Candidates vying for MLA seats in Chilliwack North and Chilliwack-Cultus Lake squared off Thursday night (Oct. 10) tackling election issues from a distinctly business-oriented lens.
They gathered at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre in the All-Candidates Forum presented by the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Chilliwack BIA, and moderated by Chamber CEO Leanna Kemp.
Topics leapfrogged from crime and public safety, to the future of agri-food, to calls for increased education and training seats for a stronger workforce in Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley.
The discussion was lively yet collegial, and ran the gamut of topics, all livestreamed from the Chamber's Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/live/jH352vgtqoE
First half dedicated to Chilliwack-Cultus candidates
The following is a brief summary of some of the answers provided by the six candidates over more than three hours.
The first half of the night saw the two Chilliwack-Cultus candidates trading viewpoints.
On the question of infrastructure and transportation, NDP candidate Kelli Paddon said the business voices in Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley have been heard on the need for gridlock improvements, "which is why we're expanding the highway all the way to Chilliwack."
"The last thing anyone needs to worry about is they'll get stuck on the highway," Paddon said.
Conservative candidate Á’a:líya Warbus said in speaking to voters about infrastructure, having knocked on 2,000 doors while on the campaign trail, "we're in dire need of upgrades to the highway," and the Conservatives also committed to expanding the highway six lanes to Chilliwack to accommodate the "flood of people" now calling Chilliwack home.
"We definitely need to look to the future and make sure we're planning for the next 20 years," Warbus said.
Flood mitigation plans are needed, Warbus said and they'd get to it soon after being elected: "so we don't see what happened during the floods when Chilliwack basically became an island cut off from essential services. We want to be ready for things like that."
Paddon said in terms of police and public safety resources allocated by the NDP government, they're making an investment that will bring "250 more RCMP officers," and that there is action being taken everyday, whether it's building more complex care shelter spaces or day shelter spaces.
"And recognizing that there are people who can't ask for the care, that's where compassionate care comes in. Youth are critical, and so is adding mental health support. In Chilliwack we're adding a new youth Foundry, which is incredible."
Given the continued rise in the number of unhoused, Warbus pointed out that it has become so "visible" in Chilliwack, requiring a boost to public safety.
Warbus commented that she has never seen so many "displaced people using drugs openly and freely."
She said 15,000 people in B.C. have lost their lives to the opioid crisis but "the numbers keep on rising" with victims getting younger, Warbus said, adding it all points to a strong need to "increase support to police" and recriminalize hard drugs.
Although some have criticized the Conservatives for "politicizing" addiction issues in this campaign, Warbus asked: "Where else are we supposed to bring those voices?"
Candidates were asked how they'd deal with the rising cost of doing business, which has been crippling some ventures.
Warbus said the Conservatives are "committed to seeing small businesses and business thrive in B.C," and have pledged to eliminate the carbon tax, and reduce the regulatory burden and red tape limiting the private sector.
Paddon said having sat down to hear concerns from local business and chamber leadership, she said "there's a lot going on to help business go even further."
In terms of lowering the tax burden, Paddon pointed out that "taxes are lower under Eby" than they were when John Rustad was in power under the B.C. Liberals.
"We're actually doing it," Paddon said, adding it's the NDP that has been "building the homes, providing the training," as well as expanding universal child care, which has been a "game-changer."
In terms of education and training opportunities in the Fraser Valley, Paddon said a lot of these key investments have already started, mentioning the recent Eby promise to "double the number of apprenticeship seats," as well as supporting micro credentials to prepare youth for the job market.
Warbus said it was her mom who worked in education all her life who was the reason she went back to school at UBC to get her university degree.
With some small businesses having a hard time keeping their doors open, the candidates were asked if they would support a freeze or reduction of the minimum wage.
Warbus said with so many struggling, it's hard hearing about the increase in minimum wage when some can't get enough freight workers, or can't compete.
"I don't have the answer," Warbus said, but suggested it might be by "making the budget more affordable" and taking it from deficit to surplus to "make things better on both sides of the equation."
Paddon said there are different viewpoints on the minimum wage question "depending on which room you're in." Minimum wage in B.C. is the "highest in Canada," she stressed, but she's also heard from small and medium sized business owners that "this is a burden."
Balancing the budget came up, and candidates were asked what they would change or cut in services in order to balance it.
"I absolutely believe that balancing the budget is key, but not on the backs of British Columbians," Paddon said. The way to go is by helping people grow and helping people rise and not by cutting our way to success."
Warbus said in terms of responsible fiscal spending, the goal is seeing where the money is coming from, not by cutting the services they need.
"We don't want to cut health care funding but reallocate resources," Warbus said pointing to "too much red tape and inefficiencies."
