2026 Election Platform
Priorities for the next 4 years include Economic Development, Improving Financial Sustainability, Community Safety, Access to power for redevelopment of our industrial lands, Watershed Stewardship and Climate Change Adaptaion and a New Official Community Plan. What we need to get things done is good teamwork, solid relationships with other governments and community.
My platform is framed by my views on what is needed for Good Governance.
Good Governance happens when decisions are made that treat environmental, social, and economic responsibilities as equally important and there is a solid policy framework that facilitates transparent, accountable and inclusive practices that are used to make these decisions. So what does this mean for Powell River?
Environment
Climate change is impacting everyone on the planet and it’s an all-hands-on-deck situation. Powell River needs to be an active participant in planning and implementing strategies to lower carbon emissions both for the city operations and its residents. Energy efficiency is one of the best ways to both lower carbon emissions and lower operating costs. Much of the costs for improvements to buildings and infrastructure are supported by grants from other levels of government or agencies, including Fortis Gas. Planning that identifies and makes these projects ready to win grants need to be prioritized and acted on.
I support the City top-up contribution to the CleanBC program, which provides grants to home owners who are upgrading the energy efficiency of their homes.
Social Responsibility
The lack of childcare spaces in the city and the entire region is a serious barrier to workers with young children. I support exploring the option of the City applying for grants to build a child care centre near the Recreation Complex that could share resources with existing facilities.
There is a shortage of all types of housing and a crisis for low- to middle-income households throughout the city and region. This is creating barriers for the recruitment of workers in all sectors and impacting the local economy. Poverty and homelessness have risen dramatically. The ability to respond to the need for housing cannot be met by the private sector, and the need for affordable options is critical to the health of our community.
I support the creation of a Housing Authority that could apply for and build BC Housing (or other government and non-profit) funded projects that contribute to community building and the long-term sustainability of Powell River. These projects need to be planned and designed here in our community so they support a cross section of sustainable goals for the community. There needs to be an increased focus on suitable housing for low-to-moderate-income working households. Purpose-built rental units have the highest need, and are the least likely to be solved in the current model.
A stream-lined building permit process for energy efficient projects that address shortages of affordable and rental units would be a great incentive to help developers that are interested in tackling this niche.
Pre-approved energy-efficient designs for secondary homes and carriage houses that allow people to bypass a lengthy and expensive development permit process has been implemented in other cities and could work here.
I support a review of zoning and bylaws impacting development permits, with the goal of a process that is easy to understand with clear expectations and is unlikely to have timely delays. A modern more permissive zoning system would provide better guidance and result in fewer zoning amendments.
City-owned land should be identified and made available to support purpose-built rental housing initiatives for low to moderate income households.
Development positions for building Inspectors need to be a permanent part of city staff to ensure the capacity to keep up with inspections is continuously built and improved.
I support using city owned lands to build sober spaces for people who require shelter and supportive houseing or transition housing. I support using city lands to work with non-profits or government agencies to build accessible treatment centres.
The City’s relationship with Tla’Amin Nation is paramount to the future success of everyone. The City of Powell River needs to find ways to get back to the bargaining table that has been beyond reach for the past 4 years. We cannot have a poitive influence or input into projects and processes that we are not invited to attend. Partnerships between the city and the nation for infrastructure and economic development initiatives will benefit everyone. These partnerships are more likely to form within a positive relationship. The city and the nation have signed a Community Accord that sets out how we work together and address matters of mutual interest. The government-to-municipal-government commitments made within the Community Accord must be respected.
I still support the recommendations of the Joint Working Group on the Possible Name Change for the city. The city has not responded to nor have Council discussed these recommendations that were made 4 years ago. Council should formally respond to these recommendations with their intentions so the uncertainty of procedure is answered for the community at large and the Tla’amin Nation. I still believe community engagement to determine a potential new name followed by a vote of some kind is the way to proceed. This is consistent with the recommendations so long as there time and a process to address the other recommendations as well.
