Skip to content

Abbotsford candidates on the hot seat

Candidates asked for their concrete plans on drugs, housing, transportation and other local issues
web1_170426-ABB-interviews_1
The News asked 10 local candidates about a variety of issues affecting Abbotsford and its residents. See the full videos online later this week. Tyler Olsen/Abbotsford News

From fentanyl and transportation to highways and preschool, The News sat down with 10 local candidates to get to the bottom of their positions on issues that matter to Abbotsford residents.

Those who accepted our invitation include all three local BC Liberal and BC Christian Heritage Party candidates, along with Green Party candidates Aird Flavelle and Kevin Eastwood and the BC NDP’s Preet Rai and Andrew Christie. The NDP’s Jasleen Arora was not available during the window given to the party, and The News did not grant the NDP’s request to provide the questions in advance or submit their own videos. Jennifer Holmes of the Green Party did not respond to The News’s invitation.

Here’s a sample of what the candidates said:

Abbotsford South

Flavelle, of the Greens, said the province needs to raise its carbon tax rates to combat climate change.

BC Liberal Darryl Plecas said while more treatment options were the best way to address addiction issues long-term, in the short term, health officials might have to look at expanding access to prescription opioids.

The Christian Heritage Party’s Ron Gray said B.C.’s education system needs market competition, which could be created by offering parents vouchers to spend on the school of their choice.

Watch the videos here.

Abbotsford West

Preet Rai said an NDP government would have to look at the books to figure out how it would pay for its election promises, and how it would increase efficiencies in health care. He said there wasn’t one thing he could think of that the government has done right.

The Green Party’s Kevin Eastwood said a small tax increase would be needed to pay for his party’s promise of free preschool for three- and four-year-olds.

BC Liberal Mike de Jong said his party has made a “limited” commitment to eliminating MSP premiums, as opposed to the NDP’s “unlimited” commitment.

The Christian Heritage Party’s Lynn Simcox said his party is firmly against abortion, and that would help boost the birth rate.

Libertarian candidate Dave Sharkey declined to participate.

Watch the Abbotsford West videos here.

Abbotsford-Mission

The NDP’s Andrew Christie said the public sector would be the driving force behind increasing the supply of affordable housing. Christie, who lives in Vancouver, said he has been to Abbotsford a couple of times since the election began, but wasn’t able to make a recent all-candidates meeting because he was working.

BC Liberal Simon Gibson said there’s no area where his government could have done better.

The Christian Heritage Party’s Dan Cameron was adamant that the biggest issue in the election is public education regarding gender. Asked what he would do to lower elevated suicide rates among gay and transgender youth, he said such people needed to be loved.

Watch the Abbotsford-Mission videos here.