We have a brilliant opportunity coming out of the pandemic. The world came to a standstill in 2020, as we start up again lets start up the right way with a managed wind down of the fossil fuel industry. There are some extreme environmentalists who would end it tomorrow but we can't do that, lets be practical. We need to retrain the workforce, we need to scale up renewables, we need to electrify our infrastructure and make sure that electricity is coming from clean sources. There's a lot of work ahead of us and it can be done, but we need the political will which I don't see. Our 4 year political cycles discourage government from making long term investments, it encourages them to kick the can down the road to the next government. Well, the time is now. And no, using Carbon Capture and Sequestration is not an excuse to ramp up fossil fuel production. This is our biggest folly.

Policy description

We have a brilliant opportunity coming out of the pandemic. The world came to a standstill in 2020, as we start up again lets start up the right way with a managed wind down of the fossil fuel industry. There are some extreme environmentalists who would end it tomorrow but we can't do that, lets be practical. We need to retrain the workforce, we need to scale up renewables, we need to electrify our infrastructure and make sure that electricity is coming from clean sources. There's a lot of work ahead of us and it can be done, but we need the political will which I don't see. Our 4 year political cycles discourage government from making long term investments, it encourages them to kick the can down the road to the next government. Well, the time is now. And no, using Carbon Capture and Sequestration is not an excuse to ramp up fossil fuel production. This is our biggest folly.

Policy description

One of the first things is using Green Recovery packages to implement a just transition act. Every so-called "green recovery" package has included billions in handouts to the fossil fuel industry. We have the money to do the right things, encompassing retraining the workforce, early retirement for those who cannot be retrained, wage insurance, etc. We don't want to leave the oil & gas workers behind, they are the ones who have put their energy and health into helping build the oil and gas economy that's provided so much for this country. When I say "just" it isn't the executives looking for a golden parachute that I'm talking about, it is the workers on the ground who need our help. Not everyone is going to win in this transition but the sooner we do it the fewer people will be impacted. We have some of the best universities in the world and we have the expertise to make this work. Lets do it now while we have the time, before the world imposes it on us.

One of the first things is using Green Recovery packages to implement a just transition act. Every so-called "green recovery" package has included billions in handouts to the fossil fuel industry. We have the money to do the right things, encompassing retraining the workforce, early retirement for those who cannot be retrained, wage insurance, etc. We don't want to leave the oil & gas workers behind, they are the ones who have put their energy and health into helping build the oil and gas economy that's provided so much for this country. When I say "just" it isn't the executives looking for a golden parachute that I'm talking about, it is the workers on the ground who need our help. Not everyone is going to win in this transition but the sooner we do it the fewer people will be impacted. We have some of the best universities in the world and we have the expertise to make this work. Lets do it now while we have the time, before the world imposes it on us.

We don't have capitalism today, what we have is unchecked capitalism where capitalist lobbies run government. I have an issue with oil being part of the COP processes. I hear all the time, "let markets do the talking", but the problem is we've subsidized oil & gas and haven't let free-market run its reign. If we actually taxed the externalities through a polluter-pays principle, it would actually be cheaper for them to work towards this transition.

We don't have capitalism today, what we have is unchecked capitalism where capitalist lobbies run government. I have an issue with oil being part of the COP processes. I hear all the time, "let markets do the talking", but the problem is we've subsidized oil & gas and haven't let free-market run its reign. If we actually taxed the externalities through a polluter-pays principle, it would actually be cheaper for them to work towards this transition.

Policy description

I was working on tracking methane emissions from oil & gas wells which are largely under reported in Canada. My job was to test new technologies to identify and quantify methane emission leaks. The real problem is that most of the emissions come from venting which is largely permitted under current regulations. It was great to meet the people working in the oil & gas industry. A big problem with academia is that we tend to only look at what is needed for a transition but no one has really researched what workers on the ground want, how do they envision this transition. I spoke with them about this and it was very interesting. Some of them have reached out to me to thank me because I was one of the only people telling them the truth about what's happening. People need someone who is going to tell them the truth so they can take the opportunity they have now to retrain and support their families long term, not scramble to react to an inevitable economic crisis after it crashes ashore.

Policy description

I was working on tracking methane emissions from oil & gas wells which are largely under reported in Canada. My job was to test new technologies to identify and quantify methane emission leaks. The real problem is that most of the emissions come from venting which is largely permitted under current regulations. It was great to meet the people working in the oil & gas industry. A big problem with academia is that we tend to only look at what is needed for a transition but no one has really researched what workers on the ground want, how do they envision this transition. I spoke with them about this and it was very interesting. Some of them have reached out to me to thank me because I was one of the only people telling them the truth about what's happening. People need someone who is going to tell them the truth so they can take the opportunity they have now to retrain and support their families long term, not scramble to react to an inevitable economic crisis after it crashes ashore.

