District of Squamish

District of Squamish

Candidates for Mayor
Armand Hurford
✔ Climate Leader

FortisBC pipeline Opposed

FortisBC workcamp Neutral

Woodfibre LNG Opposed

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Neutral

Cheema Lands Neutral

Garibaldi at Squamish Opposed

North Crumpit Neutral

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Deanna Lewis - Kalkalilh

FortisBC pipeline Neutral

FortisBC workcamp Neutral

Woodfibre LNG Neutral

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Neutral

Cheema Lands Opposed

Garibaldi at Squamish Neutral

North Crumpit Opposed

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Mike Young

FortisBC pipeline Neutral

FortisBC workcamp Opposed

Woodfibre LNG Neutral

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Opposed

Cheema Lands Neutral

Garibaldi at Squamish Opposed

North Crumpit Neutral

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Candidates for Council
Lauren Greenlaw
✔ Climate Leader

FortisBC pipeline Opposed

FortisBC workcamp Opposed

Woodfibre LNG Opposed

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Opposed

Cheema Lands Opposed

Garibaldi at Squamish Opposed

North Crumpit Opposed

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Chris Pettingill
✔ Climate Leader

FortisBC pipeline Opposed

FortisBC workcamp Opposed

Woodfibre LNG Opposed

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Opposed

Cheema Lands Neutral

Garibaldi at Squamish Opposed

North Crumpit Neutral

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Jenna Stoner
✔ Climate Leader

FortisBC pipeline Opposed

FortisBC workcamp Neutral

Woodfibre LNG Opposed

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Neutral

Cheema Lands Neutral

Garibaldi at Squamish Opposed

North Crumpit Neutral

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Eric Andersen

FortisBC pipeline Supportive

FortisBC workcamp Opposed

Woodfibre LNG Supportive

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Supportive

Cheema Lands Supportive

Garibaldi at Squamish Opposed

North Crumpit Supportive

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Rajan Hans

FortisBC pipeline Neutral

FortisBC workcamp Neutral

Woodfibre LNG Neutral

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Neutral

Cheema Lands Neutral

Garibaldi at Squamish Neutral

North Crumpit Supportive

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John French

FortisBC pipeline Supportive

FortisBC workcamp Supportive

Woodfibre LNG Supportive

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Supportive

Cheema Lands Supportive

Garibaldi at Squamish Supportive

North Crumpit Supportive

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Adrien Byrne

FortisBC pipeline Neutral

FortisBC workcamp Neutral

Woodfibre LNG Neutral

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Neutral

Cheema Lands Neutral

Garibaldi at Squamish Neutral

North Crumpit Neutral

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Gord Addison

FortisBC pipeline Supportive

FortisBC workcamp Neutral

Woodfibre LNG Supportive

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Supportive

Cheema Lands Neutral

Garibaldi at Squamish Neutral

North Crumpit Supportive

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Christina Walsh

FortisBC pipeline Opposed

FortisBC workcamp Opposed

Woodfibre LNG Supportive

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Supportive

Cheema Lands Supportive

Garibaldi at Squamish Opposed

North Crumpit Supportive

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Andrew Hamilton

FortisBC pipeline Neutral

FortisBC workcamp Neutral

Woodfibre LNG Neutral

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel" Neutral

Cheema Lands Neutral

Garibaldi at Squamish Neutral

North Crumpit Neutral

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Where do candidates stand on environment and climate?

This election is critical, and who we elect will shape the future of Squamish for decades to come. We met with candidates, and asked them to complete a questionnaire to identify their position on several upcoming industrial and development projects, and to commit to specific climate actions.

The next elected council will have decision-making authority over several proposed industrial and development projects. All of these projects will have social, environmental, and climate impacts.

Proposed industrial projects

Woodfibre LNG and the FortisBC pipeline is not a done deal. There are still several outstanding permits, management plans, and accommodation issues that need to be resolved. A recent update to council outlines all of the upcoming decisions and what role the next council will play. Council can approve or deny any or all of these permits. Council can also play a significant advocacy role with the Provincial and Federal governments to ensure that Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC are held to the highest standards.

