North Vancouver-Lonsdale was a Liberal stronghold for years – until the NDP took it back in the 2017 provincial election.
Incumbent Bowinn Ma will now defend her seat against political newcomers ’Lyn Anglin of the BC Liberal Party and Christopher Hakes of the BC Green Party.
Some of the big issues in the riding include transportation, housing and the challenges faced by local business due to the pandemic. You can read a more in-depth profile on the riding by clicking here.
Like we do every election cycle, we asked the three candidates running in the North Vancouver-Lonsdale riding a series of key questions about how their parties would govern and what impact they could have on the community.
Their responses are below:
Liberal
Name: ’Lyn Anglin
Age: 56
Do you live in riding? For how long?
Yes, for 20 years.
What should be done to address housing affordability?
We need to vastly increase supply. By cutting taxes, removing red tape, and implementing policies to curb skyrocketing strata insurance premiums, we can lower costs for families and promote construction projects on the North Shore.
How would your government combat climate change?
Our vision of responsible resource development, a revenue-neutral carbon tax, and investing in clean energy alternatives will create and reach progressive climate action targets.
What specific action would your government take to help your constituents with the economic impact of COVID-19?
We would reduce the tax burden and give businesses and families opportunity to recover by eliminating the PST and the two
per cent tax on small businesses.
How would your government deal with traffic congestion and support expanding transit?
Removing Community Benefit Agreements from infrastructure projects, supporting both short-term and long-term public transit initiatives, providing tax breaks on e-bikes and transportation alternatives.
How would your government resolve the crisis in long-term care?
Our $1-billion investment in long-term care and home-care tax credit will ensure seniors live at home longer and get quality care at long-term facilities.
What should be done to reduce poverty?
Improving funding for skills training, reducing tax burdens on businesses and families, and investing more in mental health and addictions services.
Do you support decriminalization of all drugs as a strategy to resolve the opioid crisis?
I believe individuals should have access to safe injection sites as well as greater mental health and addictions resources.
Find out more about ’Lyn Anglin HERE or follow her on Twitter or Facebook
Green Party
Name: Christopher Hakes
Age: 50
Do you live in riding? For how long?
Yes, for three years.
What should be done to address housing affordability?
$500 million toward grants for low and moderate income households that are paying more than 30 per cent of their income in rent. A means test distinguishes this plan from that of the NDP.
How would your government combat climate change?
Carbon neutral B.C. by 2045. Set sectoral targets. End oil and gas subsidies and redirect that money to spurring innovation.
What specific action would your government take to help your constituents with the economic impact of COVID-19?
Create a $300-million rent subsidy for SMEs and programs to support tourism operators. Six-month rent subsidy for SMEs who pay $50,000 or less monthly rent.
How would your government deal with traffic congestion and support expanding transit?
Prioritize investments in electrifying transit systems, including partnering with federal government to accelerate support for BC Transit and TransLink’s efforts to electrify bus fleets.
How would your government resolve the crisis in long-term care?
End public funding for private long-term care homes, give greater powers/independence to province’s seniors advocate, provide care workers with better pay and benefits.
What should be done to reduce poverty?
Increase income assistance, disability assistance and shelter allowance by 10 per cent a year, starting this fall and continuing for five years.
Do you support decriminalization of all drugs as a strategy to resolve the opioid crisis?
This is complicated in 25 words or less, but in broad strokes, yes.
NDP
Name: Bowinn Ma (incumbent)
Age: 35
Do you live in riding? For how long?
Yes.
What should be done to address housing affordability?
Housing must be prioritized as homes for people, not investment assets. Continue to moderate the market by tackling speculation, while building homes that people need and improving housing security for people who rent.
How would your government combat climate change?
A rapid transition away from fossil fuel reliance is necessary. CleanBC puts us on the path to a cleaner, better future with a low-carbon economy.
What specific action would your government take to help your constituents with the economic impact of COVID-19?
We’ve worked swiftly throughout the pandemic to address the needs of people and will further supplement those measures with a recovery benefit (up to $1,000).
How would your government deal with traffic congestion and support expanding transit?
We’ve taken the first concrete steps towards a rapid transit solution for the North Shore in addition to making record investments into public transit service.
How would your government resolve the crisis in long-term care?
We will further increase funding, hire additional staff, build new public long-term care homes, replace aging facilities (Evergreen House), and hold private operators accountable.
What should be done to reduce poverty?
Further increase disability and income assistance rates, provide more supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, increase minimum wage, expand affordable childcare.
Do you support decriminalization of all drugs as a strategy to resolve the opioid crisis?
We support decriminalizing simple possession of small amounts for personal use as one of many important measures needed to save lives during this crisis.
Find out more about Bowinn Ma HERE or follow her on Twitter or Facebook
The election is set for Oct. 24.
Click here for more North Shore News provincial election coverage.
