CHRISTINA WINTER
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Political party: How long have you been a member?
BC Greens. I’ve been a member for nine years.
Do you live in the riding, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to the riding?
I grew up in Saanich, and I lived in the riding as a renter for seven years, but an unstable housing situation forced me to move. Now I live two houses down the street from the riding, just south of Bay Street. Quadra Village is my local stop for groceries, coffee meetings, and other amenities.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I’ve been an office and business administrator for the past eleven years.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing your community and why?
Affordability – many of the people living in our community are living precariously, and the bandaid solutions we’ve gotten from government don’t address the root causes of the issue. People on disability and social assistance are kept living in poverty, minimum wage isn’t sufficient to cover costs, and the lack of childcare forces parents to make tough choices about how and when to work. People are going hungry because they can’t afford food and rent at the same time. Corporate profits are prioritized over actual affordable housing and many members of our community are being priced out. We need systemic change.
What actions or efforts have you taken to learn the concerns of your constituents?
I’ve campaigned in this riding since 2015 - attending community events, knocking on thousands of doors, and listening to people about the needs in our community and our hopes for the future. The past two years, I’ve focused on connecting with community associations and advocacy groups, meeting and developing relationships with community leaders and organizers, attending seminars on key issues such as transit, food security, and climate action, and learning more about the local and provincial government plans and proposals for the riding including the redevelopment of Evergreen Terrace, the development of the Uptown transit hub, and BC Transit’s service proposals.
What do you want to see improved in British Columbia in four, eight and 20 years?
In 4 years, everyone has access to a family doctor and mental health care. Transit is free with bus connections between cities. Healthcare professionals, teachers, childcare workers, and first responders have good, sustainable working conditions.
In 8 years, our clean economy is powered by upgraded electrical distribution and community scale renewable energy projects. Every community has a Community Health Centre and childcare available in schools.
In 20 years, there is a network of greenways across the CRD with AAA trails and restored watersheds. Aboveground creeks like Bowker Creek and Cecilia Creek provide natural infrastructure for climate mitigation and biodiversity enhancement.
How would you go about addressing contentious issues within your riding?
Addressing any issue starts with listening to people - holding town halls and community forums (in-person and online), meeting with community leaders and advocates, learning from subject matter experts, and then using everything that I learn to advocate well and responsibly.
That sounds simple, but we need to recognize that there are no perfect solutions and many issues will have people coming from different perspectives. When there’s no clear cut answer, my approach is to mitigate impacts on those most affected. My goal of wellbeing for everyone in our community means protecting health and safety first.
Would you vote against your party and leader if it were best for your constituents?
Yes.
Over the past five years I’ve developed a good working relationship with our leader, Sonia Furstenau. I co-ran her leadership campaign and was the campaign manager for her re-election campaign. When we disagree, we work towards understanding.
As Greens, we strive to work by consensus, and we recognize that there are times when reasonable people can respectfully disagree. Greens don’t vote lockstep on every bill, but we always vote with our conscience and with the best interests of our constituents in mind.
As a Green MLA, I will be able put the best interests of my constituents first.
Why do you think you are qualified to do this job?
Being an MLA requires an attitude of service and a deep understanding of our community. I have a background in customer service, and then as an office and business administrator, including in a constituency office. Helping people through systems and advocating for their needs is second nature to me. Understanding happens when we listen to our constituents and our community. I’ve spent the last nine years doing that work so that I’m prepared when I step into the legislature.
Why are you running – what’s your motivation?
I’m frustrated with our government. Many of our representatives are intelligent people who seem afraid to act in case they do the wrong thing. Their concern is getting re-elected, rather than making the difficult changes that serve the long-term needs of their community. When I see the way Greens work and the difference they make, I want to be part of that. We can have a sustainable and progressive province – if we make it happen.
ABOUT VICTORIA-SWAN LAKE
New Democrat Rob Fleming has been the MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake for as long as the electoral district has existed (it was created in 2009) — and he never received less than 54 per cent of the vote. With his departure, the riding is without an incumbent candidate in this election.
Taking up the NDP banner is Nina Krieger, the former executive director of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre.
The Green candidate is Christina Winter, an office and business administrator, while the Conservative is real estate agent Tim Taylor.
Also running is Robert Crooks for the Communist Party of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ He is the provincial organizer for the party.
THE CANDIDATES IN VICTORIA-SWAN LAKE
The candidates this election are:
- Communist Robert Crooks
- New Democrat Nina Krieger
- Conservative Tim Taylor
- Green candidate Christina Winter
See the full list of Vancouver Island candidates here. We are posting the candidate questionnaires riding by riding.
ABOUT THE PROFILES
We asked readers what they wanted to ask candidates and used those answers to help shape our election coverage, including candidate questionnaires.
The answers are presented as submitted by the candidates, edited only for length if they exceeded the word limit they were given. We did not correct grammar, spelling or typos.
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