The provincial election is around the corner. The 撸奶社区 asked the three candidates running for Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky about their strategies for addressing climate change resilience, particularly in collaboration with the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh 脷xwumixw (撸奶社区Nation).
No more fossil fuels
Jeremy Valeriote, , said the province must address the risks of climate change, particularly for Indigenous communities.
鈥淲hen we talk about resilience in the face of climate change, we're talking about adaptation,鈥� Valeriote said. 鈥淚f a natural disaster happens, the provincial government has to work closely with First Nations to deploy emergency management resources while respecting Indigenous rights and title.鈥�
Valeriote called for halting new fossil fuel projects, including Woodfibre LNG. 鈥淲e would open a conversation with the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh Nation about how to ensure they still see the benefits that would have come from that project, through clean, green economic development that doesn鈥檛 damage their territory.鈥�
He suggested the $225 million in benefit payments could come from industries like clean tech or renewable energy.
Fireproofing the future
Jen Ford said British Columbians are already seeing the effects of climate change. 鈥淭his year was the worst forest fire season on record, with major floods, drought and extreme weather events,鈥� Ford said.
鈥淭hese extreme weather events are just going to become more frequent. We need to get ready.鈥�
Ford pointed to programs like the Community Resiliency Investment Program and the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, which help Indigenous communities and local governments reduce wildfire and flood risks.
鈥淚 have been working with the 撸奶社区Nation to get ready for the future,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淲e won鈥檛 stop until the job is done.鈥�
Building bridges, not barriers
Yuri Fulmer, , said his experience working with Indigenous communities has spanned three decades through business and philanthropy.
鈥淐ollaboration with Indigenous communities would be a priority,鈥� Fulmer said.
He said his company, Fulmer & Co., holds positions in nine climate-focused businesses, including Intelligent City, which develops solutions for housing, and ChopValue, which repurposes used chopsticks into usable wood products. 鈥淭hese companies are also often major employers of Indigenous people,鈥� he said.
Fulmer noted his foundation鈥檚 work with Indigenous communities, including the Fulmer Award in First Nations Art. 鈥淐limate change is obviously affecting us all, but we must recognize the disproportionately adverse effects it has on Indigenous peoples,鈥� Fulmer said.
鈥淚 will help bridge the gap between Indigenous communities鈥攖he traditional stewards of this land鈥攁nd the government.鈥�
People can vote in the , advance voting places, and voting places for Final Voting Day on Oct.19.
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The Squamish Chief鈥檚 Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the .
