To ensure Sun Peaks has a voice in the federal election conversation, Sun Peaks Independent News (SPIN) surveyed readers to identify their top questions and concerns for candidates in the lead-up to the April 28 election.
SPIN took the most-asked questions on the survey and reached out to all of the candidates in the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding. These candidates are Frank Caputo, Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), Iain Currie, Liberal Party of Canada (LPC), Miguel Godau, New Democratic Party (NDP), Jenna Lindley, Green Party of Canada (GPC) and Chris Enns, People’s Party of Canada (PPC). For more information about these candidates, visit our Sun Peaks federal election voter guide.
SPIN requested responses from all candidates for the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola ridings. Despite multiple requests for comment via phone and email, candidates Frank Caputo and Jenna Lindley did not respond prior to publication. We will update the story if responses are provided.
The federal foreign buyers ban was among the top issues readers identified as key areas of concern. Below are the candidates’ responses. These responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
The current federal foreign buyers ban has limited or removed the ability for foreign buyers to purchase property in Sun Peaks which has had a significant impact on real estate, development and the general economy of Sun Peaks. Many people want to see this ban amended to exclude Sun Peaks, similar to other resort communities in British Columbia, and many stakeholders have attempted to lobby the current federal government on this matter with no movement. What are your plans for advocating for Sun Peaks regarding this current federal policy?
Iain Currie, LPC:
After discussing this with [Sun Peaks’] mayor and counselors, I am aware of the issue with respect to the foreign buyers ban and how that’s impacting Sun Peaks. I’ve looked at it and I have looked at the regulations and I understand the sort of demographic reasons. They have to define the communities that are going to be subject to the foreign buyers ban in a certain way dealing with demographics.
But that is, I think, undoubtedly operating unfairly in Sun Peaks and is setting back a community that ought not to be subject to the foreign buyers ban. I can’t make any promises other than as your MP with a voice in government I would be going to the minister or ministers involved, dealing with the bureaucrats trying to find a solution to a technical issue which is so no one’s singling out Sun Peaks.
It just happens to fit in this very complicated definition and so it’s subject to the foreign buyers ban.
As your MP I would be advocating to do whatever we can, whether it’s commissioning more – obviously we can’t commission a census, but we can commission reports or studies that would provide the demographic information to show that Sin peaks shouldn’t be captured by this law. I think that would help.
The idea is not to juice the market, but a community that is not serving as a sort of a bedroom community of Kamloops and is its own thing shouldn’t be subject to those restrictions in my opinion.
Chris Enns, PPC:
An economy based on a real-estate bubble is doomed to fail long-term, and does nothing to support Canadians or our GDP. Canadian real-estate has too long been used to launder or otherwise park foreign wealth to the detriment of Canadians. I would be happy to ban foreign buyers from majority-stake land acquisitions in Canada entirely.
Miguel Godau, NDP:
Canadians are struggling with affordable housing and rent. It is the number one affordability issue and our first priority ought to be affordable housing supply for Canadians. Young people are feeling despair at their future chances of owning a home and starting a family.
That’s why we have prioritized our bold housing plan. I am committed to always listening and and learning to bring forward and advocate any good ideas that benefit affordable housing and investments. I will work with provincial and municipal governments to coordinate and streamline policy and procedures.
Go straight to the source — here are links to the party platforms:
How do I vote?
Voting day is Monday, April 28. Visit SPIN’s voting guide for more information on where to go and what to bring.
Further reading
Candidates in this riding also answered questions for The Wren, our sibling publication in Kamloops. To view their responses on questions of healthcare, housing, affordability, the toxic drug crisis, climate change and sustainability and Truth and Reconciliation, visit our Kamloops election guide.
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