About

Q: How many years have you lived in Squamish?
A: 26

Q: Which neighbourhood do you live in?
A: Garibaldi Highlands

Learn more: Squamish Chief's Q&A (Q&A only. No elevator pitch.)

Proposed industrial projects

The next elected council will have decision-making authority over several aspects of proposed industrial projects. All of these projects will have social, environmental, and climate impacts. What is your position on:

FortisBC pipeline: supportive

Why: This is also a project approved by the BC Government and the Squamish Nation. Squamish Council must hold Fortis to a high standard, and minimize risk and impact to the community through construction.

FortisBC workcamp: neutral

Why: I don't know if there will be time or an opportunity to put together a housing project for their workers that can be left to the District of Squamish Housing Society as legacy rental units, but if possible, this would be much more ideal.

Woodfibre LNG: supportive

Why: The project is approved by the Provincial Government and Squamish Nation. The District of Squamish Council is not in a position to stop this project. We must focus on holding them the highest standards, minimizing impact on our community through construction, and getting a good tax deal.

Woodfibre LNG's "floatel": supportive

Why: It seems like the best option to prevent a huge impact on our housing stock. Open to other viable options if they are presented.

Proposed development projects

The next elected council will determine whether these development projects proceed or not. All of these projects will have social, environmental, and climate impacts. What is your position on:

Cheema Lands: neutral

Why: The OCP says this land can be developed when the population threshold hits 34,000 or 22,000 with a "significant community benefit". However, preserving the important mountain biking trails there - on land too steep to build on - is somewhat of a given in Squamish, not an additional benefit. We need "Community benefits" that help the whole community.

Garibaldi at Squamish: neutral

Why: The real question here is, IF it does go forward in the next 4 year, whether it is inside or outside our boundaries. That is up for referendum if desired by the population. Squamish Nation is a partner, and the resort has made, from what I understand, significant changes. I would not be too keen on this conversation until the proponents find new terrain for the snowmobile club.

North Crumpit: supportive

Why: Planning is underway, and we need more housing in our community. We must hold the developer to a high standard on both community amenity contributions and environmental impact.

Climate Action commitments = 8/16

• Invest in active transportation networks to make biking and walking safer and more accessible?
• Support higher density infill development along existing and proposed transit networks to promote walkable and livable communities?
• Advocate for regional public transit and invest in local public transit?
• Implement policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, for example, incentivize fuel switching from gas furnaces to electric heat pumps through rebates for homeowners?
• Advocate for the Provincial Government to enable local governments to ban new gas hookups in buildings?
• Support Neighbourhood Planning to collaborate with citizens, not developers, in the future development of their neighbourhood?
• Make land use decisions that protect and restore natural areas, ensure habitat connectivity, and avoid urban sprawl?
• Protect natural assets (forests, wetlands, shrublands, grasslands, estuary, aquifers, ponds, lakes, creeks, and rivers) identified in the 2022 Natural Asset Management Strategy, which provide ecosystem services valued at more than $1.6 billion?
• Support efforts to implement a Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and use this to inform development guidelines and neighbourhood planning?
• Increase local food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens?
• Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste from the landfill and support the development of a circular economy as part of a zero waste strategy?
• Review the deconstruction bylaw to ensure it is meeting its goal to eliminate waste from renovation and demolition projects?
• Support further study on local distributed energy systems powered by 100% renewable energy to build community resilience over time?
• Adopt the Doughnut Economic Model as a guiding principle for all District initiatives and planning? (see Nanaimo example)
• Endorse the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty?
• Join the campaign to Sue Big Oil and set aside $1 per person to file a class-action lawsuit to recover a fair share of our climate costs?

Transparency and Accountability

Q: Are there any particular issues where you would have to declare a perceived conflict of interest or recuse yourself from Council discussion on an issue? Please list:
A: If I am on Squamish Council, my duty is always and only to the citizens of Squamish. As is known in the community, I have done work for Woodfibre LNG and Garibaldi at Squamish in the past, but have no current relationship, or benefit. I will defer to legal advice as to whether I would be in a real or perceived conflict of interest.

List of current donors

So far... just me.