Candidates in the Chilliwack-Hope riding were sent three questions to help readers understand each party’s direction, and the focus of each candidate’s campaign.
The candidates had four days to answer the questions. Five of the six candidates responded to the questions. Chris Adam, a candidate for the United Party of Canada, was not reached by deadline.
Question: How would you personally like to see Canada’s next leader navigate the changing global economy, and why do you think your party’s leader can meet the challenge?
Mark Strahl: Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives have been unequivocal in condemning the unjustified and unprovoked tariffs that President Trump imposed on Canada.
We need to become stronger, more self-reliant, and protect our sovereignty so that we can stand up to the Americans from a position of strength. What is clear is that 10 years of weak economic performance have made us more reliant than ever on the Americans.
Seventy-five per cent of our exports go to one country. Almost all our energy and most of our raw materials go south because we can’t get them to other countries.
We need to take drastic action to build an economic fortress in Canada, able to reach other markets around the world, repealing the anti-pipeline law, rapidly building LNG liquefaction plants, mines, and factories, and expanding and making our ports functional so that we can move our goods to other places around the world. We need to knock down the barriers between our provinces so that we can trade with ourselves, for a change. We will pass a Bring It Home Tax Cut on work, investment, home building and energy. This will help us to bring back the half-trillion dollars that Liberals pushed out of the country over the last decade.
Then, and only then, will we be able to properly stand up to the Americans. Now is the time to take back control and relaunch our economy so that we can confront Trump’s unjustified threats and tariffs from a position of strength. We will do this for our people, for our land, for our home and put Canada first – for a change.
Teri Westerby: Canada’s next leader must stand up for working people, and not just big corporations. We’re entering a time of massive economic transition with automation, climate change, and global instability disrupting how people live and work. We need leadership that doesn’t just manage these changes, but harnesses them to build a more just and secure future.
Here in Chilliwack-Hope, that means investing in people. It means good jobs in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and local manufacturing. It means making life affordable through universal pharmacare, dental care, and child care, so families can build a future here. And it means protecting workers, farmers, and small business owners from being left behind by a global economy that rewards only the few at the top.
The NDP and I are the only ones showing the courage to take that stand. The major two parties talk a lot about affordability but always side with wealthy developers and corporate lobbyists, while pushing cuts that leave working families exposed. The NDP is out there delivering real change for working people, pushing for dental care, affordable housing, and bold climate action.
I want to see a leader who believes that the economy should work with the people who live here, who want their families to live here well into the future and who will not allow large multinational corporations buy up what's meant to be ours to share, while they generate profit off of our labour, our land and our futures. I want a leader who understands that climate action is not just about emissions, but about justice: about creating local, reliable jobs, lowering energy bills, and ensuring clean air and water for future generations. And a leader that stands up for our rights, our freedoms and our democracy.
The NDP understands that. That’s the kind of leadership I believe in. That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to Chilliwack-Hope.
Salina Derish: We need leadership that is proactive, pragmatic, and independent from corporate influence. The global economy is shifting rapidly, toward clean energy, digital innovation, and more localized supply chains. Canada must not be left behind clinging to outdated industries. We must lead in what comes next.
I believe Elizabeth May and the Green Party team are best suited to meet this challenge. We are the only party committed to balancing the budget without abandoning people. We’d cut wasteful subsidies and reinvest in renewable industries, housing, and small business innovation. We understand that economic and ecological sustainability go hand in hand.
Leadership in this moment also means putting aside partisan games. It means collaboration, compassion, and transparency. The Green Party doesn't whip votes. Our MPs are free to represent their communities, not party donors. That’s the kind of leadership Canada needs, and it's the kind I live by.
Zeeshan Khan: We know that the global economy is in a period of significant transformation, marked by geopolitical tensions, rising inflation, and shifting global trade dynamics. Canada’s next leader must navigate the changing global economy by building more trade partnerships internationally by using international negotiation skills so that we don't rely on only on USA and removing the trades barriers within the country.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, his credentials and Leadership are the main reasons I decided to step up for this position to represent Chilliwack-Hope in Ottawa. Mr. Carney is a seasoned leader with a wealth of experience in global finance, having served as Governor of the Bank of Canada and Governor of the Bank of England.
I believe Mr. Carney is the only Leader who can navigate Canada through a changing global economy, I'd imagine he'd leverage his extensive background in financial policy, climate change, and global economic coordination to steer Canada towards resilience and sustainability. I like Mr. Carney’s approach, and he has been vocal about the need for a green transition and the importance of addressing climate change within the economic framework. I think he could take Canada’s efforts on climate action and incorporate them into a broader economic strategy, balancing environmental priorities with economic growth. He also understands the significance of financial stability and equity, which could ensure that his economic policies benefit all Canadians, particularly in challenging times. Moreover, his experience in international negotiations could be invaluable in strengthening Canada’s global role, advocating for policies that protect Canadian interests while promoting a fairer global economy.
I think Carney’s ability to think globally while focusing on national prosperity would allow him to meet these challenges. As a member of Parliament for Chilliwack-Hope I will bring all voices to Ottawa and advocate for the change in our community.
Jeff Galbraith: We need to remove ourselves completely from the global economy and focus on the Canadian economy first and foremost.
We need to establish a proper and fair trade agreements with the U.S. and other foreign countries. Canada needs to end Supply Manipulation, the current system calls it Management, yet it is really manipulation. Canada needs to embrace an internal trade agreement between all provinces, so that all producers can trade unilaterally and without gatekeepers manning the specifics of how trading is to be accomplished.
Let businesses do business as this is the way of a “free market system.”
