{"id":64,"date":"2026-10-06T09:24:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T16:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/?page_id=64"},"modified":"2026-10-06T09:24:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T16:24:10","slug":"zeeshan-khan-council-candidate-response","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/?page_id=64","title":{"rendered":"Zeeshan Khan: Council candidate response"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

1. Food security, climate resilience and land-use rules<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I would support a public review of Chilliwack\u2019s plans, zoning and development requirements to identify unnecessary barriers to growing food. Food security is not just about having enough food today. It is about building a community that is resilient, sustainable and prepared for the future. As food prices rise and climate risks increase, we should be looking at every reasonable opportunity to make it easier for residents to grow food where they live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have directly seen the impact of food insecurity throughout Chilliwack with the work I have put into the community to bridge this gap. I understand it is a major barrier that requires systemic change and I am ready to take hands-on work to policy changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my four-year term, I would support reviewing existing rules affecting community gardens, edible landscaping, food-producing plants and shared growing spaces, particularly in multi-unit housing. Where regulations are primarily ornamental rather than genuinely connected to safety, accessibility, drainage, fire protection or other legitimate concerns, I would support enhancing these restrictions accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This further leads me to encourage the City to identify opportunities for community gardens on appropriate municipal land and explore partnerships with residents, housing providers, schools, Indigenous communities and community organizations. Importantly, this work should respect the deep knowledge and relationship to land held by the St\u00f3:l\u014d peoples. Sustainability should mean understanding where we are, whose traditional territory we are on, and making decisions that respect Indigenous knowledge, culture and stewardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would want measurable progress during a four-year term: a completed regulatory review, meaningful public engagement, recommendations brought to Council, and practical opportunities for more food-growing spaces in Chilliwack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The right to air-dry laundry<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I support the principle of making sustainable choices easier for residents, while maintaining reasonable safety and building standards. Air-drying laundry is a simple example of how small household choices can reduce energy use. I do not believe residents should face unnecessary barriers to environmentally responsible practices when those practices can be carried out safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my four-year term, I would begin by examining what authority the municipality has to prevent unreasonable restrictions on safe air-drying, particularly when residents are using safe freestanding racks or other appropriate methods. Safety and sustainability are at the forefront of tackling this gap, and with a comprehensive re-assessment the city will be able to re-evaluate the restrictions around this, and identify where changes must occur to maintain safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would also support incorporating sustainability into the City\u2019s broader housing and building-policy discussions. If we want Chilliwack to become more environmentally responsible, we should make sustainable choices practical and accessible for all. This discussion definitely falls into the broader barrier of accessible sustainability for residents. I understand how challenging it may feel to adapt a brand new set of sustainable technology, but a greater part of sustainability is working within the resources one already has to create climate conscious decisions. I would further advocate for policies and frameworks on a municipal and provincial level that addresses the barriers in adapting sustainable initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, pre-existing housing and developing infrastructure must carry resilient and accessible policies to reduce our carbon emission. With the partnership of climate experts, safety examination committees, and the support of evidence informed research, Chilliwack will surely be ready to grow in a more environmentally conscious and sustainable direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Recycling and organics in multi-unit buildings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Every resident should have a realistic opportunity to recycle and properly dispose of organics, regardless of whether they live in a detached home, apartment, townhouse or other multi-unit building. A system cannot expect compliance if the infrastructure is confusing or inaccessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my four-year term, I will strongly advocate for a review of recycling and organics access in multi-unit housing, including where collection infrastructure is inadequate, how clearly residents are being informed, and where contamination or non-compliance is occurring. I would focus on three things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access: Work with building owners, strata corporations, collection providers and the City to identify gaps in convenient recycling and organics access.
Education: Improve clear, multilingual and accessible communication so residents know what goes where and why it matters. Accomplish this with the use of infographics, posters, and ads. I would greatly collaborate with a marketing team to get this message clearly across.
