Nan Kendy, Green
Question 1: Why should young people able to vote for the first time in this election support you and your party?
The Green Party is a party that is looking to the future. We are the only party that is presenting a platform that ensures opportunities created today are also available to the next generation.
The Green party will introduce policies that promote innovation and sustainable enterprise and ensure an equitable future for all British Columbians for decades to come - not just until the next election is held. The B.C. Greens have the best platform to ensure a healthy future.
Question 2: What are the major issues in education in your electoral district and what is your plan to address those concerns?
Education has been chronically underfunded for the last two decades, which has lead to larger class sizes, lack of support teachers and lack of programs which benefit all students. The Green Party will invest in education in epic amounts to ensure free Early Childhood Education for three-four year olds to give them a strong start that research shows leads to more successful adults.
The Green Party will provide free child care for children up to three years old and up to $500 a month for a stay at home parent.
They will increase funding for public schools to $220 million immediately and $1.46 billion in 2020/2021 to allow schools and school districts to invest in every child and to prepare students for the innovation and technology economy.
Question 3: What are the major issues affecting the aboriginal residents of your electoral district and what is your plan to address those concerns?
The Green Party will stop construction of the Site C dam, so effected First Nations can stop paying the high court costs, with money they don't have to protect their Treaty 8 Rights to the land.
We recognize First Nations as equals in land and resource management. We will work in partnership with the Federal Government and First Nations to ensure that services to Aboriginal children and youth is culturally appropriate, specific to the needs of their communities and takes into account our history of colonialism and discrimination and address the problems of Aboriginal children in care outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Question 4: What are the major environmental issues affecting your electoral district and what is your plan to address those concerns?
The B.C. Greens are committed to ensuring that mining in B.C. is environmentally sensitive, and will apply the B.C. mining code to all mines. The water ways need to be protected from tailings ponds, and Hydro dam leaching of mercury. We would re-establish the integrity of the Environmental Assessment process and establish clear criteria for decisions that fully factor in sustainability and cumulate impacts. Establish a compliance and enforcement unit in the Natural Resources sector that will be responsible for a continuum of compliance and enforcement activities, from inspections to prosecutions.
Question 5: What are the major health issues affecting your electoral district and what is your plan to address those concerns?
Establish a ministry responsible for mental health and addictions which will be responsible for developing and implementing a Mental Health Strategy for early detection of mental illness, early intervention, youth mental health initiatives, supervised injection sites and community based centers for mental health and rehabilitation. We support health care prevention by mitigating the causes that lead to disease, homelessness and poverty.
Question 6: What are the major economic issues affecting your electoral district and what is your plan to address those concerns?
Global warming, climate change and the burning of fossil fuels is a major economic and environmental problem. B.C. needs to reinstate its commitment to reducing our carbon foot print.
Andrew Weaver, the leader of the Green Party has been studying climate change for nearly two decades. The Green Party have a plan to transition British Columbians from a society dependent on fossil fuels to a healthier choice for clean, renewable energy, innovation and technology.
