2024 BC Provincial General Election Series: The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce has invited all candidates running in the five Tri-Cities ridings to answer our questions, and provide a 60-second introductory video. Come and meet the candidates in person at the Chamber's Business Showcase on Tuesday, October 8th. Learn more >
Samantha Agtarap, MLA Candidate for Port Moody-Burquitlam, BC Greens, Fall 2024
"Small and medium businesses are key contributors to the BC economy and important members of our communities but they are under increasing pressure from rising costs," says Port Moody-Burquitlam MLA Candidate Samantha Agtarap.
1. If elected, how would your government encourage more business investment, job creation, and higher wages in British Columbia?
Small and medium businesses are key contributors to the BC economy and important members of our communities but they are under increasing pressure from rising costs due to rapidly increasing rents, Employer Health Tax, five paid sick days, and increased labour costs.
UBCM members have endorsed a number of resolutions calling on the province to enable legislative tools to provide relief to small businesses through commercial rent control, property tax sub-classes for small businesses and other progressive taxation policies. The future government should review the resolutions from UBCM and engage with both municipalties and small businesses on how best to support to support small businesses across BC.
BC is home to problem-solvers, and programs that support ventures advancing their ideas to market are vital. Stable and predictable carbon pricing will also support investment; it is good economic policy, and incentivizes a transition to a more sustainable economy. The BC Net Zero Innovation Network is one example where provincial and federal government support can be leveraged to drive innovation in net-zero technologies while advancing economic opportunities and de-risk investment decisions that support net-zero goals.
Platform details can be found here.
2. How would your government address the rising cost of living, to make life more affordable in the Tri-Cities and throughout the province?
There is no one single action that will make more life affordable for Tri-Cities residents. Under the BC Greens, the rising cost of living would be addressed by universal school food program, increased carbon tax rebate, free transit, continued expansion of $10-a-day childcare, and a focus on building affordable housing.
I acknowledge that grocery prices have dramatically increased, and as an MLA, I would advocate to the federal government to ensure that grocery chains are not unfairly profiting off food. Local agriculture is also an important piece, and supporting local farmers and ranchers in providing direct-to-consumer food could be another way to provide consumers with more choice, while supporting agriculture in our province.
3. What is your party's priority with respect to addressing the labour challenges we face today?
Childcare is a significant piece of addressing the labour challenges. Accelerating the $10/day daycare program and making it accessible to all parents is an important component addressing labour challenges. Also, ensuring childcare is available for shift workers like health care professionals, can assist them in remaining in the workforce while their children are small. Accessible and affordable childcare makes it easier for families to participate in the workforce, re-skill or continue their education while strengthening the local economy.
Additionally, ensuring that professionals and skilled workers educated outside of BC can easily work here is also important, along with providing a clear education and training path for youth in our communities. A diverse economy can help insulate BC’s economy from downturns in certain sectors.
Another challenge that small businesses are encountering is retention of skilled employees due to the high cost of living. Affordable housing is a key component to keeping labour in our communities. Our workers are being priced out of our communities, and our small businesses are suffering.
4. What are your party's vision and priorities for the transportation infrastructure and public transit service in the Tri-Cities?
The BC Green Party is proposing free, province-wide transit and increased services levels. This would increase independence, access to jobs and vital connections for community members. Making transit more accessible and reliable while providing stable funding, will increase ridership, and decrease the number of personal vehicles on local roads, alleviating congestion and helping goods flow more efficiently around the region.
The BC Greens press release on free transit can be found here.
View a map of the Port Moody-Burquitlam electoral district here.
5. If elected, how will you work with industry to help establish frameworks that enable both economic and environmentally sustainable growth?
The carbon tax is one piece of the puzzle but incentivizing innovation is a key component of the transition to a clean economy. As mentioned before, the BC Net Zero Innovation Network (BCNZIN)is one example where provincial and federal government support can be leveraged to drive innovation in net-zero technologies while advancing economic opportunities and de-risk investment decisions that support net-zero goals. Initiatives like the BCNZIN is one example that is encouraging the transition to a cleaner economy by supporting both economic and environmentally sustainable growth; expansion of these types of initiatives should be supported.
Platform details will be released at https://bcgreens2024.ca
6. What would you do to help the homeless throughout the Tri-Cities, and in particular those camped at or near businesses, impacting the business owners' ability to stay in operation?
The current situation is tragic and represents system failure on many levels. Urgent action is needed. Rather than focus on the past actions that have built up to create the crisis we find ourselves in today, I will continue to focus on the root causes of homelessness which can be in part addressed the BC Green platform on mental health and housing.
For those that have been impacted, the government should continue to support and promote existing programs such as the Securing Small Business Rebate Program, which provides funds to small businesses for commercial property crime and vandalism repairs, or preventative measures.
7. What changes would you implement to improve healthcare?
One of the major challenges we are experiencing is a lack of healthcare workers. This can be attributed to a number of issues - including a lack of affordable housing. Addressing some of the root causes that are straining our healthcare system will improve patient care and access to services.
The BC Greens have proposed the Dogwood Model of care, which looks holistically at healthcare as a whole, rather than bandaid solutions. We also need to train more healthcare workers - adding new medical schools is one solution but won’t have the necessary impact for decades. We need immediate action and improving accreditation processes for foreign trained doctors and nurses to allow for timely certification, and considering other ways to alleviate the strain on specialists, will improve the overall system.
In addition, the BC Greens will make mental health a priority, by expanding MSP coverage to include mental health professionals. These investments in preventative care will ensure better lives for everyone, both now and in the future.
8. Please provide a link to your website and/or contact information where readers can follow up with you should they want more information.
https://bcgreens2024.ca/your-candidates/samantha-agtarap/
X, Instagram and Facebook: @sam4pomo
TikTok: samantha.agtarap
View more Candidate videos and Q&A stories here.
The Tri-Cities Chamber is neutral in all elections, as it is stated in its bylaws to not support any particular candidate for public office. We do encourage everyone to learn about local candidates, their positions on issues, and party platforms. Please vote on October 19th.
Authorized by Chamber of Commerce Serving Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, registered sponsor under the Election Act, 604-464-2716.