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Election questionnaire: John French

Find out where candidates stand on key policy issues by reading answers to our online survey
John French
Election candidate John French.

As part of our Squamish Votes 2018 coverage, we invited each candidate to fill out an online questionnaire answering questions about policy and big issues facing Squamish in the next four years. Candidates were emailed the questionnaire and given one week to submit answers.

 

About You

Name:

John French

How many years have you lived in Squamish?

46

How many council or committee meetings have you attended since Sept. 1, 2017?

4

What do you love most about Squamish? (150 word limit)

The outdoors, proximity to Whistler and Vancouver and the diversity of the people who live here.

Are you endorsing a particular candidate for mayor? (question for councilor candidates)

No/Not at this time

 

Squamish Issues

What do you think is the biggest single issue facing Squamish? (150 words limit)

The local economy is the biggest issue facing our community. We need to put more energy into economic development in the next four years.

In the last term, what was council's single greatest accomplishment? What was council's biggest failure? (150 character limit)

 Biggest accomplishment: Getting to work on high priority infrastructure replacement projects in areas where pipes are failing.  Biggest failure: Approving new housing along Loggers Lane with no long-term plan for how to handle conflicts between heavy truck traffic and parents pushing strollers in that area.

 

Residents often complain about traffic (speeding, parking etc.) What would you do to improve traffic and parking in Squamish? (150 words limit)

Promote the use of alternative transportation (bus, ride share, bicycle, walking and other options). The bylaw department needs to be empowered to enforce the parking bylaws we currently have in place and outdated parking bylaws need to be revised. Future developments need to have realistic parking requirements.

Squamish has a housing affordability crisis. What would you do to improve affordability? (150 words limit)

Encourage the construction of carriage houses on large lots, promote the construction of secondary suites and work with developers to build more housing units that low-income earners can afford. Manage the budget to keep property tax increases at or below 1.5 percent a year. Work with developers to build more rental units.

Do you support stronger regulation of AirBNB?

Yes

How would you attract new businesses and employers to Squamish? (150 words limit)

Empower the Economic Development department to do what it does best. Work closely with the Chamber of Commerce, the Business Improvement Area and Tourism Squamish. Take the promotion of our natural assets to new heights with these partners and allow our environment to sell itself.

Do you have a strategy to implement regional transit? (150 word limit)

We need to continue working with BC Transit, Whistler, Pemberton, the SLRD, Lions Bay, West Vancouver and Metro Vancouver to make regional public transportation a reality. And, just as important we need to work with the private sector and the Passenger Transportation Board to get more buses on the road so mass transportation options are as easy to use as personal vehicles.

Given limited financial resources, what do you think is the single highest priority for Brennan Park? (150 word limit)

Adding a second sheet of ice and associated extras like change rooms and storage areas.

Do you support cannabis retail shops in Squamish?

Yes

 

Major Developments

Would you consider yourself pro-WLNG or anti-WLNG?

Very supportive (1)

Are you supportive of the Garibaldi At Squamish project?

Very supportive (1)

Do you support development of the Cheema Lands (Lot 509/510)?

Very supportive (1)

 

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