Continued learning about multi-generational impacts of past harmful colonial practices for indigenous people and the systems that still exist today that were formed by this history are important to the reconciliation process. Our community is full of warm, beautiful people, and I have faith we will land in a good place. I believe, with time, we will find a name for our city that we can all love and be proud of.
There are too many crimes happening in our community and we need better justice support for addressing them. Council needs to have more influence in setting priorities for community policing and I support advocating for a responsive police force that is working on the community policing priorities of our community including enforcement of city bylaws. I support harm reduction strategies in combination with increasing access to transition and sober shelter or supportive houseing options and advocate for treating substance-use health issues with medically prescribed safe alternatives to illegal substances.
In Powell River, there is a Community Action Team (CAT) that meets regularly to coordinate the actions of all the local groups, agencies and levels of government that are involved in finding solutions for this crisis. I would commit to continuing the support of this coordinating group.
The City of Powell River and the RCMP and the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction have partnered in an initiative called a Situation Table which was kick started by funding from the Ministry of Attourney General during this last term. I think we should be able to get some reporting on the results of that collaboration even if the individual cases are highly confidential. There is a need for advocacy at the Federal level to seek better practices for community policing that includes enforcement of community bylaws. Communities fund the majority of policing costs without the cooresponding influence on policing priorities. An increase in collaboration would help alleviate many of the policing and enforcement gaps we see in our community.
Economic Development and Fiscal Responsibility
Planning for the future of our Harbours can help shape our accessibility, tourism and a bright future for Powell River and the qathet region as a whole. Working in partnership with harbour users and local & senior levels of government we can identify critical improvements and how to shape potential expansion.
The city should continue with financial and in-kind support for a thriving arts and culture sector, including:
- PRISMA
- Kathaumixw
- Arts Council
- Academy of Music
- Museum
- Patricia Theatre and the Film Society
- Maintain membership and support to the Creative Cities Network
- Support application to UNESCO for recognition as a City of Music
I support the close monitoring of mill environmental responsibilities associated with closure of the mill and ensuring Brookfield Power pays their fair share of taxes. I continue to support all efforts to maintain access to power for our industrial lands and local economic development,
The Community Forest is currently trying to expand its area and AAC to accomodate an additional 10,000m3 of logging per year. Our Community Forest is the most successful Community Forest in the Province and functions with a knowledgable volunteer Board of Directors that serve our community very well.
I support a public planning process that everyone can participate in to decide the future of our waterfront. I am hoping the waterfront has mainly parks, walking trails and mixed commercial-residential and industrial uses. Increased Marine Industrial purposes along with uses that are publicly accessible and useable would be my hope for this area. The city should retain ownership of any areas dedicated to industrial purposes and lease those lands only.
I support business development in and around the Airport to improve opportunities for local business and the services available to travellers.
Attracting new industry to our region and city are important to diversify from a mainly resource dependent community to one that includes a broad range of economic activity. An Economic Diversification Strategy that includes all local governments and support from the province would be a huge asset. I support working with our local government and provincial partners to achieve this. A Standing Committee that focuses solely on outreach and partnerships for economic development purposes should be formed. The way forward is through partnerships.
Policy Framework
The City of Powell River has adopted a code of conduct for Council members. It should be adhered to by all members of the City Council. Our Code of Conduct should be updated to remain consistent with best practices and provincial legislation whenever appropriate.
There should be a schedule of publicly available reports developed for all City Core Business areas and projects that allow the public to know when to expect them. This would increase peoples ability to gain knowledge and paricipate in matters that impact them. When this schedule is updated with additions or deletions the public should be notified on the City website under What’s New.
The City should develop a policy that supports a service-oriented work culture for all departments. All permit application processes should have clear concise guidelines with as few steps as possible. The goal should be to never say “no,” only an explanation of where, what and how people can get what they need.
City zoning needs to be modernized and simplified to allow more permissive mixed use zones that still adhere to good city planning. A vibrant and adaptive city zoning bylaw avoids needless delays in development permitting. There is a shortage of industrial and commercial zones and residential purposes should be allowed to exist within most zones in upper floors or attached to main buildings. This could increase rental accommodations and allow businesses to facilitate worker housing options within their spaces.