The Pioneer invited provincial election candidates in Columbia River-Revelstoke to answer questions on various topics of concern. The following answers are provided by NDP candidate Andrea Dunlop. The Pioneer is still awaiting answers from Green Party candidate Calvin Beauchesne.
Q: Crime is a growing concern among constituents. What would you do to bring “justice” (and faith) back into the system?
A: Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community. But there are still too many stories of crime, both here in Columbia River-Revelstoke and across BC and North America. That’s why we’re taking action to fight crime and keep people safe and communities strong.
Our work is starting to make a difference. We’ve hired over 250 police officers, and we’re working with the police to launch new specialized teams to go after gangs, guns, and drugs. And we’re targeting organized crime and money laundering, seizing criminals’ fast cars, luxury goods, and real estate holdings to send the message that a life of crime doesn’t pay.
Our valley has such a huge fluctuation in population, and we know how challenging it can be for local RCMP to address our needs during the busy summer months. That’s why we’ve taken action to boost resources for prosecutors and police, including bringing in new teams to monitor repeat offenders to prevent them from reoffending and issuing a directive to Crown Counsel to make our provincial bail policy the strictest in the country.
Q: How would you and your party improve health care for residents of Columbia River-Revelstoke?
A: We know that one of the toughest barriers to health services for people living in small towns is the need to travel to larger centres for care. On October 1, Premier David Eby announced that when kids need to go to Vancouver or individuals need to go to Kelowna for cancer care, mileage money will now be available before travel is required, taking the financial stress out of health care.
That’s just one example of our commitment to funding and supporting our public health care system and expanding it to meet the demands of the future; opening a new medical school, building or expanding 29 new hospitals around the province, and hiring 800 new doctors and 6,300 new nurses last year alone.
We’re also taking action through our rural incentive scheme to attract and retain health care workers to high-demand rural areas. We have made progress, and we have much more work to do. The last thing we need is (Conservative leader) John Rustad’s $4.2 billion in health care cuts and the introduction of US-style privatized health care – that will mean fewer doctors and nurses and will set us all back.
Q: What would you do to make affordable housing more accessible in the Columbia Valley? And how would you address the concern about short-term rentals?
A: Our valley is a great place to live, but the availability and cost of housing have become an obstacle for those who live and want to live here. I support David Eby’s action plan on housing, which experts say will create 300,000 new middle-class homes across the province. The BC NDP recognizes that fixing the housing crisis will require municipal and provincial governments to work together. Rents are coming down in the Lower Mainland because of steps Premier Eby has taken in the last two years, and we can do the same here. We will expand programs that fund the development of secondary suites, opening up new spaces for people to live. Unlike John Rustad, we will continue to take action on housing because we understand that without safe, secure, and affordable housing, people will not be able to stay.
As president of the Windermere Community Association, I have worked closely with the Fairmont Community Association and the Fernie Snow Valley Community Association to advocate for stronger regulations and enforcement for short-term rentals in our communities.
While short-term rentals play an important role in supporting our local tourism economy, they also impact the availability of long-term housing and can alter the character of our neighbourhoods.
If elected, I will uphold the existing BC NDP policies for short-term rentals, which aim to protect housing availability for local residents, safeguard the long-term character and livability of our communities, and support our tourism sector.
Q: The Lake Windermere Ambassadors recently released a report outlining the negative impacts of recreational boating on the lake. Now boaters are worried that their access will be potentially restricted. How would you address this issue?
A: The lake and its use have changed significantly since my childhood. I remember when we could safely swim across it as a group of kids. Now, as a board member of the Windermere Community Association, even something as simple as trying to remove illegal buoys in front of the beach has become nearly impossible.
One key challenge is that the lake falls under federal jurisdiction, limiting the ability of local governments to manage or control its use. Boat owners are also recognizing the issue, with concerns about the growing number and size of boats. In response, they’ve implemented self-regulating guidelines at all marinas to enhance the enjoyment of the lake for both motorized and non-motorized use and to protect the shoreline from erosion. These have been self-imposed restrictions because there is little local governments can do as the Columbia River is a federally regulated waterbody. It’s clear that all levels of government must work together to ensure the health of the lake, addressing the needs of residents, the environment, and the Eastside water source. If elected MLA, I will be a strong advocate for local priorities and concerns like this one.
Q: What is the biggest, most important issue that you hope to tackle, and your strategy?
A: The health and management of our forests. Obviously, housing, childcare, and access to health care are important to our community. On the doorsteps, I am also hearing concerns about how we are going to look after the health of our forests. Every summer we live with the anxiety of losing our communities and live with the smoke of forest fires. If we can manage our forests using science and research, our forests will be more resistant to forest fires, our communities will be safer, our tourism industry will be protected, and our wildlife will have a healthy habitat.
There is research and best practices to draw from; we just need local leadership and someone who understands that any money spent managing our forests is an investment in our communities. I can be that insistent voice in Victoria because I know the threat, and I understand we need to address this issue immediately.
