a low-income family and became successful after immigrating to a new country, so she knows how to build up from a dire situation. She created the Squamish Action Network, working with the First Nations group to help bolster the Squamish community and make a better place for them to live. She said she can transfer these skills to government.
Warrington said his experience as an administration officer for the Bank of Commerce and later as a teacher have given him the proper skills needed to properly represent his constituents.