Carry out all the Calls to Action (http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf)from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Calls to Justice (https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/)from the report on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

Housing affordability is a top issue, especially where I live in Vancouver. When I was a student I received a stipend of about $18,000 a year but rent in Vancouver averages $2000 so my stipend didn't even cover my rent. How is someone supposed to survive when they can't afford to live? When people say to homeless people, "why don't they just get a job" my response is to ask if they'll open their home to someone to shower and the response is always "no". But the reality is a person can't show up for a job interview without smelling fine or having nice clothes on, and if they can't get an interview they won't get a job, and if they can't get a job how will they put a roof over their head. Having a roof over your head is a basic right and all governments are failing us. People are struggling because the system has failed them somehow. It's our job to look out for people and to lift them up because we have failed them. We have a lot of opportunity in Vancouver to build affordable housing and to build complete neighbourhoods so working people who were pushed out can afford to live here again. This would help us immensely economically but also is one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis.

Housing affordability is a top issue, especially where I live in Vancouver. When I was a student I received a stipend of about $18,000 a year but rent in Vancouver averages $2000 so my stipend didn't even cover my rent. How is someone supposed to survive when they can't afford to live? When people say to homeless people, "why don't they just get a job" my response is to ask if they'll open their home to someone to shower and the response is always "no". But the reality is a person can't show up for a job interview without smelling fine or having nice clothes on, and if they can't get an interview they won't get a job, and if they can't get a job how will they put a roof over their head. Having a roof over your head is a basic right and all governments are failing us. People are struggling because the system has failed them somehow. It's our job to look out for people and to lift them up because we have failed them. We have a lot of opportunity in Vancouver to build affordable housing and to build complete neighbourhoods so working people who were pushed out can afford to live here again. This would help us immensely economically but also is one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis.

I'm not an insider so I don't know anything other than what's been reported by the media, but I absolutely believe its going to overshadow the big issues. While I have been upset about what's been happening internally I've decided to keep running as a Green because I believe in the people and I believe in the movement. I feel the media has taken over this narrative about what's happening between the Council and the Leader, and maybe one way to put that to rest is to have a leadership review, to give the members a voice and put this to rest.

I'm not an insider so I don't know anything other than what's been reported by the media, but I absolutely believe its going to overshadow the big issues. While I have been upset about what's been happening internally I've decided to keep running as a Green because I believe in the people and I believe in the movement. I feel the media has taken over this narrative about what's happening between the Council and the Leader, and maybe one way to put that to rest is to have a leadership review, to give the members a voice and put this to rest.

Policy details

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Greens aren't like the other parties where candidates and caucus has to do what the leader or the party tells you to. I haven't always agreed with the leader or the caucus in the past, and I might not now, and I might not in the future. We are a grassroots movement who represents our constituents and that's why I'm a Green.

Greens aren't like the other parties where candidates and caucus has to do what the leader or the party tells you to. I haven't always agreed with the leader or the caucus in the past, and I might not now, and I might not in the future. We are a grassroots movement who represents our constituents and that's why I'm a Green.

There is no doubt that there is racism in the Green Party but I don't believe that we're unique in that regard. All parties are creations of a system that is fundamentally racist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic and colonial. I am sure Annamie has faced a lot of racism but what happened with Jenica has to do with how Annamie interacted with the caucus. I'm still saddened by that but at at the end of the day I can still be a Green and not agree with how she handled that issue. So yes, I am aware of internal racism but does that stop me from running? No. As a queer woman of colour I have faced racism and homophobia in my work and as a politician. At this point there's not a lot that can get to me in terms of peoples comments. We racialized candidates need to stand against this, change the system from the inside, and burn it down if necessary. That's what I'm here for.

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There is no doubt that there is racism in the Green Party but I don't believe that we're unique in that regard. All parties are creations of a system that is fundamentally racist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic and colonial. I am sure Annamie has faced a lot of racism but what happened with Jenica has to do with how Annamie interacted with the caucus. I'm still saddened by that but at at the end of the day I can still be a Green and not agree with how she handled that issue. So yes, I am aware of internal racism but does that stop me from running? No. As a queer woman of colour I have faced racism and homophobia in my work and as a politician. At this point there's not a lot that can get to me in terms of peoples comments. We racialized candidates need to stand against this, change the system from the inside, and burn it down if necessary. That's what I'm here for.

