Wednesday, November 22, 2000 - North Shore News - 3 Se 40 per cent of riding ACCORDING to Elections Canada, the fed- eral riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine . Coast is home to 116,383 people (based (34.52%), Clark Banks, New Democratic Party a received 5,988 votes (11.94%), Dave Thomas, $ MA Provressive Conservative Party of Canada, got a “se $ on 1996 census data). , , The riding is large at 18,156 sq. km. The rid- eo - Meg +194 votes (8.36%); Lisa Barrett, The Green ~~ ing has 212 polling divisions. gy Party of Canada, carned 2,318 votes (4.62%), % Z _ The estimated number of verers for this elee-Y David Grayson, Natural Law Party of Canada "« WEST VANCOUVER ~ SUNSHINE COAST tion: 75,152, according to Elections Canada. 5 . : ete : The voter breakdown for the riding is, roughly, SQ 40% in West Vancouver, 20% in Powell River, 20% in Whistler and 20% in the Sunshine Coast. The 1997 federal election marked the first time since 1979 that West Vancouver residents did not comprise the majority of votes in the riding. Voters sent John Reynolds as a Member of Parliament to Ortawa. Incumbent Herb Grubel, of the Reform Party, chose not to seek a second term as an MP in 1997. Elections Canada results for the 1997 tederal election: Pomel atvee OMA, 7 picked up 254 votes (0.51%). The 1997 election saw a 66.8% voter turnout in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast. Looking at just West Vancouver dong, the population is 40.882. Some 42.7% of the West Van population 25 and over have completed a university degree. The average income of males reporting in the 1996 cen- sus: 868,651; females, $30,840. Prior to the election call last month the Liberals held 161 seats in the 301-member House of Commons. Voters have their say about the next government on Nov, 27. SEE PAGE 4 FOR MORE PROFILES & ALL-CANDIDATES MEETING Jane M. Bishop Green Party Place of residence: Roberts Creek . Age: 42° Occupation: Rural famil doctor, anesthetist, practise Rosen method body work and acupuncture Family: Not submitted. Quality and accessibility of . health-care services: “The decimation of the system has put health maintenance on the good will and superb training of Canadian health- - €are workers. Restoration of transfer payments for health, education and social programs would - enable enforcement of per capita funding. A coopera- "tive form of health-care provision could give the ‘Canadians both an under- standing and local contro! “> of how they receive health care.” Protecting the environ- ment: “Remaining wilder- ~ ness areas must be protect- ed. Existing regulations that ‘protect wildlife habitats such as the Fisheries Act ‘and biodiversity. convention -- must be implemented fully. In_urban areas the federal government must support infrastructure for public ’ “transit to help reduce car- * bon-based fuels. Canada Must phase out nuclear - energy and move to renew- able energy sources.” Tax reduction: “We need to tax bads not goods. Tax those who pollute the envi- ronment more heavily and - reduce taxes for those who - clean up the environment. *." We need to stop taxing the poor. The GST should be gradually reduced and then eliminated.” Representing B.C. interests in Ottawa: “I would be a responsive representative voice for the riding.” Mare Bombois Cenadian Action Party Place of residence: Squamish Age: 45 Occupation: Seminar leader, the Money Matrix Seminar Family: Unmarried. Quality and accessibility of health-care services: “NAFTA does not permit universal health care. The thetoric of our political ‘leaders’ on this issue is mis- leading and false. The two essential steps for ensuring excellent health care are: tearing up the so-called free trade agreements, and renewing our public bank, the Bank of Canada. Without this, we are headed for two-tier.” Protecting the environment: “Under NAFTA, the federal government knuckled under ~ to the threat of a lawsuit and repealed a law that prevent- ed the transportation of a neurotoxic pollutant. Measures to protect the environment are seen as trade barriers in the lunatic fogic of the freetraders, and NAFTA gives them the right to sue aft levels of govern- ment. Tear up NAFTA or we are headed for corporate rule and more environmen- tal degradation.” Tax reduction: “Getting rid of the GST is the fairest, most equitable tax cut of all. The Canadian Action Party will also reduce payroll taxes so that small business- es can thrive. Renewal of the Bank of Canada will ensure proper funding of services and allow for signif- icant tax reduction.” Representing B.C. interests in Ottawa: “The Canadian Acticn Party will serve the people and will properly address the concerns of each province. The unequal transfer of wealth will cease.” Kate Manvell Progressive Conservative Place of residence: West Vancouver Age: not submitted Occupation: Independent businesswoman Family: Two children. Quality and accessibility of health-care services: “The PC Party is proposing adding a sixth principle to the Canada Health Act, that of stable, long-term funding. There would also be an immediate and complete restoration of Liberal transfer payment cuts to health care and education (1993-1994 levels).” Protecting the environment: “The Liberals talk a good ame on the environment, ut