Election questionnaire: Sacha Fabry

Name:

Sacha Fabry

How many years have you lived in Squamish?

2

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

Over 40 of both committee and Council meetings

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

The strength of our community.

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

No/Not at this time

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

I believe Livability in Squamish is one of the biggest issues facing the community. Without livability measures such as affordable housing, access to transportation throughout the region, a walkable and bike-able community, up to date schools, recreational facilities, parks and trails, as well as good paying jobs, Squamish becomes a hub on a commute to Vancouver. It is the role of municipal government to ensure that measures are taken to grow Squamish in a way that livability is enhanced and enriched.

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

 In the last term and in my mind, Squamish council did a good job of reviewing many of the current processes in place that guide the governance of the district and finding ways to improve upon them. That being said, much work still needs to be done.

I believe that one of council's biggest failures was in not finalizing the updated CAC and DCC policy sooner and leaving the percentage of amenities required for projects too low. We have an approximate $100 Million infrastructure deficit that must be addressed and CAC's and DCC's play a large role in fixing that.

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

Unfortunately, there isn't much land left for the District to build a potential parkade or the solution would be simple, at least to address parking. What 's left is for us to ensure all new developments are providing for appropriate parking stalls, and that there is adequate bylaw enforcement.

For traffic concerns, I believe in public consultation for problem areas, and ensuring fair process in implementing any recommended changes. Whether that be simple speed bumps or larger projects such as a bridge across the channel or another exit from Valleycliff.

For more information on my proposed solutions to parking and traffic, visit votesacha.ca.

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

I'm a renter in Squamish, I understand how difficult it is to not only find a place to rent, but also be saving to one day purchase a home. It is a complex issue, one that many municipalities are having to tackle. In part, the problems can be addressed by a mixed approach of increasing the percentage of CAC's and DCC's required in new developments, implementing practical Air BNB policy that frees up rental units while respecting the needs of homeowners, and working with Provincial and Federal governments to enact reasonable policies. For more information on my proposed solutions, visit votesacha.ca.

Do you support stronger regulation of AirBNB?

While public consultation has begun to guide the future of AirBNB policy in Squamish, I believe the best course of action will see us with a mixed policy approach. It is important that we free up rental suits for those in town desperately looking for housing; however we must also balance the needs of homeowners for example, looking to help ease the burden of skyrocketing property taxes and other expenses. AirBNB of one room in a house is very different than the entire house or suite. I believe we can look to Vancouver for appropriate policy examples.

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

The major issues in Squamish are all intertwined. New and small businesses are having a hard time being successful when faced with high property taxes, no parking for clients, lack of housing for staff and no regional transportation making it difficult to attract and retain employees.

I will explore increased subsidies for small and new businesses, better regional transit and affordable staff housing as well as greater partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce and BNI in developing and following economic development plans.  For more information, visit votesacha.ca.

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

Squamish is not assessed a transportation tax, yet we pay the same price at the pumps as the lower-mainland. We are losing approximately $5 Million a year in potential tax revenue that could be used to directly fund transportation services.

My solution would be a mixed approach: begin talks with the Provincial Government to levy a transportation tax in Squamish, continue partnerships with other municipalities in the corridor to develop publicly funded transportation, petition the Transportation Board to allow the expansion of transportation business such as the Squamish Connector and re-address concerns with the Competition Bureau to ensure the gas gouging stops.

This should ensure a fair gas price, tax revenue to support growing transportation infrastructure, small business growth to pick up slack of public transportation and greater collaboration with neighboring municipalities.

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

The infrastructure deficit across Squamish, not just at Brennan Park, will need to be filled with support from major industry, developers (in the form of greater CAC and DCC policy), funding from all levels of government and philanthropic donation. Council must take the lead with these initiatives. It's not acceptable that for some families, rinks in West Vancouver are more accessible than the one in our own backyard.

Do you support cannabis retail shops in Squamish?

Yes

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

Somewhat opposed (4)

Are you supportive of the Garibaldi At Squamish project?

Somewhat supportive (2)

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

Somewhat supportive (2)