Here are the decisions that the next council will be responsible for:

FortisBC pipeline and workcamp
- Temporary Use Permit for the FortisBC workcamp near Quest University for up to 650 workers.
  A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that District staff have told FortisBC that the proposed workcamp is not viable in this location due to current zoning and district policies, issues with permitting, access, services, policing, fire, and impacts to existing businesses.
- Temporary Use Permit for FortisBC's proposed laydown/storage yard near Raven's Plateau.
Woodfibre LNG and "floatel"
- Municipal tax deal
  My Sea to Sky stopped a pro-LNG council from accepting a $2 million tax agreement with Woodfibre LNG in 2014. In 2015, taxes were assessed at $5–7 million. It’s likely much higher now as the project cost has tripled, and land values have gone up immensely. We estimate that Woodfibre LNG should be paying between $10–20 million a year, or even higher if the next council is willing to increase the tax rate for heavy industry. If this project goes ahead, we need to elect a council that will ensure that Woodfibre LNG pays their fair share in municipal taxes.
- Temporary use permit for the "floatel"
  Woodfibre LNG is still waiting for approval for this floating workcamp at the Woodfibre site for up to 600 workers from Squamish Nation, BC EAO, and IAAC. If they receive this approval, the District of Squamish can approve or deny the permit for this floating workcamp.
- Darrell Bay parking
  Woodfibre LNG needs permission to use Darrell Bay parking to transport workers to and from the site. This is in conflict with current users like the Sea to Sky Gondola that use this area for overflow parking, or recreational users that would prefer for Darrell Bay to become a public boat launch.
Proposed development projects

Cheema Lands

The Cheema Lands consists of Lot 509 and 510 north of the Garibaldi Highlands (see map). The next council will need to decide whether or not to change the Growth Management Boundary in the Official Community Plan so this development can proceed. This is one of the only tools that local governments have to stop developers and urban sprawl.

Garibaldi at Squamish

Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS) is a (ski) resort development that will nearly double the population of Squamish and add 20,000 vehicles to the highway. This proposal has been around for decades (since the 70's) and it has not been able to proceed due to significant concerns about access to drinking water, and impacts to wildlife and habitat. GAS needs the Squamish Lillooet Regional District to change the Regional Growth Strategy to allow this resort development to proceed.

North Crumpit

North Crumpit is a new development proposal by Diamond Head Land Company to develop up to 255 acres (103 hectares) in Crumpit Woods, located north of the Valleycliffe Neighbourhood in Squamish. The current proposal will double the population of Valleycliffe, and will have significant climate and environmental impacts. The next council will approve whether or not this development goes ahead, how big it is, and what it looks like.

Why we need to elect climate leaders

The District of Squamish has recently updated the Official Community Plan to prioritize climate action as a key goal, and commit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the latest science.

Climate action has many co-benefits for communities, and provides an opportunity to achieve energy security, develop more sustainable economies and jobs, become better environmental stewards, protect ecosystems and biodiversity, reduce pollution, improve human health and well-being, and enhance our quality of life. Climate action has clear benefits for people and nature, as together we create a more prosperous, just, and equitable society.

Local governments are uniquely positioned to take a leading role on climate action as decisions on land use, buildings, local transport, and waste are largely controlled at the local level.

We asked candidates to commit to sixteen climate actions that will help us to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible.

How did we designate climate leaders?

To be designated as a climate leader, candidates needed to commit to more than 12 of the climate actions, and state that they are opposed to Woodfibre LNG, as the local greenhouse gas emissions of this one project are nearly double the emissions of the entire community of Squamish.

The science is clear that we cannot build new fossil fuel infrastructure if we want to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. This community has committed to reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030, but that will be impossible if Woodfibre LNG and the FortisBC pipeline go ahead.

What about other issues?

The Squamish Chief also has a questionnaire for candidates on housing affordability, development, transit, childcare, parking, the climate crisis, and what candidates would prioritize if they are elected. We link to this questionnaire from each candidate page (NOTE: not all candidates completed it!). You can access all of the Squamish Chief's election coverage here.

You can also watch the All Candidates Debate below.

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How to Vote

Hot tip: when you vote, only vote for the candidates you want elected. If that is one mayor and three councillors, only put down those four names. For council, the top six candidates with the most votes are elected, so if you vote for someone that you don't really want elected, that may bump your preferred candidates out of the top six.

General Voting Day

Saturday, October 15 – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Brennan Park Recreation Centre

Advance Voting Opportunities
- Thursday, 6th October – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The 55 Activity Centre
- Saturday, 8th October – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Brennan Park Recreation Centre
- Tuesday, 11th October – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Brennan Park Recreation Centre
- Wednesday, 12th October – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Brennan Park Recreation Centre