DR. ANNA KINDY
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Political party: How long have you been a member?
Conservative Party of British Columbia member 1 year. In the past I have always voted the candidate over the party.
Do you live in the riding, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to the riding?
I live just outside of the riding but have worked in Campbell River and the North Island for over 26 years. My children did all their elementary and secondary schooling and sports in Campbell River. I have hospital privileges at Campbell River Hospital.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I graduated from the University of Alberta medical school in 1986. I am a general practitioner and have focused on addiction medicine since 1993. I have worked extremely hard to protect this stigmatized population. But I have seen them harmed by Government policies over the past 5 years that have enabled their addiction in an environment where the drugs are dramatically more toxic than ever before.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing your community and why?
This is what I have learned through conversations at approximately 15,000 doors.
The biggest issue amongst young people in the North Island riding is affordability of housing prices and food prices as well as job security in our resource industries - forestry, mining and fishing/aquaculture.
The biggest issue for the elderly is the dramatic decline in access to healthcare over the last 7 years - lack of family doctors, closures of emergency departments, poor access to diagnostics and cancer care.
Drug addiction and its effect on homelessness, crime and personal safety on the North Island are a concern for everyone.
What actions or efforts have you taken to learn the concerns of your constituents?
My volunteers and I have gone to over 15,000 doors in Campbell River, Port Hardy, Port McNeill and Port Alice (more to be visited). It may be ironic that I spend so much time doing house calls.
I have visited and been hosted by many businesses, services and industry throughout the entire North Island and have listened carefully to their concerns and needs.
I have engaged mayors and councils in Campbell River, Port Hardy, Port McNeill and Sayward.
I understand healthcare quite well but have had to do a lot of research and inquiry in areas outside of healthcare.
What do you want to see improved in British Columbia in four, eight and 20 years?
I look at this as short and long-term plans but given the present state of our province all these issues need to be addressed now.
Health care crisis needs to be resolved by following a model that provides better outcomes for patients.
Elimination of safe supply and other enabling ideology and the development of more detox and treatment options for our addicted population.
Safer streets
Support our resource industries and the opportunities they provide while respecting the environment.
Address affordability so we can keep our young people in BC and allow them to contribute to a better future for everyone.
How would you go about addressing contentious issues within your riding?
My specialty as an addictions specialist has taught me to find common ground in very difficult situations. Listening to all stakeholders and finding common ground is the key to arriving at solutions that can be accepted by all parties. Research both the history and the present state of the issue.
Would you vote against your party and leader if it were best for your constituents?
I am fortunate that the culture of the Conservative Party of BC and John Rustad includes a very rare provision in politics – that candidates if elected will sign a pledge to represent their constituents first over the party.
Why do you think you are qualified to do this job?
I think I am qualified to do this job because I am a problem solver with vision. If elected I will be trying to do the right thing for all my constituents before worrying about getting re-elected.
My training allows me to compartmentalize the emotional aspects of a situation while looking at the facts to achieve a positive outcome. This involves research, analysis, balance and willingness to try a different course of action when needed.
Why are you running – what’s your motivation?
I am running because I am fed up with a system that puts politics before people. Our province has so much potential and we should be prospering. Instead we have a healthcare crisis, families torn apart by substance abuse, safety issues in our communities, increased cost of living, unaffordable and often unavailable housing. Coming from a rural riding, our resource sector has been decimated with many young people planning to leave beautiful British Columbia.
As a physician, I am used to looking for solutions and that takes both short term and long term planning.
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ABOUT NORTH ISLAND
There was a relatively tight NDP-Liberal race in the North Island riding in 2005, but the NDP wins have been more comfortable since then, and New Democrat Michele Babchuk had more than double the votes of her nearest competitor (a Liberal) in 2020.
Babchuk, a former Campbell River city councillor, is running again. Marine biologist Nic Dedeluk is campaigning for the Greens, while Anna Kindy, a physician, is running for the Conservatives.
THE CANDIDATES IN NORTH ISLAND
The candidates this election are:
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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