Chilliwack Votes: Question #3

The initiative Chilliwack Votes has been asking the six Chilliwack-Hope candidates a series of weekly questions about various issues in the lead-up to the October 19th federal election.  They have allowed us to post the candidates responses here.  Here is Question #3.

EACH MAJOR PARTY HAS COMMITTED TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE. AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE PLANNING AND FACILITATING OF MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS? WHAT ARE THE MOST PRESSING INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS IN CHILLIWACK-HOPE (UP TO THREE)?

Thomas Cheney (Green Party)

I believe the role of the Member of Parliament is to assist municipalities in getting the resources they need. That said, municipal infrastructure funding decisions should be based on the merit of the proposal and the needs of the community, not political expediency. The Green Party’s focus for infrastructure spending is sustainable transport infrastructure such as separated bike lanes, enhanced pedestrian facilities, and transit infrastructure. I think the two largest infrastructure concerns for Chilliwack-Hope are the limited transit links between Chilliwack and the rest of the Lower Mainland and the limited separated cycle lane infrastructure. We should restart passenger rail service on the Interurban line with the eventual goal of a fast regional rail system to Downtown Vancouver. Chilliwack also lacks a city-wide separated bike lane network, a situation that needs to be fixed for both community health and environmental reasons.

Louis De Jaeger (Liberal)

I recognize that physical and social infrastructure work hand in hand in creating healthier, happier, and more productive communities. Realistic planning/funding for both must be a priority, and as MP, I will lobby for sustainable, stable and predictable funding for long term projects, and participate in helping create an inviting environment for business.
I would like to develop a regular City caucus meeting where Municipal City Councils, Parks Boards, MLAs and First Nations are included. I will work tirelessly for building co-operative and inclusive relationships in regards to joint infrastructure and shared projects. I would attend the 6 major Advisory Committees to Council, (Agriculture, Public Safety, Housing, Rural Engagement, Transportation, and the Development Process Advisory Committee).
My role would be to listen, assist, and support my colleagues. I would like to lead in the creation of sector-specific strategies that support innovation for clean technology investments in urban waste and recovery, new energy sources, and in agricultural sectors.

Alexander Johnson (Libertarian)

I believe that the federal government shouldn’t be in the position to make decisions for Provinces and Municipalities that they themselves could better make. The issue is this process is unnecessary and costly. Why pay someone in Ottawa to give back money already taken by taxes from those who could have funded a project at home directly? Why involve a third layer of decision making unless we don’t believe that we have the resources in Provincial and Municipal government already in place? If that’s the case, then we have a problem with those layers of government. My position will always be to lessen the Federal power and let Provinces and Municipalities work together to make better educated decisions.

Seonaigh Macpherson (NDP)

As your M.P., I will ensure Chilliwack-Hope receives predictable, dedicated, and transparent federal support for infrastructure with flexibility in how funds are used. An NDP government will transfer 1% of the gas tax to municipalities ($1.5B – $3.7B annually) for infrastructure investments, and I will personally coordinate to ensure we participate in the following:
Transportation
As one of Canada’s fastest growing regions, Chilliwack-Hope needs to relieve traffic congestion and to develop rapid transit alternatives – e.g. via transit fund ($1.3 B annually).
Water
In a recent letter to the NEB, the City of Chilliwack raised concerns about the repercussions of potential oil contamination on our aquifers with the proposed oil pipeline expansion. An NDP government will require rigorous scientific environmental reviews and local stakeholder consultations in all projects affecting our water and aquifers.
Housing
Building10,000 additional new affordable rental housing units with CMHC is one example of our national housing strategy.

Dorothy-Jean O’Donnell (Marxist-Leninist)

We stand for democratic renewal and a new constitution. In each riding there should be a constituency committee to which the MP is responsible. Through such a process priorities both locally and nationally can be identified and a programme for the constituency developed. The nomination process becomes a lively political process in which candidates put themselves forward to champion that programme.  This would proved each elector with the information necessary to cast an informed vote. Infrastructure priorities – investments in social programmes, manufacturing and flood prevention. The Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada  also stand for constitutional renewal in which municipal governments would have constitutional recognition. See mlpc.ca

Mark Strahl (Conservative)

Our Conservative government has delivered an unprecedented level of federal infrastructure funding in Chilliwack and Hope.
When the City of Chilliwack told me that their number one infrastructure priority was the Vedder Bridge Replacement Project, I went to work on their behalf in Ottawa and was able to secure the nearly $4.2 million in federal funds necessary – the largest federal grant Chilliwack has ever received – to get the over $12.5 million project approved.
In 2011, I helped open the Kawkawa Lake Road Bridge in Hope – Hope’s number one infrastructure priority – which received over $3.3 million in federal funds from our Conservative government.
I believe that the local level of government – not Ottawa – is best placed to determine local infrastructure needs and MPs should work with local governments, rather than trying to dictate to municipalities on how, when, where or which local infrastructure projects should be built.

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