"Municipalities are frustrated," Warbus said about provincial mandates and how they've been rolled out. "We need to stop being so prescriptive and listen to people."
The candidate versus the party they're running for was in focus with the question that asked: "What would you tell a potential voter who likes you as a candidate but dislikes the party you represent?"
Warbus said she's been talking to voters on doorsteps every single night, suggesting she's had that experience.
"I tell them that I am here to represent you," Warbus said, adding "It’s about representing the people who live here, and while party politics are common goals" she says she is ready to "use my voice to amplify" those of others, and stand up for the values of the people, "even when it's hard, even when standing up to a room full of people."
Paddon said she is proud to be an NDP candidate, trying to make health care stronger, the streets safer, and build resilience to climate change.
"I have heard from people who say they will vote for me, but the party they may be unsure about. But having a voice in government as part of Eby's team - that's got to be gravy," Paddon said.
Second half devoted to candidates for Chilliwack North
Green candidate Tim Cooper said in his intro he spent his life "worried about the greenhouse effect," and ended up at UFV teaching physics years ago, after stints in the U.S. He always sought to avoid politics but upon looking into whether B.C. was doing its fair share to offset greenhouse gases he found out "we were punching way above our weight." Cooper said he was OK until David Eby came out and "cancelled the carbon tax."
"We have five years left before we hit the tipping point," Cooper said, dropping his bombshell.
NDP candidate Dan Coulter, former school board chair and incumbent, said "it's great to be running against you, Heather," in his intro.
"I am proud of what we have done," Coulter said. "We have come out of the pandemic, major weather disasters, inflation and global inflation. We came through it, well positioned after the pandemic. That's a testament to all of you in this room."
Conservative candidate Heather Maahs talked about being elected trustee in 2008, and advocating for parental rights, and her decision to run after "increasing frustration with the provincial government," as an "involved community member."
Maahs called Eby's decriminalization effort to stem the tide of toxic street drugs, "trafficking in free drugs," which she said was a "failure" of the province. The cost of living and debt has contributed to the hopelessness felt by young people she said, who are overwhelmed.
She said it's time for "common sense change."
Independent candidate Dan Grice said his motivation was getting away from partisan politics. When the province moved to dissolve the B.C. Law Society he didn't see any option other than to run for MLA.
He couldn't abide by the Conservative agenda, "to muzzle teachers, and remove valuable anti bullying programs, and slash university funding" all "unacceptable" but in addition he is someone who believes in fiscal responsibility.
"We need a system where you can vote for our politics and not worry about vote splitting."
Candidates jumped on the topic of the six-lane extension of the highway coming to Chilliwack.
Coulter said it's a comprehensive plan that includes flood mitigation, that he's been part of as minister. They've accelerated things, "understanding the frustration of drivers getting stuck on the highway. With nearly 40 kilometres of highway under construction, a lot of it will be done at night.
"We have more than that, we're also going to get the West Coast Express to Chilliwack," adding it's in the long-term vision of the Fraser Valley Transportation plan."I'm very excited our government will deliver on it."
Grice noted that sitting as an independent he'll represent the community, and "stay on the government" to fulfill its commitments, but wanted to talk about dikes and fire, "where is that money coming from?"
The carbon tax puts a price on pollution, he said, "but it's also a means to pay for things we need to do."
Maahs called the highway situation is "such a frustration" to those of us who live here, noting the Conservatives are committed to extending to Chilliwack, not just Abbotsford. Finding the TransLink shortfall unacceptable, if Conservatives form government, they would fund an audit and look to reform.
Cooper said he'd take a different tack saying his preference would be to see high speed rail become the focus, and was "very glad" the NDP is bringing the WCE to Chilliwack.
"But if it’s not faster, people will still take their cars."
Regarding crime and public safety, candidates were asked how they'd increase services.
Maahs said the Conservatives would revert to the criminalization of hard drugs, increasing funding for law enforcement and the justice system to prevent the production of deadly drugs.
"A Conservative government would launch an all-out assault on drug smuggling," Maahs said, focusing on the importers of fentanyl and working with the feds to improve border security.
Cooper said he had a family member who spent their whole life "drenched in opioids" but when he asked to please stop, it didn't work.
"We need safe injection place with clean drugs for those who cannot kick them," Cooper said, or explore a way to take away the need for it with a "minimum income program."
Coulter said he hears every day about "how crime affects people," and small businesses, like those owners forced to pay for repairs due to vandalism.
Recreational programs for kids is something Coulter said that could allow them to "develop better ideas of ways to live and not get involved with drugs."
Grice called the rampant crime frustrating, adding "everyone has had something stolen."
"These are complex problems and you can't separate them from addictions and mental health," Grice said. "We can't be pulling tools off the table," emphasizing the importance of the four pillars of harm reduction.
