Green Party candidate Brendan Ralfs
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting in to the South Island transportation plan?
I believe commuter rail has a role to play as part of the solution to Westshore traffic congestion, and am interested in the potential for the E&N corridor to provide this piece to the transportation puzzle. If local governments, transportation advocacy groups and the private sector (among others) can achieve consensus, this project could improve the movement of people and goods in Greater Victoria, while also reducing vehicles on the road and emissions.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
BC needs to become a world leader in education, and the BC Green Party education platform commits to a bold vision that begins with early childhood education, extends beyond post-secondary to include a Lifelong Learning Strategy, and commits to significant funding increases for K-12 under a BC Green mandate. As the MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca, I would ensure that our growing region received its fair share of this visionary plan and investment.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
The issue that I have been hearing the most about from potential Langford-Juan de Fuca constituents is transportation, specifically the need to: (1) come up with a multi-faceted solution the the congestion that plagues traffic moving between Westshore and the rest of Greater Victoria; and (2) make major safety and efficiency improvements to Hwy 14 from Dewdney Flats all the way to Port Renfrew.
Libertarian candidate Scott Burton
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting in to the South Island transportation plan?
By getting government out of the way and lighten the restrictions, we would be able to invest more into the development of new tracks and transport much more cost efficient
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
Solving the bad education problem in BC isn’t solved by throwing more money at it. Instead, we would send each family with children a voucher which they then could use at a school of their choice or choose to home school their children. We believe the best education for children comes from their parents.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
There are many issues in Langford, Sooke, and all the other smaller communities. A main issue I’d like to heal solve is transportation, especially for those commuting to Victoria everyday for work
NDP candidate John Horgan
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting in to the South Island transportation plan?
I’ve been advocating for 12 years for government to establish a transportation corridor along the E&N rail line. Christy Clark and her BC Liberals have failed to utilize this important transportation route and they have failed to institute a transportation plan for the region. We will lead and promote efforts to fix the E&N railway tracks so that commuter rail can become an option to eliminate gridlock in the capital region.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
Christy Clark’s draconian public school funding cuts robbed an entire generation of kids from vital classroom resources. An NDP government will review BC’s current K-12 funding formula to move the system to a better, stable and sustainable model for investing in education. BC Liberals have chosen to leave our kids in low-quality portables and buildings that are unsafe. We will fund public schools so our kids can get the education they deserve.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
The BC Liberals have nickel-and-dimed hard working British Columbians for 16 years with increased Hydro, ICBC, MSP and healthcare costs. No matter how hard people work they just can’t seem to get ahead. A BC NDP government will cut the billion dollar tax break Christy Clark gave to the wealthiest British Columbians. We’ll deliver the services people need and provide opportunities for our communities to innovate and grow.
Vancouver Island Party candidate Willie Nelson
1. How do you see the E&N corridor fitting in to the South Island transportation plan?
The E&N rail, regarding development, is an integral part of the Vancouver Island Party’s platfrom. If we recieved our proportional share of the infastructure budget (Liberals promised us less than 0.2 per cent to 2020) we could build light rail transit to Sooke and out to the Sannich Peninsula.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
Education is investment in the future – cut MLAs’ wages if need to fund schools.
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
Highway 14 is a dangerous traverse to commute. Sooke and the western communites need a medical facility. Light rail transit would ease congestion.
Liberal candidate Cathy Noel
1. How do you see utilizing the E&N corridor fitting in to the South Island transportation plan?
Transportation is a major issue in the region. We’ve made some significant investments in our roads and transit system and are committed to building on those. There’s great potential for a commuter rail service between Langford and Victoria. We’re committed to completing the assessment of using the rail corridor and if elected I would be a strong advocate for advancing that work to the next step.
2. How would you address the need for increased education funding given the growth on the West Shore?
While some areas in B.C. have shrinking enrollment, we here on the Westshore are a fast growing community of young families.. Budget 2017 commits $2 billion over the next three years to maintain and replace schools, build more student spaces in growing communities, and seismically upgrade schools. British Columbia’s total education budget for public and independent schools is $5.9 billion in 2017-18. This is a record $314-million (5.6%) increase from the 2016-17 fiscal year
3. What issue unique to your riding are you hearing is most important to your potential constituents?
Well since I’ve mentioned transportation the second most talked about issue would be jobs. We’re surrounded by risk south of the border and fragile economies around the world. Constituents are looking for a government that can continue create jobs in a growing economy while controlling spending to keep taxes low, and delivering much needed services. That’s what I’m hearing and that’s what I intend to deliver on.