Islands Trust: Keats/Gambier

Bruce Bingham

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?

Yes

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

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?)

Sometimes. A safe minibus stop off of Highway #99 at the bottom of the hill at Sunset Beach Marina.

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)?

Yes – this makes sense.

2.3) What would a successful inter-regional plan look like to you?

One that is efficient, cost effective, sustainable and well used.

3.1) How would you encourage the use of more efficient standards and greener technology for new and retrofitted industries in your community?

My business is creating new more efficient clean alternative energy technologies so, in my professional life I work to solve environmental issues.

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?

The Gambier Island Local Trust area is by its nature over 400 square miles and consists of 35 or more islands. Each community and island has its own local issues. There are very few roads and schools (except for Bowen Island which is its own municipality) and commercial shopping districts are non existant on the islands. The citizens on the Islands know best on how to govern themselves (Article 5.8.3 of the IT Act). Most all of the islands have been well cared for by generations of island families. Where there are problems the local citizens know the best solution and they should frame the answers.

4.2) What policies do you think will be most effective at reducing our community’s impact on air quality?

Ship bunker fuel is very dirty fuel. One freighter at anchor idling its engines is equal to 2,000 transport trucks on the road. Encouraging cleaner technologies on BC Ferry’s ships and on freighters plying local waters will go along way to cleaning up our local air.

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?

Yes

5.2) Would you support adopting a similar backyard burning bylaw(s) in (Pemberton/SLRD Electoral Areas)?

(Did not answer)

Jan Hagedorn

(See answer for 1.2)

Infrastructure on Gambier, Keats, Anvil and the smaller Howe Sound islands is different than on the mainland, however the principles are the same. For some time, the Islands Trust has advocated for creating trails, parks and green spaces and for clustering of density to encourage infrastructure features such as community docks, community water systems and community parks, while taking steps to protect ecologically special areas. I also strongly support small island initiatives such as the licensing of electric golf carts for road use on the small islands to reduce emissions and the idea of one community-owned car, and I intend to promote these concepts during the next term. Initiatives that are suitable for anywhere in the country include a weekly “green day,” “give a friend a lift day” and “public transit for one day”.

Many residents of the Howe Sound islands, including myself, use local transit ferry to get to their island, while others use scheduled ferries and water taxis from Horseshoe Bay, appreciating that these forms of transit are much more efficient than private boats. As well, many island communities join together hiring water taxis organizing a group departure and return schedule, creating an efficient alternative than private boats. As the population in these islands increases, I will be encouraging the expansion of the existing taxi and small ferry routes.

2.3) What would a successful inter-regional plan look like to you?

A successful inter-regional transit plan should flow from a master plan and should be flexible and open to creative ideas that would reduce emissions from all forms of transit, including boat traffic. The plan would offer co-op cars to Howe Sound Islanders within the city, car-pooling, and buses scheduled to meet the ferry arrivals and departures and link up with water taxis. The plan would also include better bus connections to Sunset Marina so that taxis are not needed to get to bus system in Horseshoe Bay. Another interesting idea is the “car stop” initiative being used on several Southern Gulf Islands, which encourages islanders to provide rides where there are no bus systems: one simply stands at the car stop and waits for a local driver to come by and offer a ride.

3.1) How would you encourage the use of more efficient standards and greener technology for new and retrofitted industries in your community?

Due the limited use of cars on the Keats, Gambier and the smaller Howe Sound islands, there is a huge risk of catastrophic forest fires, which, of course, produce massive amounts of CO2 and other emissions. Factors promoting the initiation and growth of forest fires are the predominance of second growth forest, which features small trees and dead lower branches; the increased human presence; the lack of professional fire departments; and the scarcity of water to fight fires in the summer, unless the fire is close to the sea. I will be promoting policies and community actions, that encourage management plans which reduce the risk of wildfires near dwellings and allow the forest to return to an old growth forest and that support local fire equipment and fire fighting groups reducing the risk of fire and the accompanying emissions.

