DAVID EVANS
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Political party: How long have you been a member?
BC Greens I have not been a BC Greens member for very long but I have been a supporter for as long as I can remember.
Do you live in the riding, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to the riding?
I have lived, worked and raised a family in the riding for 25 years.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I opened The Stick in the Mud Coffee House in 2007. Last summer I sold the cafe and bakery to a community cooperative but I maintained The Stick’s Roastoreum, a wholesale coffee roasting facility. I have been an entrepreneur for over three decades
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing your community and why?
In Juan de Fuca - Malahat, transportation is the urgent issue. Citizens are sacrificing unreasonable amounts of time in traffic both on the Sooke Road and the Malahat. Why? The province has failed to meet the transportation needs of today’s population. Unsurprisingly, communities are unhappy with new legislation demanding further growth. The province has not expanded or integrated the transit system to connect the south islanders with work and vital services. Unthinkingly, the Province is pressuring employees to reduce or stop working from home, when working from home could reduce traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
What actions or efforts have you taken to learn the concerns of your constituents?
As a small businessperson and someone active in my community, I have spent years hearing resident’s concerns and in fact that is one of the reasons I am running. I am canvassing door-to door throughout the riding and have had countless conversations with residents. We sometimes meet at small “meet and greets” or set up a booth at events. All-candidates’ meeting are another venue for interaction. My volunteers monitor media response to gather information on what people are saying about different issues. Polling research is often useful, but not without comparing the results with those gleaned from personal contact.
What do you want to see improved in British Columbia in four, eight and 20 years?
Four years: 1) free BC-wide transit system, 2) network of community health centres across the province 3) immediate support for mental health and addictions, 4) protection and enhancement of agricultural land, 5) property acquired for subsidized housing, 6) end government subsidies to fossil fuels; redirect funds to renewable energy. Eight years: 1) regional sustainability in agriculture and forestry, 2) resilient supply chains and subsidies for local business, 3) remediation of forests and watersheds, 4) end of fossil fuels in new vehicles and homes, 5) distributed renewable energy. 20 years: BC leads in affordable food, housing, healthcare, education, transportation and energy.
How would you go about addressing contentious issues within your riding?
Collaboration. I often say that as British Columbians, we have more in common than we have dividing us. As an entrepreneur and employer, I understand that no person and no issue is an island — there needs to be interaction with all sides in order to fully understand an issue, to find a solution. I plan to set up Leadership Forums with delegates from across the riding. By assembling community leaders and representatives from all levels of government to identify the issues affecting our constituents, we can address them in a fair and non-partisan manner.
Would you vote against your party and leader if it were best for your constituents?
Yes definitely. BC Green Party honours the democratic duty of MLAs to decide what’s best in their riding. Your Green MLA is free to vote in the legislature.
Why do you think you are qualified to do this job?
I have raised my family, lived and worked in the community for 25 years. I have seen changes across the riding — some good and some bad! My businesses have connected me with a broad cross-section of residents and working in front-facing, service industries for decades, I have heard the stories and developed the skills to bring people together.
Why are you running – what’s your motivation?
We need more competent politicians. I have been lucky — my family is healthy, and my businesses have been successful. For some people seeking to represent their peers comes from an activating moment. For others, like me, becoming politically active has been a slow burn. I lament the waning of common sense and common truths. The division we see in politics and in the broader community worries me. My goal is to address the issues facing us by bringing us together, recognizing the problems, finding common ground, and moving towards equitable solutions.
ABOUT JUAN DE FUCA-MALAHAT
Juan de Fuca-Malahat is a new riding for this election — essentially what’s left of the previous Langford-Juan de Fuca riding after you carve away Langford.
The old riding was held by former New Democrat premier John Horgan until he retired. His successor, Ravi Parmar, was elected in a byelection and is running this election in Langford-Highlands.
THE CANDIDATES IN JUAN DE FUCA-MALAHAT
The candidates in this election are:
- Green candidate David Evans, an entrepreneur
- New Democrat Dana Lajeunesse, a Sooke municipal councillor
- Conservative Marina Sapozhnikov, a physician
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.
See an error or something that needs to be changed? You can report it to [email protected] or use the report a typo link below.
