ABOUT THE SUNSHINE COAST REGIONAL DISTRICT

Did you know that as the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) was being formed in 1966, there were 8,290 people living on the Sunshine Coast from Port Mellon to Egmont? Today, 29,970 people call the SCRD home (2016 Census figure).

Why we need to elect climate leaders

Local governments are responsible for 50% of greenhouse gas pollution, through decisions on land-use planning, transportation, buildings, and waste. We are calling on all candidates to commit to five key climate policies that will help us to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible. Candidates will only qualify as a climate leader if they commit to all five climate policies.

Issues we care about in the SCRD

The next council will be the decision-makers on these key issues:

Water

• As the sole shareholder of the Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF), the District fo Sechelt is responsible for ensuring the SCCF transitions to a sustainable forest management model, stewards ecological values and protects the Chapman and Grey Creek Watersheds.

Climate Caucus

• Engaging with the Climate Caucus and ensuring that all Council and/or Board decisions are considered through the lens of mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity and sustainably managing ‘natural assets’.

Environmental Development Permit Areas

• Supporting the creation, use, and improvement of EDPAs, including bylaws and policies to protect ecological and natural asset values in our community and throughout the Sunshine Coast.

Sue Big Oil

• Protecting taxpayers by seeking to recover a fair share of climate costs from the fossil fuel companies who profit from selling products that cause climate change

Flooding

• Adapting to extreme and changing climate conditions, mitigate impacts of flooding on communities, infrastructure and fish habitat.

Methodology

To qualify as a climate leader, candidates needed to demonstrate support for at least 4 areas and up to 1 neutral (no opposed).

How to Vote

Local Elections

On October 15, Sunshine Coast voters will elect new local governments.

With climate impacts worsening each year, we need climate champions in government now.

Engaging Candidates

The Sunshine Coast Climate Action Network partnered with the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) and Alliance for Democracy to engage the candidates with written Q&A and virtual all candidates meetings.

We strongly encourage all citizens to engage in the electoral process, to learn where your candidates stand on the critical issues facing our community, future generations and all life on earth.

We sent all candidates five written questions and asked them to submit written responses to us by October 1st. The Q&A are posted on the SCCA website.

Key Dates and Voting Information

Advance Voting: Wed. October 5, 8 am – 8pm
Advance Voting (SCRD, Gibsons): Wed. October 12, 8 am – 8pm
General Voting Day: October 15, 8 am to 8pm

A complete list of key dates is available on the Elections BC website.

Candidates

Information about the Candidates for the SCRD can be found at the links below:
Sunshine Coast Regional District

See also:

District of Sechelt

Town of Gibsons

Where to Vote

Sunshine Coast Regional District

See also:

District of Sechelt

Town of Gibsons

Voting By Mail

You can vote by mail by applying for a mail in ballot package. Please note, there is a quick turnaround time to send out and receive back mail ballots. The deadline to request a mail ballot package is October 13th. Ballots must received by the Chief Election Officer before 8:00pm on October 15, 2022. More info about mail in ballots can be found here:

• SCRD

See also:

• Sechelt
• Gibsons