Canada's next federal election takes place on Monday, April 28.
North Island-Powell River Green Party of Canada candidate Jessica Wegg was in the qathet region for the opening of the party’s office on Wednesday, April 2.
This is the second time Wegg has run to be a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Green Party in the riding.
In an interview, the Peak asked Wegg questions about how she will address the needs of qathet region constituents, as well as the needs of all Canadians.
Peak: Why do you want to be an MP?
Wegg: I'm doing it [running to be an MP] again for the same reasons as I did before, which is that it's a job I will be good at, very effective at, and it's something I am doing because I want to do everything in my power to leave the world a safer, cleaner, better place for my kids and for all of our children. This is the biggest thing I can think of to do, to try to effect that change.
Peak: Traditionally, the Green Party has had environmental and climate issues at the forefront of its platform. Is this the case, when it comes to campaigning and the upcoming election?
Wegg: What's great about the Green Party is we don't see climate change as just another issue that lives in its own silo and that can be worked on when it's convenient to us. It's the lens through which we have to look at every single problem we face and that constituents are having around riding.
We don't look at [constituents’ concerns] from, ‘let's solve housing and ignore the climate,’ or ‘let's work on affordability and ignore the climate.’ The climate is wrapped up inextricably with everything else. So, every single policy the Greens would bring, to help people in this riding, would be considered and thoughtful, and not forgetting about the environment, or have it as a back burner issue.
Peak: How will you address the needs of qathet region constituents as MP when you live on Vancouver Island?
Wegg: The geography of this riding is huge, which can be challenging, and it's definitely something to consider. What I would bring is availability.
Yes, I live on Vancouver Island, but I have always been able to come to the qathet region. [As MP] you serve your communities, and this is one of our communities, and I would be serving the qathet region as well.
Peak: What makes you the best choice to represent the North Island-Powell River riding in Ottawa?
Wegg: I think I'm uniquely qualified for this position, particularly because of the challenges we're facing today. One thing we're hearing a lot from people is fear and concern about what's happening in the United States and how that's affecting us.
I am a lawyer who went to law school in the US. For the majority of my practice, I have sued various US government entities, and have done so using the US constitution. So I know how to play in that court and can stand up to the United States as a lawyer who is trained and practiced in the United States.
I also pride myself on my ability to bring people together and to put aside differences and be less concerned about party lines and party colours and more concerned about how we can find a solution.
Peak: What do you feel is the right way to handle US president Donald Trump's administration on the national stage?
Wegg: Trump is a bully, and he needs somebody who's willing and courageous enough to stand up to him, and knows how to speak his language; I know how to do that.
Peak: The North-Island Powell River riding has communities that traditionally relied on resource extraction to drive its economy and for job creation. What would you say to folks who might be reluctant to vote for a political party focused on climate?
Wegg: I think a misconception about the Green Party is that we're against the logging industry. We're not. We know that timber provides a lot of jobs and it's a valuable resource for this area.
What we want to see is sustainability in our forestry industry and to expand the jobs available in that sector by, for example, processing our logs here. There is no need for us to be shipping raw logs off to another country to be processed and then we buy them back.
We need to stop subsidies for oil and gas extraction. It's dangerous for the climate. It's dangerous for the future. We can be doing cleaner, better things, creating more jobs, without being destructive. We could focus on solar, wind, water and other sustainable energy production.
Also seeking to represent North Island-Powell River as MP are Aaron Gunn (Conservative Party of Canada), Tanille Johnston (New Democratic Party), Jennifer Lash (Liberal Party of Canada), Paul Macknight (People’s Party of Canada) and Glen Staples (Independent). Interviews with Johnston and Lash were published this week. Gunn and Macknight have not yet scheduled interviews offered by the Peak in March. Staples, who was a late entry in the race, will be contacted this week. Powell River Chamber of Commerce will host an all-candidates meeting from 6 to 8 pm at Evergreen Theatre in Powell River Recreation Complex on Thursday, April 17.
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