called an early election before passing critical endangered species legisla- tion. The CA doesn’t care at all about the environment — it gets barely a mention in their platform. The PC Party is committed to three critical _ pieces of legislation to help our environment — a Safe Water Act, a Safe Air Act and effective Endangered Species legislation.” _ Tax reduction: “Increasing the personal exemption to $12,000 would give a tax cut to everyone, but give the most help to low- and mod- est-income Canadians, 2.3 million of whom would be removed from the tax rolls. We would also increase the speusal amount to $12,000, meaning that single-income families would not pay tax on their first $24,000.” Representing B.C. interests in Ottawa: “Parliament must be made more relevant before British Columbians feel it represents their inter- ests. This involves allowing more free votes and restrict- ing some of the appointment powers of the PM.” lan McKay Liberal Place of residence: Vancouver Age: 37 Occupation: Financial exec- utive Family: Single. Quality and accessibility of health-care services: “It was a Liberal government that introduced universal health care across Canada. Medicare is one of our proudest achievements, and one we are committed to defending. Now that Canada's deficit has been eliminated (another Liberal achievement) we are com- mitted to investing in our health-care system.” Protecting the environment: “David Anderson has done - an excellent job, and brought a strong B.C. per- spective to environment. Has Canada done enough for the environment? Not yet. The Reform/Alliance © platfozm offers just four plat- itudinous paragraphs on the environment, a smokescreen for their real agenda. Is it coincidence that Reform/Alliance and the major oil companies are both based in Calgary?” Tax reduction: “The only reason tax cuts are even possible today is because Paul Martin has eliminated the deficit. And Mr. Martin has delivered the biggest tax cuts, by far, in Canadian his- tory. Cut taxes, pay down debt and invest in programs that make Canada a better place to live, and enhance our country’s international competitiveness. Reform/Alliance, mean- while, has flip-flopped over flat taxes.” Representing B.C. interests in Ottawa: “Think strategi- cally. B.C. needs a strong voice in government.” John Raynolds Canadian Alliance Place of residence: West Vancouver Age: not submitted Occupation: MP Family: Married. Eight grand- children. Quality and accessibility of health-care services: “The Canadian Alliance is com- mitted to the five principles of the Canada Health Act (universal, accessible, com- prehensive, portable, and publicly administered for all Canadians, regardless of their ability to pay). We would entrench a sixth prin- ciple that would guarantee stable long-term funding. We will restore the CHST to 1994 level, up $3.2 billion.” Protecting the environment: “The Canadian Alliance will work with Canadians to cre- ate meaningful and viable national standards and negotiate international agreements which will be backed with vigorous enforcement and significant penalties.” ; Tax reduction: “Reduce. middle tax rate to 22 per — ‘cent from 24 per cent, and reduce to 17 per cent by year five. Reduce top tax rate to 26 per cent, and increase threshold from $60,009 to $100,000. Incréase personal and spousal exemptions to . $7,600 from $7,231. Remove 1.4 million low- income Canadians from the tax rolls. A $3,000 universal deduction for dependent children under age 16. Capital gains inclusion rate of 50 per cent. Lower corpo- rate tax rate to 21 per cent.” Representing B.C. interests in Ottawa: “Canadian Alliance MPs elected in 1997 brought a renewed -. vigour to B.C. issues on the _ fational agenda.” Telis Savvaidis New Demccratic Party Place of residence: Powell River Age: 29 Occupation: Restaurant owner/operator . Family: Single Quality and accessibility of health-care services: “| am appalled at the billions of lollars in cuts made by the federal Liberals. Unlike the’ Alliance, who support a sep- arate for-profit health care system, and the Liberals, -. who have overseen the development of two-tier, patient-pay option. health care, } support universal health care.” Protecting the environment: “We nei long-term plan-- ning that builds in protection’ for our air, water and land base. We must implernent an: Environmental Bill of Rights.” to safeguard the environ- ment.: The NDP will invest in environmental infrastructure .-” : such as public transit and - ’ bicycle paths. We will: ...:- ensure that watershed man- agement takes into account, ecological considerations. : : ‘We will pass Endangered * Species legislation.” : ": Tax reduction: “The NDP - will use the federal surplus °-- | - ay down a portion of our:. ‘debt, but most important, we - will restore health-care fund-. “ing to pre-1995 levels: We” will also invest the surplus in’ - the people through‘an ©. | affordable housing program, . ..: e enhanced post-secondary = *: access, a national child-care © program, national home care, and expanded public © transit.” a Representing B.C. interests in Ottawa: “As the NDP MP. for West Vancouver-Sunshini Coast | will represent my . Constituents as a strong. / voice; promoting the issues ©: that are important to us.”