Conservatives skip forum

An environmental-focused all candidate forum took place at Vernon's Towne theatre on Thursday, minus candidates from the BC Conservative Party, BC Green and an independent.

Hosted by the Sustainable Environment Network Society, invitations were extended to all candidates for the Vernon-Lumby and Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream ridings.

The only attendee from Vernon-Lumby was incumbent NDP MLA Harwinder Sandhu.

For the Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream riding, NDP candidate Anna Warwick-Sears and independent Kevin Kraft attended.

Both independent candidate Kevin Acton and BC Conservative candidate Dennis Giesbrecht declined the invitation. The new Libertarian candidate Robert Johnson, Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream Green Party candidate Andrew Rose and Conservative Tara Armstrong were not in attendance.

Before the forum, candidates were sent five questions to respond to. Those were in addition to seven questions given to candidates by members of the public. The question topics varied from climate change to public transportation, and agriculture.

Fossil fuel reduction and greenhouse gas targets

All three candidates were asked about what needs to be done to decrease the use of fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to a renewable energy source.

Warwick-Sears said solutions to this problem “won’t happen overnight” and that “good things are happening with green energy development.” She stated that solar panels and other forms of energy are becoming cheaper, making it easier “to do it.” The B.C. NDP is also looking to create more energy in the clean energy sector.

Sandhu’s answer centred around the problems fossil fuels are creating.

“The more we delay the action, [the] more we jeopardize the livelihoods, health and safety of millions around the world, not only in our province,” Sandhu stated during the debate.

She also talked about the benefits of the “Clean BC” plan developed by the Green Party.

Kraft believes that liquid natural gas will be a “significant contributor to reducing global emissions.” He also talked about the need for changes in the forestry industry due to similarities with the province’s carbon emissions and fire season.

Releasing protected agricultural land to ease the housing crisis

Candidates were asked their views on releasing agricultural land from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) to ease the province’s housing crisis.

Kraft said that many “property owners feel stuck in ALR zoning requirements.” He mentioned that many of these 10-acre properties are on rocky cliffs or little plateaus, not lending itself to strong agricultural production.

Sandhu stated that ALR was “one of the historic and biggest accomplishments that was achieved by the BC NDP.” She also talked about supporting the farmers using this land by making it more climate-resistant through initiatives and water irrigation.

Warwick-Sears said she is “100 per cent behind protecting ALR land,” as she believes agricultural land is a “non-renewable resource.” She also mentioned that there is a “tremendous amount of money” now for farmers to build dugouts, to upgrade irrigation systems which will help make the farms climate-resistant.

Development of green public transit

All candidates were asked about developing more environmentally friendly public transit, as well as keeping it affordable for citizens.

Warwick-Sears says that government needs to start with rapid bus transit between Kelowna and Vernon as it will “help reduce those traffic problems.” She also stated that there is funding within the NDP's new platform for expanding transit throughout the province.

Sandhu agreed with Warwick-Sears' thoughts adding, “we need to start with small steps.” She said that transportation to and from school is a fundamental right and key for an education.

Kraft says he is disappointed with how riding has been recently serviced with public transit, noting that there is no diverse fleet servicing smaller communities. He also talked about the need to get rid of a “pedestrian roadblock” on the Okanagan Rail Trail.

The next forum will be on Oct. 5 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Society. Acton, Giesbrecht, and Sandhu have all confirmed their attendance.