MISSION-MATSQUI-FRASER CANYON CANDIDATES:
Brad Vis (Conservative)
Age: 31
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science (UBC), master’s degree in political science (Carleton)
Occupation: Public Relations/communications/policy development
Residence: Abbotsford
Community involvement: Abilitas Foundation, Cycling4Diversity, Bethesda Christian Association, New Life Church
Marital Status/Children: Married to Kathleen
Website: bradvis.conservative.ca
Email: info@bradvis.ca
Facebook Page: Brad Vis
Twitter: @BradleyVis
What do you feel are the key issues in your riding?
Since being nominated to be the Conservative candidate I have been door knocking almost everyday. This is what the people of Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon have told me:
1. Families are concerned about paying their bills, staying ahead every month and making sure they have jobs to support their children.
2. Citizens are concerned about keeping their streets and community safe. Parents want neighbourhoods where their children can play on the street and in the park across the road in a safe and clean environment free from drugs (i.e. dirty needles), gang violence and marijuana grow ops.
As the Member of Parliament for Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon I will begin my career as a backbencher. This means the best way I will be able to advocate for the communities in this riding will be through detailed committee work and direct intervention with the executive branch of government and my parliamentary caucus. I will regularly provide the community with updates on these files and the steps I have taken on these matters in a transparent fashion.
Fraser River management issues like flood protection infrastructure and erosion are also big concerns. I will advocate for increased infrastructure investment through the Building Canada Fund and other government programs to support such developments in the riding.
I also promise to be a strong advocate for the agricultural sector – promoting our local and world-class food products will bring more jobs and economic growth to this region!
Finally, I promise to visit every single secondary school as my first priority as an elected representative. I want youth to be properly informed about our democratic processes, which make Canada a global leader!
What do you feel are the key issues in Canada in this election?
Jobs, the economy and taxes. The Conservatives have a strong track record in supporting job development, a steady hand in managing Canada’s economy, and a commitment to keeping taxes low, while providing significant tax credits. These are the issues Canadians care about the most and the Conservative Party is moving in the right direction for the country. In uncertain times the last thing families need are increased taxes or the government clawing back solid policies like the Universal Child Care Benefit or Income-Splitting, as the Opposition parties have promised to do. I hear this every night on the doorsteps of hard-working Canadian families and I will protect these benefits, which make such a difference in the lives of hard-working families.
Dennis Adamson (NDP)
Age: 57
Education: Georgian College in Barrie, Ryerson Polytechnic Institute
Occupation: Electoral Area B Director for Fraser Valley Regional District since 2008.
Residence: Been living for 10 years in Yale – a B.C. rural community of about 200 residents.
Community involvement: I was a Yale and District volunteer firefighter, a member of the Yale Ratepayers and assistant leader of the 1st Hope Scouts until I was elected to Fraser Valley Regional District. Currently, I am a board member of the Hope/Fraser Canyon Better at Home local advisory committee and a director of the Citizens Advancing Soilless Horticulture Society.
Marital Status/Children: Married with two daughters.
Website: dennisadamson.ndp.ca
Email: dennis.adamson@ndp.ca
What do you feel are the key issues in your riding?
I have been knocking on hundreds of doors in the riding and I’ve been hearing that residents of Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon are worried about how their incomes are dropping, household debt is rising and unemployment is increasing. An NDP government will cut the small business tax rate from 11 to nine per cent to kick start the local economy.
Residents are also worried about the air we breathe and the water we drink. The NDP has a concrete plan reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support energy efficiency and conservation. I have the experience, working as the Electoral Area B Regional Director for the Fraser Valley Regional District since 2008, to work with different local organizations to get the job done.
But one of the main things I’ve been hearing on the doorstep is that voters are very disappointed at the Liberals teaming up with the Conservatives to pass Bill C-51, which threatens our privacy. This is why it’s time for change and an NDP government will repeal Bill C-51.
More and more Canadians are putting their trust in the NDP to defeat Stephen Harper and bring change to Ottawa.
What do you feel are the key issues in Canada in this election?
This election is about change. After ten years of Stephen Harper, middle class families are working harder but just can’t get ahead. Stephen Harper’s plan just isn’t working.
Canadians are also tired of the Senate scandals plaguing Stephen Harper. He promised to clean up the scandals and do things differently—he didn’t. Stephen Harper is the reason Canadians want to change in Ottawa.
