Thank you, Jamie, for these thoughtful questions. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
My background is in community services, mental health, advocacy and program development, including work as a Health Director managing significant budgets and provincial and municipal projects. I’m also completing my Master’s in Counselling Psychology.
That experience has taught me that complex problems rarely have one solution. I believe in thinking outside the box, working collaboratively, listening to lived experience, understanding the evidence and costs, and being honest about which level of government has the authority to act.
1. Food security, climate resilience and land-use rules
Municipal: I would support reviewing zoning, landscaping and development rules to identify unnecessary barriers to community gardens, edible landscaping and food production. I’d also look at creative partnerships using existing community spaces.
Provincial/Federal: Broader agricultural, food-system and climate policy falls outside municipal authority, so I would advocate and collaborate with those governments where needed.
My commitment: Ask staff to identify municipal barriers and bring forward practical options during the term.
2. The right to air-dry laundry
Municipal: I would support examining whether City bylaws or requirements create unnecessary barriers to safe, energy-efficient air-drying.
Provincial: Landlord-tenant and strata rules are primarily provincial. I would support advocating for reasonable protections while allowing legitimate safety and property requirements.
The key is finding a practical balance rather than creating unnecessary restrictions.
3. Recycling and organics in multi-unit buildings
Municipal: The City can improve collection, education, communication and partnerships with property managers and strata communities.
Before simply increasing enforcement, I would ask: Is the system convenient? Are bins accessible? Is the information clear?
Sometimes what looks like a compliance problem is actually a system-design problem.
I would support reviewing the gaps and developing practical improvements.
4. The drug poisoning crisis
Provincial: Healthcare, addiction treatment and most mental-health services are primarily provincial responsibilities.
Municipal: The City has important responsibilities around public safety, land use, public spaces, partnerships and community planning.
I believe two things can be true at once: people struggling with addiction deserve compassion, treatment and pathways to recovery, while residents and businesses deserve safe, clean and accessible public spaces.
I would support bringing together the Province, Fraser Health, service providers, police, businesses, community organizations, residents and people with lived experience to identify gaps and develop practical solutions.
5. Wildfire smoke and indoor air quality
Municipal: Where the City has authority, I support examining stronger indoor-air-quality measures for new municipal and private buildings, including appropriate filtration standards.
Provincial: Building codes are primarily provincial. I would advocate for evidence-based improvements and funding or incentives to help older buildings improve filtration and ventilation.
We also need to consider affordability and unintended consequences when developing new requirements.
My Approach
Across all five issues, my approach is:
Understand the problem → identify who has the authority → listen to those affected → examine the evidence and costs → bring the right people together → measure the outcome.
I don’t believe municipal government should promise to fix things it doesn’t have the authority to control. But I also don’t believe jurisdiction should become an excuse for doing nothing.
Where Chilliwack can act, I will work to find practical solutions. Where the Province or federal government has the authority, I will advocate, collaborate and make sure Chilliwack’s interests are represented.
That is the kind of thoughtful, collaborative and fiscally responsible leadership I would bring to council.