With Election Day just a couple weeks away, The Squamish Chief is catching up with West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA candidates to find out a bit more about them and their positions. Keith Murdoch, an organizer with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) for more than 15 years, is running for the NDP.
What follows is an edited version of a conversation with him by phone on Thanksgiving Day.
Q: Why did you want to run now?
A: At some point in my career, I had always intended to run for office. Just naturally, I thought it would be something to do when I got older, after building up my skills through my advocacy work and then run at the end of my career when I retired. But then, I was inspired by people like Bowinn Ma [incumbent MLA candidate for North Vancouver-Lonsdale] — someone around my age who ran for office and she is doing a lot of amazing things. I have known Bowinn for a long time and I was really inspired.
I am also super impressed by John Horgan and the team. It is really refreshing to see a government in power that really, truly cares about the lives of everyday people and small and medium-sized businesses.
Q: The last election, though, the NDP didn't do great in this riding. (The NDP's Michelle Livaja received 6,532 votes to the Green's 6,947 and Liberal's 10,449). And you don't live in our riding, you live in Vancouver, so what made you want to run in this Sea to Sky riding and think you had a chance?
A: I have been really active and doing advocacy work in Whistler for the last three years, taking on Vail Resorts and holding employers accountable to workers. I think I have a pretty good profile in this riding as someone who cares about workers, who cares about holding employers accountable to the laws, and I think my advocacy works will help me get into office.
Q: You have said you are a life-long supporter of the NDP, is that the case for your family?
A: For the most part. My parents are divorced. My bio dad is a card-carrying Conservative, and proud of it. My mom and my step-dad are on the NDP side. So, I had a good mix of perspectives. And my mom and step-dad run a small family business, my twin brother has now taken over that business and my other brother has started his own business. So, it is a family of entrepreneurs too. It was a nice mix of values that I would like to see in society, but also, I understand where the businesses are coming from.
Q: You have talked about regional transit a few times in the campaign so far. This is something that matters to Squamish a lot. But then why hasn't it happened yet? The NDP has been in power, and the Liberals before them, why isn't it a done deal yet?
A: It is something that I and the NDP wanted to happen in this round in government, but it was just something where we weren't able to get all the variables to line up. Certainly, the NDP understands the importance of public transportation. We have the provincial funding available and we are truly committed to working with local governments to find a funding structure that will allow it to happen. But the past is the past, moving forward if I am the MLA under an NDP majority government, I think this is an issue I am confident we will be able to solve quite quickly.
Q: I wouldn't say it is quite the divide as say Calgary versus Edmonton, but Squamish folks definitely think of their town as being very different from Whistler. It is different, too, from West Vancouver. What do you think are the issues, outside of regional transit, that people here care about?
A: When it comes to Squamish, I think tourism and job creation are probably a big part of what is on their minds. The local economy is pretty tourist-dependent, which is why I think it is critical for small and medium-sized businesses to get the support they need to survive this pandemic.
Q: Another issue that comes up is housing. Can you speak to the affordable housing challenge?
A: Housing is a challenge everywhere in the province, I recognize that it is challenging in Squamish as well. The NDP introduced our speculation tax, which doesn't apply to Squamish, but what it does do is it reduces the number of folks from Vancouver coming up to Squamish and displacing locals. A lot of people in Squamish tell me they feel like they are being pushed out of town.
The funds from the speculation tax are also being used to invest in housing projects. Squamish has the Northyards housing project that is a BC Housing rental project that is being funded by the speculation tax.
Q: Let's talk about the opioid crisis. The Liberals, while in power, did some things that helped, and the NDP has made a difference, too, but it rages on. Speaking specifically of Squamish, we don't have a detox bed, for example, and that is something those who use substances have said would be a huge help. Can you speak to what you would advocate for if elected in terms of the crisis ?
A: Certainly, the opioid crisis impacts so many around us: our friends, family, co-workers, and loved ones. What I am most proud of is that the NDP, through their actions, are showing that the crisis is a priority for them. They created a Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to focus on mental health and the opioid crisis. This is the only ministry of its kind in Canada. [The NDP say they have invested $332 million to combat the overdose crisis]
That money was used to fund the Sea to Sky Community Action Team in Squamish. We've also seen them ramp up harm reduction and prevention. There is certainly more to be done with mental health and addictions in B.C., and the NDP will continue to work with experts like Dr. Bonnie Henry. Regarding the detox bed in Squamish, the funding is there with the NDP and if that is something that is brought forward by the community then, as your MLA, my job is to advocate to try to make it happen. I agree it is something that should happen.
The election is set for Oct. 24.