Many Canadians gave Justin Trudeau a chance but he just hasn’t lived up to expectations.
One thing is clear this election, only the NDP can defeat Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.
Tom Mulcair is a different kind of leader. He was raised on middle class values. He’s principled and experienced. Tom will return the age of eligibility for Old Age Security back to 65 from 67. He will create one million new high quality childcare spaces and cap fees for parents – no more than $15 a day.
Jati Sidhu (Liberal)
Age: 62
Education: BA in political science and economics
Occupation: Farmer and entrepreneur
Residence: Abbotsford
Community involvement:
I’m proud to say I have 30+ years of community involvement and volunteerism, including (but not limited to):
• Abbotsford Police Board
• University of the Fraser Valley Board of Governors
• Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
• Rotary Club
• BC Vegetable Marketing Commission Board
Marital Status/Children: Married, three adult children
Website: jatisidhu.liberal.ca
Email: info@votejatisidhu.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/votejatisidhu
Twitter: @JatiSidhuLPC
What do you feel are the key issues in your riding?
- Economic stability, particularly as regards the region’s long-term growth, is crucial. I firmly believe that small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, and yet they are being held back by lack of labour, red tape and lack of funding. I’ll be pressing for an end to the Conservatives’ annual Employment Insurance premium hikes.
- Improving relations with First Nations people, and that starts with repealing the antiquated Indian Act. We must move to create modern, collaborative relationships with First Nations communities in this riding, and that starts with meeting with individual Nations and working on a plan based on existing treaties, First Nation rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- I believe everyone should have access to publicly-funded and high-quality health care, and that means collaborating with the provinces and territorial partners to tackle critical needs such as community-based care, elder care and mental health.
- I’ll be working with my colleagues to make sure a Liberal government enhances the existing Canadian Pension Plan, and we will try and make it easier for many Canadians to save by cutting taxes for the middle class.
What do you feel are the key issues in Canada in this election?
- We need to get out from under Mr. Harper’s second recession before it gets worse. We have the most ambitious infrastructure revitalization plan in Canadian history ready to kick-start the economy. I’ll be pushing for a growth agenda that focuses on education, public and social infrastructure and finding new trade partners.
- It’s beyond embarrassing what Harper and the Conservatives have done to this country’s environmental record. As a farmer I know the importance of sustainability, and I know you can have both a protected environment and a prosperous economy. I’ll be asking my party to commit to long-term clean energy tech investment, increase the amount of protected marine and coastal areas and take immediate action on climate change (starting with actually listening to scientists).
- We must restore faith in our democratic process. I fully support real measures to prove our commitment to accountability including publicly posting MP expenses, removing partisanship from the Senate and passing legislation that entrenches transparency in our government.
Arthur Green (Green)
Age: 60
Education: Accounting courses, UBC Summer Institute for Future Legislators, forest management training with BC Forest Service
Occupation: Motion picture technician
Residence: Hope
Community Involvement: Hope Ratepayer's Association, Hope and Area Transition Society
Marital Status: Married, one stepson, two stepdaughters
Email: artgreen33@gmail.com
Twitter: @FraserCanyonGPC
What do you feel are the key issues in your riding?
Homelessness in the region has become epidemic. We now have homeless camps in our major population areas. This is not only a health concern, but a security risk as well. In all these areas citizens are complaining about theft, trespassing, not to mention the health concerns for those unfortunate individuals, who many suffer from addiction and mental health issues.
In Hope, we've adopted a program known as Housing First. This program has proven great success for our community, not only at placing individuals into housing and off the street, but also has proven to be very fiscally responsible, actually saving the community money. Once these individuals are housed and secure, we can then deal with their issues.
The Fraser River fishery is at extreme jeopardy. Most of this stress is caused by the warming climate and sea lice from open net fish farms on the west coast of B.C. You can talk to any fishery official or any fisher, up and down the Fraser, the longest section running through MMFC. The cooling of the Fraser can only happen with a climate action plan, taking place at the federal level. The problem of sea lice could be remedied by the current federal government living by its own recommendations of the $28 million Cohen Report. Removing the current open net fish farms, and moving them inland would be a crucial step in saving the Fraser River sockeye, as well as other species of marine life.
What do you feel are the key issues in Canada in this election?
