JOHN KOURY
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Political party: How long have you been a member?
A long time
Do you live in the riding, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to the riding?
Yes, I have lived in the Cowichan Valley since 1991.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
Retired. My professional journey as an entrepreneur, executive manager, corporate director, and Candidate of Record, spans over three decades. I also served as Councillor on North Cowichan and Chair of the Economic Development Committee.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing your community and why?
After a decade of NDP misrule in British Columbia, the Cowichan Valley is in crisis with the escalation of drug addiction and crime. The high cost of energy, housing and food, crushing taxes, is driving people to move away or into poverty. These issues are a direct consequence of radical NDP policies. As the cost of living in BC continues to skyrocket, our economic advantages are taxed into oblivion, and life, health, and safety of my community are in constant peril, British Columbia cannot endure more NDP misrule.
What actions or efforts have you taken to learn the concerns of your constituents?
Since February, I have been knocking on doors in neighborhoods across the Cowichan Valley to learn about constituents’ concerns. With the help of dozens of volunteers from across the Valley, my team and I have knocked on at least 15,000 doors in the riding. Additionally, as a 30 year resident of the Cowichan Valley with a successful track record as Economic Development Chair on North Cowichan Council I have built scores of personal, professional, and political relationships across the Cowichan Valley that help me understand the concerns and aspirations of constituents in the Cowichan Valley.
What do you want to see improved in British Columbia in four, eight and 20 years?
British Columbia deserves far better than the escalation of drug addiction and crime, the highest gasoline prices in North America, crushing taxes, and runaway inflation that characterize nearly a decade of NDP misrule. Whether four, eight, or 20 years, I will work tirelessly as a MLA to make life in British Columbia affordable, safe, and the best place in the world to live, work, start a business, raise a family, and retire.
How would you go about addressing contentious issues within your riding?
As a former North Cowichan Councillor with a strong track record as the Economic Development Chair, I am no stranger to contentious issues within the riding. My approach is to conduct thorough research, listen to all perspectives, apply critical thinking and the appropriate analytical methods to evaluate the issue, decide conscientiously with moral clarity, and be able to cogently explain how I arrived at conclusions. I recognize that with many counselors plans succeed and I strive to help people get past positions to focus on interests so that interests may be reconciled and aligned for the betterment of all involved.
Would you vote against your party and leader if it were best for your constituents?
John Rustad will make me sign an oath to advocate for my Riding first and foremost. But, let’s be clear, we have a lot of work to do to set BC back on a road to prosperity and I look forward to working with my Conservative Party Colleagues united in cabinet and caucus to get the job done and make life more affordable and more enjoyable for everyone, quickly.
Why do you think you are qualified to do this job?
Beyond my experience and familiarity of Cowichan Valley, I was nominated by the Conservative Party in my Riding and hold 99% of the membership support. My team and I have worked tirelessly with volunteers since February to knock on 15,000 doors to hear directly from constituents about what they see and how they feel. Cowichan Valley will not have a greater champion in Victoria than me.
Why are you running – what’s your motivation?
I am leading a movement in the Cowichan Valley. People from all political stripes, people who have never met each other before, people who have never been in politics before are united. These people are coming from all the doorsteps we knocked on across the Cowichan Valley. We’ve met thousands more who want their community back, they want hope, they want change. I am working, speaking, and running for them.​
ABOUT COWICHAN VALLEY
Cowichan Valley has a new shape thanks to a riding redistribution, but the name remains the same.
There was a relatively close race in 2020, with Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau capturing 44 per cent of votes and the NDP candidate taking about 40 per cent. Furstenau had about 37 per cent in 2017, with the NDP taking 32 per cent and the Liberal 27 per cent.
Furstenau is not running in Cowichan Valley this election. Taking up the Green mantle is Cammy Lockwood. Debra Toporowski is running for the NDP, while John Koury is running for the Conservatives.
Eden Haythornthwaite is running as an Independent Socialist, while Jon Coleman is unaffiliated. He had been set to represent BC United in the race before the party ended its campaign.
THE CANDIDATES IN COWICHAN VALLEY
The candidates this election are:
- Unaffiliated candidate Jon Coleman
- Independent Socialist Eden Haythornthwaite
- Conservative John Koury
- Green candidate Cammy Lockwood
- New Democrat Debra Toporowski
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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