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?

A main objective for the Howe Sound Islands would be to minimize the need for vehicle dependent development and cross island traffic by clustering new development closer to existing pubic wharves and/or shared private wharves and access points.

4.2) What policies do you think will be most effective at reducing our community’s impact on air quality?

One of the biggest problems in the Howe Sound air shed for air quality is the gas combustion engine and I would encourage any policy, incentive or strategy to convert to electric motors.

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?

Islanders generally avoid any use of pesticides, respecting the local wildlife of the islands, and this practice is promoted by the Islands Trust. Wood stoves are the commonest approach for heating buildings in the Howe Sound Islands, and the Islands Trust promotes the use of high efficiency wood stoves as a means of lowering emissions. The use of solar panels, single wind generators, high efficiency wood stoves and energy efficient building standards are all suitable for the islands and are actions that I will be promoting in the coming term, not only to improve air quality but also mitigate climate change.

Lynn Leboe

There is an increasing tourism market for cycling and other outdoor recreational activities, we should take note of these ‘clean’ trends and grow green opportunities. We might expect those green routes may not coincide with the same corridors used for high traffic and for that information we need multi stakeholder input. Using transportation in more efficient ways along with innovative thinking will support community, and that is always a good idea. Park and Ride has proved to be successful, accompanied by security or video monitoring – should be encouraged.

Encouraging bike safely is a great idea, but the program must be practical along with infrastructure and education to accompany such a plan so as not to endanger the cyclists. Taking into account our climate, bike to work is a seasonal and local initiative.

Personally, I take public transit (ferries) frequently and occasionally connecting transit when I don’t have much to transport. Train is a great under used land option. Costs need to be lowered (perhaps offset with commercial goods going by train) with additional schedules for a mass uptick.

There is a growing demand for this route, a multi-stakeholder review would be importants

2.3) What would a successful inter-regional plan look like to you?

After an independent ‘think-tank’ multi-stakeholder review I’d like to see more public private partnerships to achieve inter-regional access the Sea to Sky and Sunshine Coast. These plans should incorporate innovation in tourism, economic development and transportation.

3.1) How would you encourage the use of more efficient standards and greener technology for new and retrofitted industries in your community?

Research and Development programs may need to provide additional financial assistance to industry through Business Development banks to explore and implement greener technology, while preserving and growing jobs and high tech capacity while transitioning to a sustainable economy and environment.

Because the area I am a candidate to represent (including from Thormanby to Gambier, to Keats, to Passage Island) covers a vast and often unserviced by the electrical grid, opportunities to showcase solar and wind power are exciting.

a) First I would eliminate needless travel by putting all the meetings on the internet, a huge saving of perhaps $85,000 per year for the Islands Trust and even greater for the public, allowing public participation without having to get into their cars to attend meetings.

b) I would cut unnecessary and duplicate projects and assist property owners who wish to transition to solar and other renewable energies rather than solely on fossil gas to achieve economy of scale.

c) I would encourage more green business, including eco-tourism for those who wish to participate in the BC economy, which will revitalize communities.

d) I would work to decrease fees and tax rates for small and local green businesses who use solar and renewable energy.

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?

Bylaw changes to encourage multi- use with common sense. Encourage industry to become test sites for alternative energy which in the long term will decrease industry expenditures and save money in the long term.

4.2) What policies do you think will be most effective at reducing our community’s impact on air quality?

Generally people want to do the ‘right’ thing for the environment, community and their families. We should not under estimate the ability for people to make good choices. But we need to help them make those choices and be innovative. Perhaps a simple icon rating system would help people identify choices that are environmental friendly.

More and varied transit options for tourists, visitors and residents to get to and from destinations will increase safety, useability and a more pleasant experience. Public private partnership opportunities.

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?

We need to look at the glass ‘half full’ and see the positives. There is a marketing opportunity for ‘BC – Pesticide Free’ as healthy concepts are important as people make vacation plans incorporating moral, environmental and health aspects of the areas they visit.