North Delta residents got another chance to hear from just one of their provincial election candidates at what should have been an all-candidates’ debate at Seaquam Secondary on Thursday evening (Oct. 10).
Incumbent New Democrat MLA Ravi Kahlon is running against Manqoosh Khan with the Freedom Party of BC, Raj Veauli with the Conservative Party of BC and Green candidate Nick Dickinson-Wilde.
Thursday’s forum, organized by the Delta Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, saw Kahlon as the only candidate to attend.
Before the session began, the Chamber’s Jill McKnight told the Optimist that Dickinson-Wilde contacted them just over an hour prior that he missed his ferry and was unable to make it.
McKnight said he was given an opportunity to provide a statement.
His statement was read at the start of the session, while the others already indicated they would not attend.
Kahlon, who said “it was a little sad” that the other candidates did not show up, was also the only candidate to participate in what should have been a prior all-candidates forum sponsored by the Delta Residents’ Association on Sept. 28.
Kahlon, first elected in 2017, answered questions from the Chamber and submitted by the public, as well as questions from the floor, on a plethora of issues, ranging from education, healthcare, housing, electric vehicles, Delta’s diking system, secondary channel dredging, Burns Bog, taxes to transportation.
Kahlon, one of the most prominent in the NDP government as the first Minister of Housing, acknowledged it is a tough time being a renter, especially for seniors.
He said steps were taken to protect renters, but also noted an insurance program will help landlords who are also having difficulties.
Noting his government is trying to improve the housing supply through various measures, Kahlon also pointed out he was the first Minister of Housing to write to the federal government urging that immigration be tied to the housing supply.
As far as providing housing targets for municipalities, he said he expects 50 communities in B.C. will have them, and his government is providing for added infrastructure upgrades such as a new Seaquam track.
He also reiterated that the City of Delta has until the end of 2025 to engage the community to update its Official Community Plan (OCP).
Among the other housing questions, he said the province has no intention of allowing the redevelopment of land in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
As far as the George Massey Tunnel replacement, Kahlon noted the project is proceeding as planned, and he is confident the federal government will provide some dollars so that the province can expand the scope to include a second exit out of Ladner.
In his closing statement, Kahlon said, "I love the community. I love this work. I feel strongly about what I do and that's why I'm putting my name forward. And so, I hope you consider supporting me. But, if you don't, vote anyways because every time I see the voting numbers drop, it makes me sad that we're losing something really important, which is our democratic values our society is built on."
Election night is Oct. 19, but advanced voting has begun. For dates and locations, check https://elections.bc.ca/
