What do you believe is the most important election issue for your riding and why?
I believe that climate change is the most important issue facing residents in the riding. We don’t have to choose between a strong economy and a clean environment. Unfortunately, in the last 10 years the Conservative government has dismantled the laws protecting our air, land and water –— which affects our health, economy, and future development. The NDP has a plan to build sustainable prosperity by kick-starting clean and renewable energy production, and making big polluters pay with a cap-and-trade system for carbon. I am committed to rebuilding Canada’s gutted environmental assessment rules and restoring our international reputation on climate change. Locally I will make sure that federal government implements an action plan for the recovery of the endangered southern resident killer whales. I will also re-introduce my bills that would restore federal environmental protection for watersheds in our riding, including Colquitz Creek, Tood Creek, Goldstream River, and the Sooke River — protection that the Conservatives unilaterally demolished in 2012. The first step to confronting climate change is to defeat Stephen Harper.