Langford-Juan de Fuca candidate Q&A

As the Langford-Juan de Fuca byelection grows closer, candidates and locals are gearing up to see who will be the next MLA. With many ongoing issues both in the province and the area, residents in the community are hoping for a candidate who is strong-willed and focused on the betterment of the Westshore.

Looking to engage with locals and work through the area’s issues, BC NDP candidate Ravi Parmar, Conservative Party of BC candidate Mike Harris, BC Green Party candidate Camille Currie, and BC United candidate Elena Lawson answered some questions about their goals and work in the community.

On June 24, Langford-Juan de Fuca residents will cast their ballot for the next MLA, but for now, get to know the candidates running.

Camille Currie

Why did you decide to run for the Green Party BC?

One of my first questions when Sonia Furstenau approached me and asked me to run was: can I be me? It was really important to me. I can't see being able to achieve what I want to achieve by being someone that just has to be a backbencher or follow party lines–that's a distinction for me with the Green Party, the other pieces are that I absolutely love the way that they are evidence and solution based and that they bring forward solutions and want to get to action. So those were the big pieces for me.

What issues will we see you tackle first if elected? In conjunction, what priorities do you have over the next few years?

So I have a few top priorities–one of them is healthcare. Obviously, it's where I've spent the last two years focusing my advocacy work, so that remains one of my top priorities as MLA as well. What I want to see happen in that is I want to see transparency and accountability. Right now, our health ministry is concealing from us and is not spending our money in what I think is an appropriate way to be providing positive patient outcomes. So I will continue to work in that area and continue to apply pressure to bring forward solutions that are available that can be acted on immediately to make a difference for the people. Another area that I am focusing on is obviously the environment. And that includes a few things that include the old growth protection. So I am very concerned I am frustrated by the BC NDP not having even started one of the 14 recommendations for how to move forward on old growth preservation.

Another thing in this community or district is water conservation and water safety. I will be looking to continue to consult with experts on that to make sure that in particular, when we are looking at future developments and looking at increasing density, that those items are not being missed.

What issue have you been hearing about the most from voters while campaigning and how do you plan to tackle it?

Another priority for this community that I'm hearing at the doors, and I feel it personally living in this community as well, is transportation. Basically that's been a big issue here in Langford as well as in Sooke but also looking to the government and holding them responsible for why they aren't making significant invest mixed into public transportation, but yet encouraging that we need to build more and we need to populate more, we need to make sure that we're considering transportation when we're doing that, because population increase will have a significant effect on basically what making all of our commutes worse if we're not looking for alternative options. The top issue I'm hearing from voters is health care.

What do you hope to see from this election?

Well, I hope to see my name listed on that building in life. I hope to see that the people recognize that what is best for Langford and Juan de Fuca, is to have a representative that will speak up for them that will listen to them. And they will not have to simply obey government decisions or government messaging, and that's what I'll be able to do as a third party member.

And finally, as a fun last question, what is your favourite ice cream flavour?

My favourite is probably cookies and cream. It is just a bit of sweetness, but my husband says it always still seems a bit too old of an ice cream for me, but I stick with it.

Mike Harris

Why did you decide to run for the Conservative Party of BC?

I am not a career politician. I am a resident of Langford, a father, grandfather, who has become

increasingly concerned over the state of our province and community. I believe that our community needs light rapid transit from Langford into downtown Victoria to alleviate the overwhelming traffic chaos. Now more than ever, I believe that our community and our province needs Conservative leadership that will bring back common sense and get back to basics. I believe I will represent the residents of Langford, Sooke and the other communities in this riding and I believe this by-election is an opportunity for voters to make their voice heard and vote Conservative.

What issues will we see you tackle first if elected? In conjunction, what priorities do you have over the next few years?

We must be realistic that this by-election will not change the balance of power in BC. However, I will advocate for light rapid transit, a full expansion of Highway 14 from Sooke to Langford and advocating for the 7,000 healthcare heroes who were fired for a personal medical decision.

The Conservative Party of BC currently has one seat in the BC Legislature. The party needs to expand and reach voters in every part of the province. British Columbians need to be made aware that they have a common-sense Conservative alternative to vote for who will stand up for them. To have official party status in the Legislature, a party needs to have two seated MLAs. Official party status will provide funding and resources that the other major parties currently have access to.

