“A green vision for B.C. in the two way Vancouver False Creek’s race”
The time has come for British Columbia to live up to its promise of the being the greatest place on earth. We can achieve this goal with holistic legislation that prepares us for the challenges of the next generation in our rapidly changing world.
The downturn in global markets and a lack of government foresight has resulted in British Columbia losing 73,000 jobs over the last year. B.C. needs to transition to new “knowledge-based” sectors of job creation, and accept that the continued mechanization of industry will result in less low-skilled jobs over time. The greatest job opportunities for the current and next generation of British Columbians will come from localized markets that are based less on foreign-made goods, less on assuming large debt, and less about commuting. These locally-based jobs will be increasingly based upon local communities, local food, and the genuine needs of local people. B.C.’s education system needs to be more affordable and it will play a key role in training a new generation of locally-oriented professionals, whose jobs and professions will improve our quality of life and help minimize our economy’s over-reliance on unnecessary consumption.
The amount of carbon in our atmosphere has increased by 22% over the last 50 years. BC’s new jobs must work within a new economic paradigm of job creation with reduced carbon pollution. Metro Vancouver deserves $3.1 billion invested in 200 kilometres of light rail that will deliver well-paying and “green” engineering and construction jobs. The lungs of the Fraser Valley, our remaining farm and bog lands, and our collective carbon threshold would be devastated by the pending Gateway transportation plan, which completely ignores the looming reality of “peak oil”.
Spending $3.1 billion on a new Port Mann Bridge, rather than investing in a more systemic transportation network based increasingly upon public transit, will cause greater suburban sprawl and will negate all of the positive benefits from the government’s new carbon tax. If our province is serious about preventing climate change, then our government needs to illustrate genuine leadership in encouraging individual people to change their behaviour for the betterment of society. Asking people to cut their carbon consumption, while at the same time building new “super bridges” that are void of any new public transit spending, shows that our current government is not serious about giving commuters in Metro Vancouver a viable alternative to their private automobile. The new Canada Line, Evergreen and UBC SkyTrain lines show some promise, but the high cost of SkyTrain infrastructure could instead be used to build light rail lines across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Across the province we need district-level solar, geothermal, wind and run of river projects that are managed by a new Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. This new ministry would promote cooperative and municipally-owned utilities and provide mega projects like the Site C dam and diesel-powered generation in rural First Nation communities with new clean, green options. With a renewed “seven-generation environmental assessment process”, local communities will proceed with energy projects that meet their local needs and create local jobs. Clean tech renewable energy industries will enable us to protect our wild salmon, preserve our old-growth forests and preserve critical habitat for endangered species and local agriculture.
Homelessness rates and economic growth rates have been going in the opposite direction for the past two years. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is an antiquated system that merely measures the quantity of market activity. B.C. requires a new index, such as the Genuine Progress Index (GPI), to establish a measurable bottom line for social, environmental and economic progress. The GPI encompasses unpaid labour, such as parenting and volunteer work, and subtracts the costs of pollution, crime and the depletion of non-renewable resources. Mixed-use social housing developments that embrace the role of arts and culture will help provide for a generation of homeless citizens. Vancouver’s new mayor, Gregor Robertson, is on the right track to end homelessness. With continued compassionate efforts in the short term (e.g. opening up churches, unused government buildings for temporary shelter), combined with a new social housing developments that have measurable “end homelessness” goals, we can do just that.
For B.C. to achieve this bold green vision, we require electoral reform now. Implementing the Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV) will result in fairer election results, more voter choice and better representation. Electoral reform, including electoral finance reform on a provincial and municipal level, will make our elected officials more transparent and help stop a hemorrhaging democratic system that is struggling with the lowest level of voter turnout rates in modern history.
Across B.C., I ask that you speak to your neighbours, friends and family regarding how important it is that you vote Green on May 12, to bring green job and end homelessness legislation to Victoria.
A unique “two-way race” has evolved in the new provincial riding of Vancouver-False Creek. With no incumbent MLA and with your help we can elect BC’s first Green MLA. Join our team now and green your community by visiting www.damiankettlewell.com or engaging with us on Facebook. We need your help to get new, past and present Green votes to the polls.
My name is Damian Kettlewell, and I want to recruit you to vote Green and vote Yes for BC STV on May 12, 2009. Vancouver False Creek is ripe for change and ready for a Green MLA.
Damian Kettlewell
MLA candidate, Vancouver-False Creek
Deputy Leader, BC Green Party
www.damiankettlewell.com, Facebook, Twitter: dkettlewell
