Questions for Local and Regional Election Candidates: 2011
1) Car emissions are by far the largest contributor to air pollution in the Sea-to-Sky and Howe Sound airshed. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) is a set of strategies used to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. TDM promotes and supports increased walking, cycling, transit, carpooling, and increased transportation choices.
1.1) Do you support the creation of TDM through smart growth planning and changes to infrastructure such as increasing sidewalks and bike paths and identifying new park & ride areas? If yes, what specific outcomes do you support? If no, why not?
Within communities, such as Bowen, or any of the town centres along the corridor, any actions designed to make alternatives to driving cars are welcome. The short term first steps include connected corridors- multi-purpose trails and expanded transit (perhaps on-call neighbourhood shuttles). On Bowen, we have created safe hitchiking protocols. In the longer term, there is no question that land use decisions are paramount. The exmple of the new Wallmart complex in Squamish is an example of a retrogressive move that Council could have prevented, particularly since most incumbents have spoken about the need to revitalize downtown Squamish.
Along the highway, the best single initiative will be to provide better integrated public transportation.
1.2) Do you support marketing tools like carpooling and school bike plans and promoting events such as bike to work week and car-free days in the town centre? If yes, what specific tools do you support? If no, why not?
Yes- with recognition of the limits. On Bowen, which is hilly and roads are mostly dead-end, biking is not easy, and transit patterns very limited. As well, over 40% of islanders commute off-island. But one Jack Bell Van Pool is not fully subscribed, and yet many people suffer ferry overloads rather than going on foot/taking the bus or joining a car pool. We provide preferential ferry marshaling for van pool. The town centre does not lend itself to car-free, as the ferry marshalling is within it…
2) Transit services have been making headlines throughout Sea-to-Sky corridor communities for months. Recent feasibility studies indicate that the ridership potential exists to increase services along Highway 99 and within communities as well. The key to doing this successfully is ensuring that schedules, routes, and prices appeal to riders. In 2012, BC Transit is planning a review of the Sea-to-Sky transit plan. The Sea-to-Sky Clean Air Society believes an integrated and inter-regional transit plan could help identify and overcome barriers and improve ridership from West Vancouver up to Mount Currie. A successful plan might involve partnerships between public transit authorities and private carriers.
2.1) Do you ride local or regional buses on a regular basis (public transit or private carriers)? If not, what would be required for you to start taking the bus? (For example: better schedule, different routes, lower cost? Or other?)
I use transit to commute to Vancouver almost exclusively. On Bowen, I drive, walk or bike depending on where and when travelling. Our neighbourhood does not currently have transit services.
2.2) Do you support the development of an inter-regional transit plan that would integrate services in communities from Metro Vancouver and the Squamish Lillooet Regional District (from West Vancouver to Mount Currie)?
Absolutely. To achieve a seamless service, BC Transit and Translink need to get on the same page.
2.3) What would a successful inter-regional plan look like to you?
Could be one of several forms, but I foresee Translink extending to Pemberton and Chilliwack, maybe Hope. Alternately, a mutually funded derivative authority, similar to the West Van. Blue Bus system, could take over from a terminus point, eg Horseshoe Bay.
3) Industry presents another source of air pollution in the Sea-to-Sky and Howe Sound airshed. Examples include emissions from pulp and paper mills, gravel pit mines, asphalt plants, and contributions from heavy duty diesel engines.
3.1) How would you encourage the use of more efficient standards and greener technology for new and retrofitted industries in your community?
Air quality standards for industry should be synchronized for Sea-to-Sky, and Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley. Amenity zonity or other enticements for new industries which have low environmental footprints should be offered by member RD’s and municipalities.
4) The way in which we plan and develop our communities has an over-arching influence on air quality. When jobs are located close to home it means commuting distances are reduced. However, when residential and school areas are zoned too close to industrial activities, land use conflicts can arise.
4.1) How will you ensure that all new residential and commercial development occurs in existing developed areas, thereby increasing walkability and proximity to shops and services?
Very hard to do for some sectors, but live/work, light industrial, residential over commercial are all highly effective. As well- under smart plannoing principles, long term needs should be predicted, with nodes planned, rather than simple expansion (spawl). Upzoning existing areas to permit higher density is well proven- laneway housing an urban example, secondary suites or outbuildings on larger parcels.
4.2) What policies do you think will be most effective at reducing our community’s impact on air quality?
Point source pollution is diminishing. Houses are better insulated, and using electricity, gas or better, new wood burners than before. Much less oil use for heating. So it is really transportation that is the key. Rather than holding out for a hydrogen highway, I’d go for battery swaps, transit, anything as mentioned above to reduce unnecessary car useage, and single occupancy especially.
5) Air quality is a major environmental risk to the health of Canadians and is responsible for over 70,000 new cases of asthma among children a year. Contaminants arise from vehicle emissions, burning of various materials, industrial emissions, and pesticide usage. Many communities have begun to adopt local bylaws on banning backyard burning and cosmetic pesticides. In the Sea-to-Sky and Howe Sound airshed, the Town of Gibsons, Bowen Island Municipality, and the Village of Lions Bay have adopted or drafted bylaws that ban or severely limit backyard burning. The District of Sechelt’s Fire Service bylaw restricts the conditions under which campfires are permitted and requires that all newly installed wood burning stoves are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.
(Whistler candidates exempted (bylaw already in place)
5.1) The Province of BC is considering a province-wide ban on the use of cosmetic pesticides. Regardless of the outcome, would you support a local bylaw banning pesticide use in your community?
I am for the banning of cosmetic pesticide use, and tight regulation of agricultural /forestry pesticides.
(For Pemberton, and SLRD Electoral Areas only)
5.2) Would you support adopting a similar backyard burning bylaw(s) in (Pemberton/SLRD Electoral Areas)?
Bowen has yet to enact its burning bylaw upgrades, but I am pressing to have it go through, along with further waste reduction/composting/recycling initiatives.
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