"Let's not extend fossil power," said Greens candidate Chris Aikman to the 33 people at the Candidates Forum Monday. "And I mean that in two ways."
The three candidates vying for the party's nomination at the meeting Saturday, February 12 offered many unusual ways of solving provincial problems, all based on the Green Party's philosophy of a sustainable, healthy future.
When asked about the Greens energy goals for the next five years, Aikman pointed out that approval for the Duke Point plant was February 14, the Kyoto Accord deadline. He considers that the Liberals are trying to sneak it in before the deadline since it is too polluting to be approved after that date. The carbon dioxide it will produce equals that of all the cars on Vancouver Island.
Holvenstot also sees Duke Point as wrongheaded. A better way to go is "tax incentives for sustainable energy such as solar panels." She wants to put conservation first, rather than consumption.
Nutland pointed out the need for individuals to make ecologically sound decisions.
For example, one energy efficient light bulb reduces carbon dioxide by 1 ton over its lifetime. Each person can make a difference.
All three candidates had succinct comments on the way British Columbians vote against the existing government, leading to yoyo swings in direction.
Aikman said that if we raised our children the way we vote they would all be psychotic. Nutland felt that when we vote for bad to avoid worse, we end up with bad.
And Holvenstot added that by voting with your heart as well as your head you can get a government you want.
The candidates intend to work harder at getting out the Green Party message that we can have a healthy, sustainable future using policies that will distribute the abundant natural wealth of British Columbia fairly.
Social issues matter to them as much as economic. The Campbell Liberals have increased taxes for the average person by $700 to $1000, they claimed. But a Green tax shift would lower taxes on products and initiatives which are good for sustainability.
As Nutland pointed out, we need to look to the long term health of the planet for our own long term health. And though the NDP have environmental policies, they are "environmental for political purposes while the Greens are political for environmental purposes."
The public is invited to attend the Nomination meeting Saturday, February 12, 7 p.m., in the Filberg Center Seniors Lounge.
To vote you must join the Green Party by January 29th.