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Coquitlam-Maillardville: BC Green candidate Nicola Spurling

Get to know your district's candidates in the 2024 provincial election. Voting day is set for Saturday, Oct. 19.
Tri-City News Staff

The Tri-City News sent out a questionnaire to all candidates in the local ridings for the 2024 B.C. election.

The following is from Nicola Spurling, BC Green candidate in Coquitlam-Maillardville.

Name: Nicola Spurling

Profession: Small business owner, volunteer, founder of Tri-Cities Pride, advocate/activist for social change

Residence: Coquitlam’s Maillardville neighbourhood

Biography 

  • Nicola has an education in construction economics, experience working in project management, construction, retail management and business development.

Contact information

 

Questionnaire

Recent legislation designed to get more housing built in urban areas close to transit has created tumult in some communities. How might your government further refine this approach to ensure the new housing that gets constructed also addresses local needs for affordable housing as well as homes for families and seniors?

The BC Green Party raised concerns in the Legislature about the government's decision to push legislation through without adequately consulting municipalities. While we need to take measures to create more affordable housing, there has to be more nuance to this than a one-size-fits all approach. 

The BC Greens will provide $1.5 billion annually to construct 26,000 new units of non-market housing each year, implement province-wide upzoning initiatives to end exclusionary zoning for non-market housing, support non-profits and housing cooperatives with upfront investment, grant capital and low-interest financing through government-backed construction loans and mortgage guarantees, make existing public land available for non-profit housing development, and acquire new public land to expand affordable housing opportunities.To support seniors, we will increase funding to $164 million annually for the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SHELTER) and Rental Assistance Program (RAP). Additionally, we will allocate $100 million annually to a Rental Maintenance Fund to preserve and maintain existing non-profit and co-op housing to prevent these units from falling into disrepair. We'll also grant non-profit organizations the right of first refusal on the sale of rental apartment buildings, preventing the loss of affordable housing to private investors.

 

What would your government do to help municipalities provide more supportive housing?

The BC Green Party believes in working with municipalities to address housing. A BC Green government will partner with municipalities to meet housing development targets and reward successful communities by sharing a portion of property transfer taxes. We will develop supportive housing, specifically for families, students, essential workers, seniors, and people with disabilities, to meet the diverse needs of communities. We will also introduce legislation to formally recognize housing as a fundamental human right, and create a single income-tested housing grant for renters and homeowners alike, merging the Home Owner Grant and Renter’s Tax Credit for more equitable support.

 

How would your provincial government support municipalities dealing with the increase in growth and demand for infrastructure like schools, childcare, parks and recreational facilities brought on by the new provincial housing regulations?

A BC Green government will provide $650 million annually in infrastructure funding to municipalities, safeguard existing green spaces, and expand the urban tree canopy. We will investigate the potential of land value capture as a funding source for infrastructure projects and community development. We will also make huge investments in public transit, to ensure municipalities have triple the amount of busses currently in operation, and that the cost of transit is free, ensuring convenient and affordable transportation for everyone.

 

How will your government help make $10-a-day childcare more widely available to more families?

The BC Green Party has long believed that $10-a-day childcare alone does not support families enough. A BC Green government will ensure the province remains on track to deliver $10-a-day childcare for all, and improve access to affordable childcare for children under five. Additionally, we will make early childhood education affordable for all families by creating a universal Early Childhood Education funding model to reduce administrative burdens for childcare providers, allowing them to focus on care. To ensure we can meet these goals, we will allocate at least $250 million to expand childcare space creation for children and infants under five, provide ECE and child care centres with the necessary supports to continue operations and create more spaces to meet demand, and provide $100 million in new funding to create a capital program within the Ministry of Education for renovations and additions to schools to support ECE space creation.

 

Small businesses are struggling with onerous leases, petty crime, increasing costs. According to a recent survey almost half fear they won't be around in four years. What will you do to make it better for those businesses to have a chance to survive and new ones to start up?

Small businesses are at the heart of our economy and our communities. A BC Green government will update procurement policies to ensure local contractors and resources benefit first in public projects and government contracts. We will expand the InBC Investment opportunity, ensuring equitable access to investment resources. We will also amend and expand the community grants program funded by the Carbon Tax, limiting eligibility of businesses headquartered outside British Columbia to prioritize local business support. I am also committed to ending triple-net leases, which make small businesses responsible for paying taxes on the windfall profits of commercial real estate owners, which significantly impacts overhead costs for local businesses. 

