Petra Veintimilla – Incumbent
If you were given a million dollars, what would you use it for in Oliver?
Assuming that this million dollars just sort of fell out of the sky and into my lap, I would spend it on “extras” that I think would enhance our community overall, and while they may be in a long term plan somewhere, they keep getting bumped for more urgent needs. I would begin by handing the bulk of the money over to Parks and Rec for the complete renovation of Lion’s Park; a new “Little Wheels” park, a family friendly and completely accessible play area, agility and fun for the dog park… a complete overhaul that would make the park more of an attraction for local families and would help with the revitalization of Station Street. Could we do that for less than one million dollars? If so then I would take the rest and spend it on public art to enhance our beautiful walking parks and downtown – done by local artists of course!
Do you favour a national park reserve? Why or why not?
We currently have three levels of government engaged in discussions regarding the proposed national park reserve for our area, and at this point municipalities have not been invited to be a part of the process. That being said, I look forward to the day in the not too distant future when municipalities are engaged, and are able to represent their citizens. Personally I do support a national park reserve; I believe in conservation and in the economic benefits that a park would bring to our area, and I believe that a NPR has the ability to play a huge role in Reconciliation with our local First Nations community. As talks and plans progress, it will be the job of the municipality to make sure that its citizens’ concerns are being heard, and that infrastructure needs are addressed.
What is your solution to crime prevention in Oliver?
I wish that I had an easy solution to this one, but I do not. There are so many layers to the crime that our region is facing recently, and as we all know the issues that we are facing were not created overnight, nor are they unique to Oliver. On a local level we need to continue keep up the pressure for the two officers that we have a business case for, and (as we have in the past) we can and should look at further increasing the bylaw budget in order to increase out of hour’s presence. With the bigger picture in mind we need to look at the root causes of many of the issues that we and other communities are dealing with, and lobby for enhanced resources for intervention and treatment of substance abuse as well as to push for stiffer sentencing for prolific offenders.
Do you support the legalization of marijuana? Why or why not?
The legalization of marijuana was not a decision that was made at the municipal level, and we are just a few short weeks away from legalization becoming a reality. I did and do support the legalization of marijuana for a variety of reasons, and I believe that as a municipality we have done a great job of being as prepared as we possibly can be for when the change occurs.
What is the best asset you can offer the town as councillor/mayor?
My open mind and my ability to listen and to look at issues from all angles before decision making make me a great candidate for council. I love our community and see potential everywhere I look; I am passionate about building our community in a sustainable, family-friendly, healthy, and inclusive way.
