Lawrence Phillips
Running for: Councillor
Age: 41
Occupation: Buyer at the Ruddy Potato
How long have you lived on Bowen?: 15 years
Who inspires you? (Alive, dead, fictional, local, national, international - anyone): My son
Please list any current and past committees you've been a part of and how long you served on each (in list form): Bowen Island has 26 committees. I feel that it is time for more action than talk.
What are your priorities if elected (beyond housing or transportation.): Completion of the medical centre with important services for families (occupational therapist, speech pathologist, family councillor.) Being a progressive voice for young families, working people.
Housing is emerging as one of the top issues of this election - what would you specifically do to address the lack of affordable and/or rental housing?: Build non-market rental housing on Community Lands. Encourage suites through tax incentives, making building easier. Reduce property size requirements of secondary suite bylaw. Use community lands by school for housing co-op, townhouse, non-market housing, supporting car-free community. Fund BIRCH or others to seek, implement affordable housing options: create housing council.
How would you address the animal control issues of deer and skunks on-island?: Are deer a problem? We need community education around skunks. How to protect your home and deck, secure food scraps and garbage, no feeding. Owls?
What ideas do you have for managing Bowen's tourism tensions?: Bowen is a tourist destination. It is important to our local economy. We must put pressure on the government to expand service. A terminal redesign is in the works, we must be at the table to ensure improved service to include a passenger only ferry and increased service levels.
Air BnB - yes or no? Why?: Yes. Should be regulated, taxed. Taxes to fund affordable housing group, such as BIRCH, who would manage non-market affordable housing, seek out all possible options for affordable housing, from non-market to Co-op, higher density, townhouses, etc. and make recommendations to council. Search and apply for provincial and federal funding.
In a campaign (so far) characterized by candidates agreeing with one another-what do you feel is at stake in this election?: If not for Bowen Island Resilient Community Housing, council would have accomplished nothing on affordable housing. In this election we must elect people who will act not just talk.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Lawrence-Phillips-For-Council
