The withdrawal of BC United has left many supporters of their supporters as well as undecided voters who hover in the middle of the road uncertain about how to cast their vote in this polarized atmosphere. How will you encourage these voters to cast their ballots for you?
I was actually shocked when the whole thing just kind of fell apart at the last minute.
And Coralee Oakes went from Liberal to United and then the possibility of jumping to the Conservatives. And that’s like, federally, those are, it’s a wide span.
So I think that people think the Green Party is leftist but it’s more of a centre-left. It’s not way out in left field and people want to paint it that way. We deal with science-based, evidence-based policies and ways of looking at things that have the broadest appeal to the human being.
Because a lot of times when we look at things, I say that politics is like a religion.
So you have a belief system and you take it on and your friends tell you what to think.
And you’re kind of stuck in this position when you really, we’re all humans and we all have things that we need and things that basic common sense type things.
I think in some ways it allows people to strip some of that party loyalty away and just listen to the person.
Moccasin Flats is a stark example of the addiction, mental health and poverty issues affecting Prince George. What would you do to address these issues?
Living in Quesnel, I don’t know the actual Moccasin Flats. We have similar issues in Quesnel.
There is a lot of pain in the First Nations community, middle schools. And there’s a lot of angst, trauma carried on through generations.
As far as First Nations, the Green Party always treats people with respect, fairness and looking at the people.
And it’s the sort of thing that if we treat everybody like humans, they’ll respond like that. And if we treat them like less than human, they respond again in that.
If you have an argument with somebody and you yell and scream at them and they yell and scream back, you’re just lowest common denominator. If we treat everybody like a human being with dignity.
This part of BC has always relied on the resource sector for good jobs but changes like Canfor’s latest closure announcement put these jobs at risk. What will you do to advocate for new resource sector jobs in Prince George?
Forestry is something that’s home for me. I drove truck for Arrow for 10 years.
I’ve been to many mills in BC and I did a lot of work. Pinnacle Pellet, going from Dunkley to Pinnacle Pellet. I know the mill situation and I know what’s been going on in BC for a very long time.
You can’t use up a finite resource that takes a long time to come at breakneck industrial speed and expect it to last forever.
We’re kind of reaching the end of forever.
There’s been a lot of work done in just forestry itself to clearcut a large amount.
What the Greens’ position is to have stopping whatever the last of the old growth is and primary forests, and work on value adding and community. We have to start taking the power away from the corporations.
And redoing the tenures. Create more local community for us. Try to return the resource back to the people. Instead of being taken by corporate greed.
The relationship between the provincial government and BC’s Indigenous peoples is evolving. If elected, what approach do you plan to bring to your work with area First Nations, including the Lheidli T’enneh?
The position of the Green Party, I was kind of touching on it before about cultural respect. It’s unceded territory.
I always think it’s kind of funny when you say it’s, you know, like we’re respecting their territory and then what they’re for us. A lot of stuff has been bowled over. A lot of First Nations have been sort of pushed to the side even though we say it’s unceded.
The Green Party’s position is more of reconciliation by respect and looking at the resources that are within First Nations territory. And I understand they have a right to, you know, a good share of that.
Like there’s a 50 per cent sort of figure that I have seen. So the idea of treating First Nations like they don’t know what they’re doing is that’s … we have to treat them like full partners.
Treat them with respect. And make sure that they’re full players at the table. It has to be done. And it hasn’t been done since the beginning of Canada, really.
Our area’s population is aging. What is your top priority when it comes to addressing the issues facing seniors and why?
Housing, really. I’m lucky enough to have 150 acres right on the Fraser River.
I don’t have a pile of money. I just happen to have a big piece of land. And I see the possibilities of small mini homes.
And creating communities. Almost village-type things. Where people, just because somebody’s old doesn’t mean they’re frail and, you know, ship them off to the old folks’ home.
People want to live in a community. They want to live in a place that has people in it. You know, like, so if we could create some housing options that are not old folks’ homes.
And give them a chance to live with dignity. And, you know, I’m not saying 'shift.' It’s just that give them a housing that’s comfortable. A way that they can be a part of the community. And a part of their own community.
Some MLAs excel in the Legislature while others become known for their constituency work. In a huge riding with this mix of urban and rural communities what kind of MLA do you think you’re going to be?
My position from the beginning is I’m not a politician.And there’s a real distrust of politicians. Just because of the getting elected by, oh, we can’t do that. I’m a very personal, like, get along with people. I joke around. I treat people with respect. My thing has always been treating people like to be treated myself.
I’m just a person. I’m trying to get elected to do a job. But I’m not going to become, I’m still going to be the person that I’ve always been. I’m very open to communicating with people.
I used to work in radio. I worked in the film industry. I’m a farmer. I grow garlic. I have a line of honey garlic hot sauces. I’m at the market all the time at events.
So I know how to communicate with people. And it’s a skill that not everybody has.
I have a tendency to put people at ease when I’m discussing things with them.
I’ve had a lot to do with native spiritualities. I’ve done a lot of sweat lodges.
Talking to the chiefs and bands and communities in First Nations is something I’m actually looking forward to. Because it’s healing circles.
