1. What do you feel are your qualifications for federal office?
I am a tech entrepreneur. I know how to take ideas and build them into workable solutions to solve problems. I bring to the table over a decade of tech and startup experience. I have cross-cultural work experience from eight years working abroad. I know how to bring people together for a common goal. We need unity, not partisanship.
2. What is your plan for the future of Flin Flon’s economy?
What role will industry/mining play in that plan? Flin Flon’s economy has been linked to mining for as long as Flin Flon has been a town, but we have learned from past that relying on one industry is never a good idea. I see Flin Flon diversifying. Flin Flon has a pool of hard working and industrious people who could be transitioned to other industries.
3. What have been the main issues you’ve heard from people in this riding?
I have talked to so many people in our beautiful riding. In no particular order, these issues have come up: clean water, infrastructure (roads, internet), lack of opportunity, lack of jobs, education opportunities, environmental issues (climate change) and affordable housing.
4. What measures to benefit northern Saskatchewan and Flin Flon would you wish to add to a federal budget? I would love to see funding for grassroots innovation and development grants. If people and communities had the resources to start their own projects we can help mitigate many of the issues we have in the north currently.
5. What is your plan regarding northern health care, specifically with local health care? What role can the federal government play in health issues? We need to focus on the resources we have, and that is our people. We need to recruit more healthcare workers by offering vibrant communities and adequate housing. In the meantime we can look at nurse practitioners and telemedicine options. Greens are also committed to passing pharmacare.
6. What are your main concerns regarding environmental conservation? Do you support a carbon tax? Our lives are tied to the environment. I support mechanisms that move us to a sustainable world. Carbon pricing is a small part. We need to charge big polluters and enforce current environmental protection laws. We need to recognize the efforts by companies, farmers and other individuals who are doing their part in the fight against climate change.
7. Where do you stand on immigration to Canada? What impact do you think immigration could have for the north?
We are a nation of immigrants. Immigrants play an important part in our country. Immigration can inject diversity and new ideas to drive innovation in the north. Diversity is our strength. Flin Flon and area has been a welcoming home to all, no reason why we should stop that.
8. What is your stance on electoral reform? Would changing Canada’s electoral system be a priority for you?
I will fight for electoral reform. Electoral reform has great benefits for all Canadians. When we have, for example, proportional representation more voices are heard in parliament. It would permit more than just two parties to rule. It would permit more positive policies and would help encourage fair politics, which means better representation for all Canadians.
9. What measures would you propose to help remote Indigenous communities?
Many of the problems in northern communities are tied to the lack of opportunity. We need to address that first. Health care and affordability are other issues. Greens are committed to working with local governments to build more affordable units. Food insecurity can be mitigated by local food production. This will help with affordability and food security issues.
10. How do you feel about negative campaigning? Would you consider you and/or your party to be running a clean campaign? What about your opponents?
I want to see a strong north and that takes positivity and collaboration, not negativity. I hope my opponents will focus on policy and making our home the best place it can be for all residents.
11. What policy or practice do you disagree with your party on and why? Would you consider breaking rank with the party on that issue?
If there was something that would negatively affect our people, I certainly would. I am not inherently anti-nuclear, but we need more safeguards in place before it can be used more on a large scale.
12. In 30 words or less - What is your elevator pitch for undecided voters?
I am not a career politician, I am an entrepreneur who wants the north to thrive. We have the ideas, we just need someone to implement. I am that person.
13. What question do you wish we would have asked?
What is your experience internationally and how do you think that will impact your policy decisions in parliament, seeing that as an MP you are not only focused on your riding interests, but that of the whole country on an international stage?
