More than 100 residents filled the Elks hall in Oliver last week to hear Boundary-Similkameen candidates’ views on everything from agriculture and GMOs to education and electrical rate hikes.
The first question came from BC Fruit Growers’ Association president Jeet Dukhia, who asked if the candidates would make agriculture their priority and bring the budget for growers up to the national average.
Liberal candidate Linda Larson said BC undervalues the agriculture industry, therefore, she would be a loud voice for farmers.
Independent candidate Mischa Popoff said the province is broke, but noted the importance of feeding BC.
NDP candidate Sam Hancheroff said his party is committed to spending $8 million to strengthen the agriculture sector. He noted the NDP is trying to convince BC hospitals to use locally grown crops on their menus. Hancheroff also said the party will bring back the Buy BC program that the Liberals nixed.
Green candidate John Kwasnica said his party is 100 per cent behind agriculture. He noted if BC focuses on clean air and water, and steers clear of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), it and the agriculture industry should flourish.
Independent candidate Doug Pederson said he’d like to see more money for the workers who harvest the crops. He pointed out that many of these workers have no money and don’t even have shower facilities in Osoyoos.
Recent high school graduate Ryan Bentley raised a concern about the high cost of post-secondary education and asked the candidates what they would do to keep it affordable.
Kwasnica said he would like to see the government and corporations work together to keep these costs reasonable.
Hancheroff said students should not have huge debt before they start a career. He noted the NDP is committing millions of dollars for increased skills training and student grants.
Popoff said post-secondary education is already subsidized in Canada and it’s up to students to avoid going into debt.
Larson said there is no real solution to this, other than putting money aside until students graduate.
One resident asked Larson why the BC Liberals wasted $6 million by paying the legal fees for two former ministerial aides (Dave Basi and Bobby Virk) who pleaded guilty to corruption charges. Larson said she wasn’t involved in that issue, which was handled by the courts.
Popoff said how can you have faith in a government after it does that?
Local school trustee Tamela Edwards said educational funding has been cut by millions of dollars, adding that School District 53 had to cut more than $2 million from its budget.
“There is no more room for cutting,” she said.
Hancheroff said the Liberals took away the school facilities grant and spent $5 million for a new roof for BC Place Stadium.
Kwasnica suggested that closing under-utilized schools could free up more money for education.
Popoff said he doesn’t want to close schools or lay off teachers, but he also doesn’t want farmers to go bankrupt or loggers to be out of work. “There are some ugly decisions to make.”
Larson said she fought hard to keep Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School open during budget discussions. Perhaps the solution is to better distribute tax dollars, she stated.
Area C director Allan Patton asked the candidates if they would legislate BC as a GMO-free zone.
Popoff said genetically modified foods represent a science, noting they will be a fact of life here. This statement was greeted with “boos” from the audience.
Hancheroff said he supported such legislation and would bring the issue to caucus and “make sure it gets through.”
Oliver farmer Gordon Forbes said GMOs are an unproven science, arguing that GMOs do not reduce pesticide use or increase crop yields. He asked which candidates would support a ban on GMOs. All but Popoff stated they would.
Oliver resident Ursula Wick told Larson that Liberal leader Christy Clark claims that BC is “debt free,” but noted the premier has increased the debt by $11 billion in the last two years. Larson said the Liberals have been building infrastructure, such as hospitals, roads and bridges. “The idea is not to grow it (the debt) any further. I believe in holding the line.”
Popoff said party leaders think the public treasury is a piggy bank. “Money should be earmarked for certain things (and distributed equally among all ministries).”
Hancheroff said the Liberals have already transferred BC Hydro’s debt to 2017.
“We’re trying to provide jobs to solve this problem. By sending logs to the US, you create jobs in the US. We won’t send jobs away,” Hancheroff said.
But Pederson said to forget the trees because marijuana is the biggest cash crop. “It’s bigger than trees; we need to legalize it.”
One resident questioned the candidates about their view on pipelines and FortisBC rate hikes.
Larson said the Liberals won’t support pipelines unless safety, the environment and consultation have been addressed.
Popoff said shipping via pipelines is good for the country. But Hancheroff values the environment too much to take a risk with a pipeline springing a leak. “I don’t think this is responsible, not here.”
Regarding electrical utility rates, Pederson said FortisBC should be owned by the government. “We need to buy it back.”
Hancheroff said he has written to the BC Utilities Commission asking it to review the controversial rate structure.
Popoff said the rate hikes should be abandoned. Larson encouraged the public to continue writing letters to put pressure on FortisBC. “That’s how you will change things.”
Local teacher Jacqueline Khodarahmi said her Grade 6-7 students want to know why they should vote for any of the candidates.
Popoff said the pupils should support him because the provincial debt needs to be paid off. “We have no right to leave them (our children) with debt.”
Hancheroff said: “Vote for me because I believe in education; it will make them (students) better people.”
Larson said she believes in exposing children to local government. “If all else fails, I will buy them off with muffins.”
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