Candidates were asked for their ideas about targeted financial incentives and tax relief to help businesses manage rising costs.
Cooper said "businesses are the backbone" of any community, and in many ways the "centre of society," and noted that said Canadian business voices "back carbon pricing" in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions, because it is the most cost effective way of reducing emissions.
Coulter said with costs rising for business, the NDP has made a point of "cutting red tape" with risk based licensing as an example. Also the tax rate was dropped on small business, and it's 20 per cent lower than under the government of John Rustad, Coulter said.
For Grice as a lawyer that serves the business sector, he said it's the lack of revenue and the need to see more "traffic volume coming into your businesses."
High interest rates have really affected everyone's financing, but one of the major things they need to look at is tourism, which is "ignored," Grice said. And without handing out "free grants," find a way to "let people flourish" and get more people to come through the door.
Maah also noted "small business is the backbone," of everything, but the NDP government has burdened them.
Along with cutting the carbon tax, Maah said the Conservatives have pledge to cut small business taxes. She said they would reduce timelines for getting building permits, and restore public consultation hearings at the municipal level.
Candidates talked about how they would increase education seats and workforce development.
"There is no doubt businesses are struggling for labour, not just here in B.C.," Coulter said, and he mentioned Premier Eby's recent announcement in Chilliwack that he would taking action by doubling the number of trades apprenticeship seats, and removing such barriers on those apprentices like child care or travel that might get in the way.
"The first ever universal child care program was introduced in the province," Coulter noted adding he knows of one family that saved $40,000.
Having obtained "a couple of degrees" Grice said he strongly values education.
That said, Grice said locally he would advocate for UFV to get more programs to offer.
An increase in agriculture and the agri-food sector production in general "would create more local jobs," Maahs said.
"Increasing production increases jobs," Maahs said.
Cooper said with UFV's current wait lists, doubling seats in the trades, as per the recent announcement makes sense.
"It's a shame it was not done earlier."
If elected he would work with other MLAS to take the funds back from other areas for trades.
Asked if the candidates' parties would agree to cutting the corporate income tax, Coulter said families and small businesses are struggling with some living paycheque to paycheque.
"But a lot of these problems cost money," Coulter said, adding now is not the time to cut in these areas, which he called "a pixie dust solution" to suggest the government should be cutting taxes and increasing services.
"We just can't do it. People need the support. We all need to come together and help each other and lift each other up. The strongest part of our economy is our people."
Cooper said although the Greens are "very unhappy with running a deficit," now is not the time to cut corporate income tax.
Grice noted that when it comes to taxes, as long as "we're running a giant deficit we shouldn’t be talking about cutting taxes."
In reality it's "really a select few who benefit," Grice said on the corporate tax question.
With homelessness so overwhelmingly visible in Chilliwack, candidates were asked for their best ideas.
Maahs' suggestion is replacing injection sites with treatment centres.
"The free drugs and injection sites have turned into dens where drug dealers come to sell," Maah said, advocating a change of "not putting Band-Aids on it" but getting to the root of the problem.
"It's time to stop enabling and really seriously help them with treatment centres."
In terms of reducing the level of struggle, Coulter said:
"There is no easy solution or slogan that will help us get out of this. We have to take care of each other, not just sweep it off the streets, or whatever the opposition is advocating."
Grice's suggestion to combat the issue of homelessness is tiny homes. He would allow some "flexibility" in the agricultural land reserve, and to move toward "allowing and legalizing tiny homes."
"We need to look at solutions," he said, adding later "hey, can't we be flexible and just find some ways for people to live?"
Cooper criticized the victim mentality when it comes to homelessness.
"The most important word about homeless people is 'people.' They need our help."
It behooves the government to "look around and see if anyone has a better idea," and Cooper points to Finland, where the government builds and provides housing.
Candidates were finally asked: "What would you tell voters if they hate the party you represent?"
"I have worked with folks in this room who don't like my party," Coulter stated. "We've been able to achieve great things," he said, pointing to the Paramount housing in downtown Chilliwack, but also building local schools, and getting a Car 67 program.
Cooper, upon reflecting on the question stated that his views and values "are very closely aligned with those of the Green Party of BC's."
Grice said as an independent candidate, "I don't have this problem," but said the reality is, if elected he will work with everyone. He called himself a "policy wonk" who reads legislation every day.
"I can work with people across the board when focused on what I am trying to achieve," Grice said. "That's what we need to do to refocus politics, not party first, but people first, and communities first."
Maahs said she actually experienced another situation with an NDP voter who changed their mind, and thanked her for being an alternative as a candidate.
"It’s too bad there’s too much polarization," she said about politics, adding it’s a matter of doing "what’s right."
"But if they said they liked me but not my party, I‘d ask them why. We’re here to do our best for the people of this province."
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