Policy details

Every Green who has won across this country has done so because of on the ground organizing. It is the candidate that people vote for and not the leader. You look across the country and we still have amazing candidates who are running for what they believe in. Even if you disagree with the leader, it doesn't matter. Do you agree with your candidate and do you believe in them? At the end of the day that's how your candidate if elected will be voting for you, not what the leader says or stands for.

Every Green who has won across this country has done so because of on the ground organizing. It is the candidate that people vote for and not the leader. You look across the country and we still have amazing candidates who are running for what they believe in. Even if you disagree with the leader, it doesn't matter. Do you agree with your candidate and do you believe in them? At the end of the day that's how your candidate if elected will be voting for you, not what the leader says or stands for.

While I cannot claim to be an expert on the Israel-Palestine conflict, I have and will continue to speak out against violence and hatred wherever it is seen. I also think it’s important to be able to criticize governments but often critics of the Israeli regime get branded as antisemites. Green MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Paul Manly’s chief of staff, Ilan Goldenblatt spoke out (https://www.paulmanlymp.ca/post/criticism-is-not-antisemitism)on this very subject so eloquently back in May and I agree with his words wholeheartedly: “Equating the Israeli occupation with apartheid does not equal antisemitism [...] any more than saying that Canada was built on a genocide and disenfranchisement of Indigenous people is anti-European or anti-white.” To that end, I respect the official Green Party of Canada policy (https://www.greenparty.ca/en/sgm-2016/voting/resolutions/s16-p013)including the dire need for Canada to end its weapon exporting relationship with Israel, to demand that Israel abide by the UN recognized borders of its state, and to withdraw from its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. This pressure may be exerted through economic sanctions, including a boycott of products produced in the occupied territory. This is not a comprehensive stance, but I believe it is a good place to start. To me this comes down to consistency in our values of human rights as Greens. We believe that all people should have a right to self determination but it is clear that Palestinians currently have many of their rights restricted, and that recent events cannot be reasonably portrayed as an even conflict given that Israel is a clear oppressor. As a Green MP I would commit to upholding official party policy on this issue and acting consistent with our values as Greens.

While I cannot claim to be an expert on the Israel-Palestine conflict, I have and will continue to speak out against violence and hatred wherever it is seen. I also think it’s important to be able to criticize governments but often critics of the Israeli regime get branded as antisemites. Green MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Paul Manly’s chief of staff, Ilan Goldenblatt spoke out (https://www.paulmanlymp.ca/post/criticism-is-not-antisemitism)on this very subject so eloquently back in May and I agree with his words wholeheartedly: “Equating the Israeli occupation with apartheid does not equal antisemitism [...] any more than saying that Canada was built on a genocide and disenfranchisement of Indigenous people is anti-European or anti-white.” To that end, I respect the official Green Party of Canada policy (https://www.greenparty.ca/en/sgm-2016/voting/resolutions/s16-p013)including the dire need for Canada to end its weapon exporting relationship with Israel, to demand that Israel abide by the UN recognized borders of its state, and to withdraw from its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. This pressure may be exerted through economic sanctions, including a boycott of products produced in the occupied territory. This is not a comprehensive stance, but I believe it is a good place to start. To me this comes down to consistency in our values of human rights as Greens. We believe that all people should have a right to self determination but it is clear that Palestinians currently have many of their rights restricted, and that recent events cannot be reasonably portrayed as an even conflict given that Israel is a clear oppressor. As a Green MP I would commit to upholding official party policy on this issue and acting consistent with our values as Greens.

High-speed internet is a utility which everyone in Canada should have access to. In fact, it is a particularly important tool for transitioning to a Green economy which is something I am very passionate about. Like other utilities such as Hydro, internet access should be a public good rather than a way for telecom giants to make a profit. In 2019 the CRTC’s rate decision found the major telecom companies broke rate-setting rules and inflated costs for smaller competitors by hundreds of millions of dollars, driving up internet prices for all Canadians. Astoundinly the CRTC overturned their own decision and gave the major telecom companies a pass. I support not only a reversal of that decision, but a move towards federal regulation of internet access and pricing towards a nationalization of infrastructure. Internet access is a huge equality issue, and no one in Canada should have to go without a reliable internet connection because of location or inability to pay.

