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West Vancouver-Sea to Sky candidates talk COVID recovery, housing and transit

COVID recovery, affordable housing, transit, and economic development were all hot topics at West Vancouver Chamber-hosted virtual event
Sea to Sky highway
On the topic of transit, all three candidates agreed that a regional transit system for the Sea to Sky was a priority.

COVID recovery, affordable housing, transit, and economic development were the hot topics at a virtual meet-the-candidates event for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky riding Wednesday evening.

The event was hosted by the West Vancouver Chamber and gave candidates the opportunity to voice their approaches to addressing the big issues affecting the business community. Candidates from West Vancouver-Capilano also attended the virtual event and previously shared their views at a candidates meet-and-greet hosted by North Vancouver Chamber

BC Green Party candidate Jeremy Valeriote said, after plugging West Vancouver businesses, he found COVID recovery to be the biggest concern right now.

“This is the time for government spending and the most direct, effective way possible for COVID recovery is wage subsidy and commercial rent subsidy,” he said. He noted the Green Party would commit $300 million to a commercial rent subsidy program if elected.

Echoing the pandemic concerns, BC NDP candidate Keith Murdoch highlighted another challenge, that was common across different industries, was maintaining a customer base.

“Customers aren't flowing as much as they used to,” he said. “Getting financial support is critical for businesses.” He boasted that when the pandemic first hit BC NDP “swiftly invested $8 billion to support and kickstart the economy” and a new recovery plan pledged to deliver an additional $3 billion a year, over three years, that would be used to improve infrastructure. Plus, $300 million in grants were released to help businesses stay operational and profitable.

BC Liberal Party incumbent Jordan Sturdy pointed out that hospitality and tourism businesses would face new hurdles entering the winter season and the Liberals had a number of strategies, including the PST exemption, a commitment of $1.8. billion on an annual basis.

From COVID recovery the conversation moved to housing, with Murdoch suggesting that to create additional affordable housing a variety of options needed to be considered because of drastic differences in people’s income levels.

“I'm a fan of hybrid options where a certain portion of a housing project is affordable housing and subsidized by actual tenants who can pay full cost to buy these units,” he said. There's certainly also a need for subsidized housing because this province is extremely expensive to live in.”  

Valeriote said while there was no “quick answer” to what type of housing option is required in West Vancouver he noted that “density is required to help create affordability.”  

Sturdy said housing was a “supply issue,” refuting claims the Liberals did nothing to help during their term. He said an ever-increasing B.C. population – 60,000 a year – was putting pressure on the situation and believed it would take a joint effort between the private sector, public sector and municipalities to find the right solutions.
 

On the topic of transit, all three candidates agreed that a regional transit system for the Sea to Sky was a priority.

Liberal Jordan Sturdy, NDP Keith Murdoch and Jeremy Valeriote, of the BC Green Party. PHOTO COMPOSIT
Candidates: Liberal Jordan Sturdy, NDP Keith Murdoch and Jeremy Valeriote, of the BC Green Party. - Photo Composite by Karl Partington

“This is an incredibly important piece that will build community and provide economic opportunity for many, many people and start and steward the capacity that we have on the Sea to Sky Highway,” Sturdy said, advocating for the regional transit system.

When it came to a solution for getting on and off the North Shore, Sturdy was on board with the idea for a rapid transit connection, flagging Second Narrows and Brockton Point as the two areas for a Burrard Inlet crossing that needed to be developed further.

Acknowledging regional transit options across the entire riding were “long overdue,” Murdoch said the NDP were committed to funding a regional bus system and an inter-regional bus system within the Sea to Sky corridor.

“The most natural and most organic way to do this would be investing in a bus system, something that has already been in the works for a while now, but we just haven't been able to lock down a funding system,” he explained.

Valeriote agreed a regional transit system was “absolutely” needed but disagreed with Murdoch that there was “a funding problem,” suggesting a middle ground needed to be found to allow taxes to be used to fund the much-needed projects.

“The fact is it needs to be a priority,” he said. “It's a priority for climate action. It’s priority for economic development.”

Regarding economic development and growth in West Vancouver, a community with an older population, candidates focused on natural assets and attractions to draw younger professionals to the area.

Valeriote said while “there's no secret sauce” when it comes to community growth, taking from his experience in Gibsons, highlighting natural assets and quality of life was both beneficial for elderly or retired people, and for attracting talented people who want to work in areas with beautiful surroundings.

Incumbent Sturdy focused more on supporting small business as a driver for economic development, highlighting the importance of financial relief for businesses.

Murdoch also mentioned West Vancouver’s “outdoor wonderland” and said investing in provincial parks, arts infrastructure and facilities, and supporting the elderly, were all key aspects for economic recovery and community growth.

The provincial election is Oct. 24. 

Elisia Seeber is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.