Accountability: Use evidence to identify recurring problems and determine where education, infrastructure improvements or enforcement are actually necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I heavily respect research based initiatives and teachings. This is an ideal scenario to apply such findings and bridge this gap. As a City we must measure whether these initiatives are actually improving participation and reducing contamination through collecting feedback and publishing reports. Environmental responsibility should be part of how we plan Chilliwack and never be an afterthought. I believe simple and clear education plays a great role in adherence.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. The drug poisoning crisis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a health and community crisis, and Chilliwack needs both compassion and accountability. My experience working alongside people navigating substance-use recovery has taught me that people are not statistics. They are members of our community, and when someone is ready for treatment, recovery, or housing, there should be a compassionate and clinically supported pathway toward it. Compassionate care for all and community safety are not competing values. We need both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my four-year term, I would bring an experience-led, evidence-based approach to community safety and well-being. My work in healthcare, the School District, supporting individuals through substance-use recovery at PCRS, and community organizations has taught me that complex problems do not have a single solution. They require people and systems to work together, measure what is working, and adjust when it is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would strengthen coordination between the City, Fraser Health, RCMP mental-health crisis teams, local community organizations, and people with lived experience. I would push for practical, barrier-free pathways that help people move from crisis toward treatment, recovery, housing, and ongoing support. Decisions must be guided by evidence and real one to one community experience gained by listening to people with lived experience. Related services that also impact the Social Determinants of Health, which require provincial and federal responsibilities, I vow to use my voice to advocate strongly for the services Chilliwack needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am an advocate and a worker, for early-intervention and prevention initiatives, particularly for youth and vulnerable populations. Most importantly, my approach would never dehumanize people and keep respect and evidence based practice at the core of all initiatives. People deserve a chance to recover. Families deserve support and residents deserve a Council willing to bring people together, act on evidence, and deliver practical results.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Wildfire smoke and indoor air quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I strongly support making climate resilience, public health, and indoor air quality part of how Chilliwack plans for the future. Chilliwack has already established important climate commitments through its Community and Corporate Climate Action Plans and the 2050 Official Community Plan, including reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. The City is also undertaking work toward a Climate Risk Assessment and Climate Adaptation Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my four-year term, I would build on this work and focus on turning these commitments into practical, measurable action. Extreme heat, wildfire smoke, flooding, and other climate-related risks are realities we need to plan for. Climate action is about reducing emissions and creating comprehensive frameworks to protect residents from the impacts we are already experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where the City has authority, I would also support incorporating climate resilience and indoor-air-quality considerations into appropriate future capital projects and exploring upgrades where they provide meaningful health, energy-efficiency, and resilience benefits. For new development, we must prioritize building with sustainability at the forefront to protect and create a city that continues to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would also advocate to the Province for stronger building standards where appropriate, as well as funding, rebates, and incentives to help existing buildings improve ventilation, filtration, energy efficiency, and resilience. I would support using the City\u2019s climate-risk assessment and adaptation planning to identify the areas of greatest vulnerability, establish measurable priorities, and track progress over time. Public education and partnerships with health, environmental, Indigenous, and community organizations can help ensure preparedness reaches residents most vulnerable to climate-related risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate action must be practical, evidence-based, and accountable. We should measure what is working, build on successful initiatives, and adjust where outcomes fall short. Sustainability must also be grounded in respect for the land. Chilliwack exists within the traditional territory of the St\u00f3l\u014d peoples, and responsible growth means recognizing that our relationship with land, water, and the environment carries responsibilities as well as benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My approach is straightforward: build on the work already underway, listen reflexively to the community concerns, respect Indigenous knowledge and leadership, use evidence based research and expert opinion to guide decisions, and turn climate commitments into measurable action that makes Chilliwack healthier and more resilient for the next generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1. Food security, climate resilience and land-use rules I would support a public review of Chilliwack\u2019s plans, zoning and development requirements to identify unnecessary barriers to growing food. Food security is not just about having enough food today. It is about building a community that is resilient, sustainable and prepared for the future. As food […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-64","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=64"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65,"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64\/revisions\/65"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chilliwack-election-2026.jamiebillingham.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=64"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}