 

Local governments now have more Emergency Social Services (ESS) responsibilities for mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery for major incidents like fires and floods. Will your government provide a temporary group lodging facility at səmiq̓ʷəʔelə / Riverview Lands as part of a coordinated regional response plan for natural/human-made disasters?

As climate change continues to worsen, we need well thought out plans to keep people safe and cared for. A BC Green government will ensure local authorities and First Nations have the capacity, resources, and authority to prepare and respond effectively to emergencies. We will provide ongoing funding and resources for First Nations and local governments to conduct comprehensive hazard risk and vulnerability assessments, foster community engagement and participation before disasters occur to strengthen preparedness, and utilize local expertise to enhance disaster preparedness and response efforts. We will ensure timely and accurate information is communicated to the public during emergencies and that reception centers are accessible and supports are available for all evacuees. If a səmiq̓ʷəʔelə / Riverview Lands meets the criteria necessary for a temporary group lodging facility we would absolutely support that.

 

Coquitlam RCMP continues to get daily calls about people who have left a mental health facility or group home. The ground- and paper-work involved to account for each person missing from these centres takes hours of police time. How will your government help the detachment and the cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam with resources?

The Coquitlam RCMP is currently being investigated as a result of officers engaging in racist and misogynistic messages, as well as reports of misconduct toward citizens dealing with mental health issues. The last thing a person in crisis needs is an interaction with an armed individual who lacks mental health training and who may be inclined to escalate an already strained situation.

A BC Green government will increase access to mental health care and support for first responders and their families, including raising awareness about mental health tools and resources. We will undertake an All-Party review of the Mental Health Act and create a parliamentary working group that will oversee the implementation of the recommendations, and create an Independent Office of the Mental Health Advocate — providing individual and systemic advocacy, aimed at improving mental health care systems in BC. As a preventative measure, to avoid the need to use 911 mental health services, we will also include six visits to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, under the Medical Services Plan (MSP), ensuring early access to mental health support for all British Columbians.

 

How will your government partner with the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation?

My first act, upon being confirmed as the BC Green Party candidate for Coquitlam-Maillardville, was to reach out to the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation. I expressed my commitment to being available for dialogue, as well my belief that no legislation should be passed without consulting those who it may affect — particularly Indigenous communities.

A BC Green government will recognize all Indigenous governments formed in alignment with the principles of Indigenous self-determination, removing limitations related to "Indian Act" bands and those incorporated under provincial statutes. We will provide Indigenous governments with stable and reliable funding, comparable to other levels of government. We will enact an Indigenous Languages Act, affirming that Indigenous languages are a fundamental and valued part of British Columbia’s heritage. We will enable the use of all Indigenous languages on government-issued identification, ensuring that people can reclaim their names in their original language at no cost. We will review the Land Act to ensure its alignment with the inherent rights of First Nations peoples and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. These processes will be conducted transparently, with opportunities for public consultation across British Columbia.

 

The Société francophone de Maillardville has been in Coquitlam for more than 40 years and receives provincial funding. What will you do to ensure it has a permanent home in the traditionally French-speaking community?

The Société francophone de Maillardville is a culturally significant and important part of the Maillardville community in Coquitlam, and it's vital that Maillardville remains their permanent home. A BC Green Party government will maintain existing funding, and will create new opportunities for funding as part of our commitment to arts and culture. We will increase the annual BC Arts Council budget to $55 million to enhance support for arts and culture initiatives. We will maintain COVID-era investments in arts, culture and heritage, and increase funding based on inflation to support ongoing recovery and growth. We will also collaborate with the sector to develop a provincial Arts, Culture and Heritage Action Plan to guide future investments and initiatives.

 

Upgrades to the Highway 1/Brunette Avenue Interchange have been on the books for decades. What will you do to make sure this pinch-point is improved, especially for emergency responders?

It's important to note that we can't build our way out of congestion, and widening one pinch point generally results in relocation as opposed to relief. With that in mind, we have to consider how we alleviate congestion without expanding vehicle infrastructure, because personal vehicles are an inefficient and costly means of transportation. On average, households in BC spend $10,879 a year on transportation, with 85 per cent of that going towards private cars.

In the midst of an affordability crisis, we need to think about how we can save British Columbians money. By investing in public transit, cycling, ferries, trains and inter-regional buses, we can reduce traffic for those who need to use our roads, and create better options for those who drive because an alternative doesn't exist for them. TransLink has warned that without more funding, transit services in Vancouver could be cut by up to 50 per cent as soon as next year, further amplifying transportation issues. Instead, a BC Green government will expand public transit infrastructure and make it free for riders. These measures will reduce congestion while making travel of all kinds more affordable and convenient.