High-speed internet is a utility which everyone in Canada should have access to. In fact, it is a particularly important tool for transitioning to a Green economy which is something I am very passionate about. Like other utilities such as Hydro, internet access should be a public good rather than a way for telecom giants to make a profit. In 2019 the CRTC’s rate decision found the major telecom companies broke rate-setting rules and inflated costs for smaller competitors by hundreds of millions of dollars, driving up internet prices for all Canadians. Astoundinly the CRTC overturned their own decision and gave the major telecom companies a pass. I support not only a reversal of that decision, but a move towards federal regulation of internet access and pricing towards a nationalization of infrastructure. Internet access is a huge equality issue, and no one in Canada should have to go without a reliable internet connection because of location or inability to pay.

In Vancouver Quadra in particular, there is no real threat of the Conservative winning. The Liberals typically poll at around 50% and the Conservatives at 25%. If half the Liberal vote leaves to vote Green, it doesn’t become a close Liberal-Conservative race, but rather the Green wins easily. On the other hand, the incumbent Liberal in Quadra won in 2019 with around 22,000 votes, and about 24,000 eligible voters didn’t even vote. Don’t let anyone tell you that your vote is wasted, doesn’t count, or that the electoral result is a foregone conclusion. Vancouver Quadra has the rare opportunity to elect a true climate champion. The type of champion we need in this time of crisis. Someone with the skills, training and experience helping communities adapt to the climate crisis. Someone who understands the science and won’t shy away from telling people the truth of our reality. Quadra has a chance to elect a strong local representative who won’t be bound by party discipline. In terms of strategic voting, voting Green is safe. It is also the safest choice in terms of voting for solutions for the planet, rather than for the status quo which has not worked. I am hoping you will consider this and choose to vote for me. I promise to always act with the interests of my constituents in mind, rather than a Party or corporate backers.

In Vancouver Quadra in particular, there is no real threat of the Conservative winning. The Liberals typically poll at around 50% and the Conservatives at 25%. If half the Liberal vote leaves to vote Green, it doesn’t become a close Liberal-Conservative race, but rather the Green wins easily. On the other hand, the incumbent Liberal in Quadra won in 2019 with around 22,000 votes, and about 24,000 eligible voters didn’t even vote. Don’t let anyone tell you that your vote is wasted, doesn’t count, or that the electoral result is a foregone conclusion. Vancouver Quadra has the rare opportunity to elect a true climate champion. The type of champion we need in this time of crisis. Someone with the skills, training and experience helping communities adapt to the climate crisis. Someone who understands the science and won’t shy away from telling people the truth of our reality. Quadra has a chance to elect a strong local representative who won’t be bound by party discipline. In terms of strategic voting, voting Green is safe. It is also the safest choice in terms of voting for solutions for the planet, rather than for the status quo which has not worked. I am hoping you will consider this and choose to vote for me. I promise to always act with the interests of my constituents in mind, rather than a Party or corporate backers.

First off, I believe in free, prior, and informed consent before any project is undertaken on Indigenous lands. II am angered to see that on one hand, the federal and BC governments have adopted UNDRIP and DRIPA while forcing pipelines through Indigenous lands and continuing to use the RCMP to enforce colonialism. I am against the building of pipelines. A green recovery should be the goal coming out of this pandemic. We have the opportunity to build a better, more equitable and sustainable society. As a woman of colour, I understand the need for racial and social justice in climate action. Equity and justice should be the core of any environmental action. We should use nature based climate solutions to the maximum extent, and listen to science and experts on how to implement this with justice and equity in mind. We should stop subsidizing fossil fuel immediately and instead we should invest in green infrastructure and research. Finally, a Just Transition plan is essential to ensure no worker is left behind. We need to ensure good green jobs along with wage insurance, early retirement and retraining benefits for those in the energy industry.

First off, I believe in free, prior, and informed consent before any project is undertaken on Indigenous lands. II am angered to see that on one hand, the federal and BC governments have adopted UNDRIP and DRIPA while forcing pipelines through Indigenous lands and continuing to use the RCMP to enforce colonialism. I am against the building of pipelines. A green recovery should be the goal coming out of this pandemic. We have the opportunity to build a better, more equitable and sustainable society. As a woman of colour, I understand the need for racial and social justice in climate action. Equity and justice should be the core of any environmental action. We should use nature based climate solutions to the maximum extent, and listen to science and experts on how to implement this with justice and equity in mind. We should stop subsidizing fossil fuel immediately and instead we should invest in green infrastructure and research. Finally, a Just Transition plan is essential to ensure no worker is left behind. We need to ensure good green jobs along with wage insurance, early retirement and retraining benefits for those in the energy industry.