Two candidates in the Esquimalt-Colwood riding faced off at an all-candidates meeting at Esquimalt United Church where they discussed and debated climate, conservation and community ahead of voting day on Oct. 19.
Camille Currie, Green Party candidate and local business owner, and Darlene Rotchford, NDP candidate and Esquimalt council member, went head-to-head, answering a number of questions from community members and the seven local community and non-profit groups who hosted the event. Conservative candidate John Wilson was unable to attend the meeting due to a business meeting, so a volunteer answered some questions based on Conservative Party policies.
The first question asked if the candidates supported targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and what actions their party will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Both candidates said they support the targets, with Rotchford saying the NDP has been working to meet those targets providing rebates for heat pumps, electric vehicles and home efficiency upgrades, and the party is taking action to ensure the oil and gas industry fits within their climate commitments. Currie, however, said the NDP's Clean B.C. plan has provided $1 billion in subsidies to the oil and gas industry every year, and the province has four LNG plants, with two more under construction, which would account for 40 per cent of B.C.'s 2030 emission targets.
Candidates were then asked if their party would support deferring logging in old-growth deferral areas, with the involvement of First Nations including consent and compensation for logging old-growth.
Currie agreed that the Greens will continue to call for the deferral of logging in the areas, and she said the NDP has failed to protect old growth by failing to implement all 14 suggestions from the Old Growth Strategic Review.
"B.C. is home to some of the most beautiful and majestic forests in the world. B.C.'s forests are part of who we are and we want to preserve them for future generations," Rotchford replied. She said the party is taking action to conserve ancient forests and supporting sustainable forestry jobs for B.C. communities, adding they've differed logging for over 2.4 million hectares of old growth.
Following the first questions, the candidates participated in a "lightning round", which only asked yes-or-no questions, or candidates could choose to abstain.
Both said they supported aligning B.C.'s climate plan with the science on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; both agreed that the province is facing a climate emergency; Currie agreed with seeking legal compensation for the harms caused by the fossil fuel industry, though Rotchford abstained; Currie answered that she does not support fracking, and Rotchford abstained; Currie agreed with prioritizing "strong" legislative protections for species-at-risk, and Rotchford abstained; Currie agreed with funding more transit and active transportation in the region, and free public transportation, to which Rotchford also abstained; both agreed with using solar power on government and municipal buildings in the riding; Currie agreed with using waste-free alternatives such as biochar, with Rotchford abstaining; and Currie agreed with banning the use of gas in new buildings, and Rotchford abstained.
During the latter half of the meeting, the candidates took questions from the public.
One resident asked what their response is to the ongoing problems relating to homelessness in the province.
"It absolutely is a concern. I'm hearing it at the doors. People are expressing, 'What are you going to do about this because it feels like nobody's doing anything about it," said Currie. She said the Greens hope to build 26,000 below-market homes or co-op housing projects, and provide proper services people would need to get off the streets.
Rotchford, who works in mental health and substance-use, said the NDP government has added more treatment beds than any other government and they hope to build more housing because "we can offer all the treatment and supports in the world, but if we're not supporting people on the completion of treatment," then they will end up back on the street.
The candidates were asked how their party would support local, sustainable food systems in the region, to which Rotchford said the current government invested $200 million towards food security to support local producers to grow their business and become more resilient to climate change impacts and $100 million for water infrastructure for farmers, in addition to "new and young farmers" programs and the indigenous food security and sovereignty program.
Currie said provincial agriculture policies have supported large corporations, as opposed to local and small farms. She said the Greens are looking to fund $90 million in funding for publicly owned land that could be leased to farmers.
A second all-candidates meeting hosted by the Esqumalt Chamber of Commerce was held at Esquimalt High School on Thursday, Oct. 9, though Rotchford and Wilson were unable to attend.
