Candidates Speak Out on Housing, Harm Reduction & Food Security

Campaigns for the upcoming municipal election are in full swing! To help you get informed before casting your vote, we are offering an opportunity to learn more about candidates’ views on pertinent issues in the Capital Regional District. We invited candidates to participate in a survey asking 4 questions on their plans to address poverty and affordable housing.

Today we are posting the responses from Colwood, Metchosin, Sooke and View Royal candidates.

Colwood Candidate Survey

1. The City of Victoria has adopted a Harm Reduction policy framework. What action steps will you take or support to ensure the strategies are implemented?

Ms. Cynthia Day: I have been the Acting Chair, Vice Chair of the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee and Chair of their Youth Mental Health Task Force of the Victoria Family Court over the past 8 years. I will continue to make all areas of our region aware of services, shortfalls in assistance and potential success stories that need municipal help. Our youth engagement has been extremely successful in connecting youth and service providers. We have also had good success in networking our multiple service agencies.

Ms. Teresa Harvey: Promote/support the allocation of funds inter-municipally to provide treatment centres, affordable housing, retraining and enforcement.

2. What will you do to create and implement a new regional affordable housing levy?

Ms. Cynthia Day: Colwood has been collecting funds for affordable housing from all new developments. I will explore partnerships to help make new facilities a reality. Colwood, in partnership with the Legion is supporting Cockrel House, supportive housing specifically designed for ex military persons who may have conditions that make them hard to house and which may put them at risk of being homeless.

Ms. Teresa Harvey: Engage and educate taxpayers in discussions on how an affordable housing levy in the long-run helps to promote long-term local and regional sustainability. Ultimately, public consultation with taxpayers is required.

3. What municipal incentives will you introduce or champion to build new or renovated below-market rental housing?

Ms. Cynthia Day: Colwood is one of the more affordable areas of the community and we are working to bring affordable housing to our core where transit services can help make a family budget go much farther while still maintaining quality of life with access to parks, open space, schools and playgrounds.

Ms. Teresa Harvey:

  • planning and development fee exemptions
  • grants and loans
  • property tax exemptions, and
  • tax increment financing.

4. We know that in March 2010, 21,180 people used food banks in Greater Victoria; 13.7% reported employment income; 22.4% were children. What will you do at the municipal level to support access to healthy and affordable food?

Ms. Cynthia Day: Local gardens like the West Shore teaching garden are showing families how to grow their own, share what they have and support one another. The local farm markets are bringing the local food close to home for most people and our businesses and citizens are active in supporting children in our community. We also have some great support programs for youth and families through West Shore Parks and Recreation and Pacific Centre Family Services Association. Of course, new ideas will also come along and I am open to supporting them.

Ms. Teresa Harvey: Interventions should include businesses, government(s), not-for-profit organizations, colleges and universities, community development financial institutions to address supply chain segments including retailers, producers & distributors, and marketers.

I support and encourage government policies and programs that will reduce poverty and address other barriers to healthy eating.

I support sustainable community programs (such as community kitchens and gardens) that promote the availability and affordability of fresh, locally or regionally grown foods.

Non-Survey Response

Ms. Teresa Harvey:”Energize, Empower, Enrich”

In order to combat issues of homelessness and poverty successfully, one must understand the whole picture and develop a comprehensive and integrated strategy. A comprehensive strategy must look at the multi-factorial relationship that exists within poverty-homelessness-crime-drug abuse; as we already know the relationship between poverty and crime, especially among our youth.

We have a moral and social responsibility to ensure that families have options so that we can see an end to 2nd and 3rd generational poverty.

Energize – we must look at ways to create and improve job availability for those on low income/no income. Providing a place to live alone, while an important piece of the puzzle, doesn’t fully address an individual’s self-esteem.

Empower – we must conduct needs assessment(s) as each individual(s) needs are unique. Gaps may include simple skills training and workshops in resume building and/or interviewing. We must work with the provincial unemployment and welfare offices to create back-to-work programs that actually work!

Enrich – individuals must be seen as people and not numbers, dialogue must exist with those in these situations to find out where gaps exist. A proper stakeholder matrix dialogue must include politicians and bureaucrats, social workers, front line staff, and clients.

Metchosin Candidate Survey

If elected, what will your actions be in the following areas:

1. The City of Victoria has adopted a Harm Reduction policy framework. What action steps will you take or support to ensure the strategies are implemented?

Ms. Moralea Milne: As a councillor with the District of Metchosin, I would have no say over the City of Victoria’s policies. However our municipality is a full funder to the CRD Housing Trust Fund.

2. What will you do to create and implement a new regional affordable housing levy?

Ms. Moralea Milne: As above.

3. What municipal incentives will you introduce or champion to build new or renovated below-market rental housing?

Ms. Moralea Milne: In Metchosin we have always allowed a secondary suite within a single residence on a property.

4. We know that in March 2010, 21,180 people used food banks in Greater Victoria; 13.7% reported employment income; 22.4% were children. What will you do at the municipal level to support access to healthy and affordable food?

Ms. Moralea Milne: I dont have an answer to that question, except that we are concerned about food security and about supporting local food sources.

Sooke Candidate Survey (Non-Survey Response)

Mr. Jim Mitchell: Sooke does not have a homelessness problem. We have other issues that have to be dealt with. Such as, the property taxes are far too high and there is still not enough money to go around.

Homelessness should be a federal responsibility. The federal government should be encouraged to bring back the MURB program that they had in the 1970’s. I don’t recall that there was a problem with homelessness back then.

View Royal Candidate Survey

If elected, what will your actions be in the following areas:

1. The City of Victoria has adopted a Harm Reduction policy framework. What action steps will you take or support to ensure the strategies are implemented?

Mr. Frank Rudge: Harm Reduction is essential for these people. They need help and it just makes sense. By assisting on the front end of the program, you reduce advanced medical, policing and crime problems that result. Step in now and save a lot in the future.

2. What will you do to create and implement a new regional affordable housing levy?

Mr. Frank Rudge: We need to look at what we can do as not only a civilized society, but how we can lead the world on caring for our disadvantaged.

3. What municipal incentives will you introduce or champion to build new or renovated below-market rental housing?

Mr. Frank Rudge: I have not turned my mind to these types of strategies, and would need professional guidance but this is very important to me.

4. We know that in March 2010, 21,180 people used food banks in Greater Victoria; 13.7% reported employment income; 22.4% were children. What will you do at the municipal level to support access to healthy and affordable food?

Mr. Frank Rudge: One important thing we can do is make it a priority and spotlight the needs and benefits of looking after these unemployed and the children of Victoria. When individuals are aware of how much they can help, they will help more.