The Canadian economy has been running consecutive deficits ever since the current federal government was first elected in 2006. They have ramped up our structural deficit another $170 billion, now running at approximately $700 billion. The interest alone is now costing us $92 million a day, or $34 billion a year. This is unsustainable. This has been basically caused by the federal government trying to finance the country on a one-horse economy, fossil fuel exportation. Now that the bottom has fallen out of the world price, Canada's challenges ahead are insurmountable.
The Green Party believes that the biggest economic catalyst of all times lies in the conversion to renewable and clean energy, as well as the conservation of our current energy being wasted through inefficient systems. We believe shifting our tax incentives from fossil fuels to building renewable systems and correcting what is actually being wasted now, would afford employment opportunities to the majority of Canadians, and lead us toward a real balanced budget.
The issue of security is another convoluted attempt by the current federal government to divert attention from the real issues of the Canadian population. Their failure of the economy, muzzling scientists, the lack of concern to make their commitments for carbon output and climate change. This list is endless.
The truth of the matter is, everything we've done on the pretext of assisting in the Middle East has been a total failure. Take your pick, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, each and every time North America has entered any of these areas, we've only made the matter worse.
As far as ISIL goes, we say follow the money, secure the borders, take away their incentive, and abet the security of the refugee problem. Currently we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars bombing dump trucks, and have done very little to aid in security of our ally governments. We have a security issue right here at home. The homeless and addicted trespassing and robbing us in total desperation. We'd be a lot more secure if we helped them first.
Wyatt Scott (Independent)
Age: 38
Education: I attended the University of the Fraser Valley for three years. During my time at the university, I concentrated my studies on political science with an international relations focus. I also studied philosophy, psychology, communications, and agriculture. I hold a journeyman Cooking Certificate. I also hold a Class One Operators License.
Occupation: Self-employed in the lapidary (stone and gem-cutting) industry
Residence: Mission, B.C. (Near Mr. Pet)
Community involvement: President-elect, Mission Sunrise Rotary club; vice-president, Mission Optimist club; Mission Fest coordinator; Mission Folk Fest coordinator. Mission Friendship center.
Marital Status/Children: Married, Son
Website: wyattscott.ca
Email: Wyatt@wyattscott.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wyattscottMMFC
Twitter: @WyattScott_MMFC
What do you feel are the key issues in your riding?
Two key issues in our riding are the economy and the environment. To grow our local economy, I would promote industries within our riding, like our agricultural industry, by cutting bureaucracy and offering federal incentives to create local jobs that employ Canadian workers. Our agricultural sector is already thriving, but we need to ensure that it is ready to take on the new challenges of the future. Grants and locally developed, federally funded initiatives can help our farms stay current with new technologies. However, we cannot create growth at the expense of the environment; we need to create a more sustainable economy that will be around to provide jobs for our children and grandchildren. As an MP I would help create a framework to make the transition from our fossil fuel, resource-based economy to green energy gradually, allowing time for new industries to develop as we modify the old. Our federal government needs to take on the role of world leader in environmental issues. Grants and tax incentives for developing green technologies would help the people in our riding become pioneers in these industries. We already have hi-tech industries here in Mission; these innovative job creators will develop in conjunction with new energy systems for a whole new economic sector. We also have great opportunities to expand ecotourism and farm tourism in our beautiful region.
What do you feel are the key issues in Canada in this election?
I think most Canadians would agree that the selling of our resources to foreign investors is a key concern in this election. The Canadian Wheat Board is a prime example of how Canadians came together to protect our economy and our heritage, only to be completely dismissed by the federal government. Canadian workers go unemployed; our crude oil is sold to China instead of being refined here in Canada; Canada Post is degraded to the point of being obsolete, all to the detriment of our economy. In addition, our First Nations live below the poverty line and the disappearance of indigenous women is below the notice of the prime minister. We need a government that respects the rights of Canadian citizens, a government that creates a balance between a stable, sustainable economy and social programs that allow all Canadians to live in dignity. Many previous federal programs that helped our citizens have been dropped without explanation. I would bring them back, for a start. I would also give jobs back to Canadian workers to add their incomes to the economy. In a nutshell, this election is about a shift in focus: instead of feeling disillusioned and disenfranchised, Canadians must take back our government and make it work for us.
Elaine Wismer (Marxist-Leninist) - Questionnaire to come