What issue have you been hearing about the most from voters while campaigning and how do you plan to tackle it?

Opioid Crisis: About seven people die every day from an overdose in BC. I think we can all agree that this is unacceptable. The approach by the BC United and the BC NDP has not worked. The situation has only gotten worse. From my experience, I have known people who have died from an overdose. It is so tragic for the families. “Safe” supply and decriminalisation, which the NDP and BC United supported in the legislature, is not the answer. Each person has a different story, and a different path. BC needs individual recovery plans, and we need to follow the success stories of Portugal and the Alberta Model – this also means BC needs to significantly increase treatment facilities, support services but most importantly, clear paths for everyone to be able to make the journey to full recovery or ongoing services.

Affordability: Every single politician for decades has said they are concerned about affordability. Anyone who is earning the average salary in BC is paying the highest percentage of their income in taxes. It is a huge burden that impacts most people in my area. About 50% of people in BC today struggle daily just to put food on the table. How is this affordable? A Conservative government will make sure those increases stop and will work to eliminate the carbon tax completely in BC.

Healthcare: Healthcare should be focused on delivering for patients, not on a broken system. The work environment for healthcare providers is toxic. People are overworked, understaffed, frustrated and do not feel supported by this government, especially on Vancouver Island. I am the oldest candidate running in this race—I’m 61—and I speak for my fellow older residents when I say wait times are completely out of control. If you need hip surgery or some kind of replacement, good luck under this system. I will advocate for creating a respectful work environment, hiring back workers and a complete review hand in hand with healthcare workers to develop a better healthcare model.

Transportation: I’m very excited to champion light rapid transit from Langford and the surrounding area into downtown Victoria. This is a huge commitment but necessary for our riding. As one of the fastest-growing areas of the province, we have outgrown our traditional transportation options. Light rapid transit will be an enormous advancement for our area allowing for better housing potential and most importantly, getting people out of their cars reducing stress and improving their quality of life. This is my number one priority, and I will deliver LRT for the people of Langford Juan de Fuca.

What do you hope to see from this election?

I would like the citizens of Langford-Juan de Fuca to have a strong representative in the Legislature who will advocate for the most prevalent issues people are facing.

And finally, as a fun last question, what’s your favourite ice cream flavour?

Cherry Jubilee.

Elena Lawson

Why did you decide to run for the BC United?

I was not political before this, but in October 2021, the NDP tried to slash autism funding and it's a lifeline to thousands of families, including mine. So my eight-year-old son William is autistic and I stood up and fought back for a year and a half on it. I helped organize rallies myself, and my friend Cassandra started a nonprofit Children's Autism Federation of BC. We really stood up against this government on that, and while that happened, I really started becoming more aware of the issues that were happening. I had enough, and I think I felt that a change was needed. I've had some issues in the health care system with my youngest, who has severe asthma and I just felt that I needed to stand up and be the voice of the people. Right now, because I feel that the NDP are in this echo chamber, if you don't align with them, they're just going to shut the door on you.

What issues will we see you tackle first if elected? In conjunction, what priorities do you have over the next few years?

So BC United is going to be focusing on mental health and addictions and crime. Just in the Westshore, crime has gone up quite a bit. We're seeing youth violence, gang recruitment in our youth, we're seeing drugs in parks. Like I said, I have two young kids and I never thought I'd have to scan a playground before they play, but that's become reality for me and also a lot of other parents that I've spoken to. So Kevin has brought out the Better is Possible plan, so that is for mental health and addictions and that's to treatment on demand, that's having facilities and resources available within the community. I've spoken to social workers where the services aren't in the Westshore. Especially our youth, they can't wait. If people need and want treatment, we need to be able to give that to them now and then when it comes to the drugs, in part because we need to make that illegal, I'll be pushing the premier and the NDP to make it illegal to use drugs in in parks for less than a week of summertime before kids are out for summer, and we need to ensure that our children are safe in the community and in the places they play.

What issue have you been hearing about the most from voters while campaigning and how do you plan to tackle it?

Every day, whether it's at Ponchos Cafe doing coffee chats, door knocking, you know, talking to people at my son's school–besides health care (I think health care has been a number one issue for a lot of people), but also crime and the safety in our streets. I've spoken to numerous people, women who don't feel safe walking in their communities anymore; that was never a factor before. There is child care–I heard from a frontline health care worker that she can't go back to work because she can't find childcare. The waitlists are now over two years long and child care providers are now closing down their waitlist. So I'm hearing about that. And it's funny because I do ask at the door, it's not like I say, “what is one issue that you'd like me to focus on?” It's really the overarching response I get is it's across the board. You look at our education and our schools are over capacity where you've got kids stuck in portables and, you know, even the classrooms are stacked to the max. So if I'm fortunate enough to be the MLA, that gives me the whole summer to consult and communicate and really engage in the community and see what they really need and what they want me to focus on. So then in October, when the House goes back, I can take those voices to the BC legislature.

What do you hope to see coming from this election?

I'm hoping to see change. I think the people I've spoken to are ready for change. I'm hoping we get someone like me in opposition that's really going to be able to keep this government accountable, ask the tough questions and keep their feet to the fire and maybe have them question before they start pushing through policies that affect our community.

And finally, as a fun last question, what is your favourite ice cream flavour?

Oh, that's so easy. Rocky Road, and then smarty.

Ravi Parmar

Why did you decide to run for BC NDP?

I've been the chair of the school district here for the past 10 years. I am really proud to work with John Horgan to deliver the largest public education in our school district history. I've known John Horgan for a number of years, and so when he made the decision to retire and move on to the rest of his life, he wanted a strong candidate to come forward to consider continuing his legacy of delivering for the people of Langford. I gave it a lot of hard thought–I really loved the work that I do on the school board, and I'm proud of the results that I've been able to deliver as a school board chair, and I want to now take the work and the learnings that I've been able to accomplish, and ensure that we're taking actions that the people of Langford want.

What issues will we see you tackle first if elected? In conjunction, what priorities do you have over the next few years?

Education specifically for sure. And with the level of growth we're seeing out here in the West Shore in particular in the riding of Langford, Juan de Fuca and Sooke, education is a real common issue for so many young families when it comes to building more schools and infrastructure. And so, again, I've been proud of the work that I've been able to accomplish working with John Horgan as a school board chair, to oversee the largest expansion of public education in our school district's history. That was after 16 long years where the Kevin Falcon and his previous government were in charge, where we saw a little investment in schools, in hospitals and health care and other transportation infrastructure.

There are a number of topics, whether it's healthcare services, building more transportation, infrastructure, as well as addressing the cost of living issue that's happening. What I hear from people is making sure that we're continuing to invest in services like education and health care, but I also talked to people about how we made investments to ensure we can keep people moving, and not get stuck in traffic–so making sure that we're investing in sidewalk infrastructure by supporting our local governments and the important work that they do, but also making sure that we're making investments in transportation.

What issue have you been hearing about most from voters while campaigning and how do you plan to tackle it?

I've always had a mindset where it's so important to me that before any leader can act, it's so important that we be grounded within our community. Again, I've lived in this community for almost my entire life; I've lived in it since we moved to Langford when I was nine years old, and so it's so important to represent a community and for the MLA to be grounded in the community. What I've been doing over the last number of years is listen and learn–until one can lead, it's so important that they listen and learn. That means the same thing with people and organizations, and I think that got that advantage compared to the other candidates. One issue is making sure that while we're also building more affordable housing, housing is a generational challenge that our province and country are facing. So I'm looking forward to working with our mayors and council in particular, to work with them to build more affordable housing. Since John Horgan was our premier, we've built and completed nearly a thousand affordable housing and that's housing for those fleeing violence, that's housing for Indigenous families, that's housing for low income seniors.

What do you hope to see from this election?

Well, I hope that people would like for the people of Langford and Juan de Fuca to elect me as the next MLA, to deliver for them on the important issues that matter. I hope you'll see me as someone who has spent his entire life in the community. I'm really looking forward to being able to deliver for the people, and I hope that they'll see me as someone who's working hard.

And finally, as a fun last question, what is your favourite ice cream flavour?

So I'm a bit of a simple man, so vanilla with sprinkles is usually my go-to.

The Communist Party of BC did not respond to requests for comment.