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 Adam Bremner-Akins, BC Green candidate in Port Coquitlam.
Name: Adam Bremner-Akins
Age: 22
Profession: Server at a restaurant in Port Coquitlam
Residence: Port Coquitlam
Biography
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Adam Bremner-Akins grew up in Port Coquitlam and is a proud graduate of Terry Fox Secondary School. Raised by parents who dedicated their careers to School District 43 (SD43), Adam witnessed firsthand their commitment to serving families, community, and the public. He is a passionate advocate for sustainable urban development and youth engagement in politics. He is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science with a minor in Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University. In 2020, at just 18 years old, Adam made history as one of the youngest candidates in British Columbia by running for the BC Green Party during the snap election. Despite facing experienced opponents, he gained considerable public support, particularly through his active participation in debates and media appearances. Adam's commitment to the BC Greens extends beyond his initial candidacy. He served on the Party’s Youth Advisory Council from 2020 to 2022 and was elected to the Youth At-Large seat on the Provincial Council, where he served until taking on his current role within the Party where he is the Secretary of the Provincial Council. Adam is also a dedicated climate activist, organizing strikes and facilitating debates, while advocating for progressive policies such as housing reform, proportional representation, and green infrastructure. Adam’s blend of political experience, activism, and commitment to progressive values makes him a compelling voice for the future. His leadership within the BC Greens reflects his dedication to environmental stewardship and social justice.
Contact information
- Website: adamba.ca
- Email: [email protected]
- Socials:
- Facebook: facebook.com/AdamBremnerAkinsMLA
- X: @ABremnerAkins
- Instagram: @adam_bremner_akins
- Threads: @adam_bremner_akins
- TikTok: @abremnerakins
- Hashtags: #ABA / #AdamBA Lime Emoji
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 Greens will work with local municipalities to ensure that housing built near transit meets local community and affordability needs by focusing on non-market housing solutions. BC Greens will invest $1.5 billion annually to construct 26,000 new non-market housing units to lower the cost of ownership and renting for all people. To further address affordability and in consultation with communities, we will implement province-wide upzoning to allow non-market housing developments and make public land available for non-profit housing. We will offer property transfer tax revenue-sharing, we will ensure that transit oriented housing is affordable, inclusive and serves the needs of our community. Additionally, BC Greens support developing housing specifically for families, seniors and other groups who struggle to find affordable housing that meets their needs. Our plan for housing contrasts with the current top down approach. We are dedicated to working with municipalities to meet development targets that lower the cost of owning and renting for everyone in B.C.
What would your government do to help municipalities provide more supportive housing?
We must address the need for supportive housing. The BC Greens will invest in non-market housing and prioritize wrap around support services for vulnerable populations. We are committed to building new non-market housing, including housing that is specifically designed for people with disabilities, seniors, and those at risk of experiencing homelessness. Additionally, we will expand funding for wrap-around support services, offering compassionate and comprehensive care that includes mental health and addiction services, legal aid and reintegration programs for those who need them. This approach ensures that supportive housing is not just providing shelter, but also offering the necessary resources to help people maintain stable housing and reintegrate back into our community.
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?
To support municipalities facing increased growth and demand for infrastructure, the BC Greens will provide $650 million annually in infrastructure funding to municipalities. This funding will help address the need for schools, childcare facilities, parks and recreational spaces. We will also partner with municipalities to meet housing development targets, and successful communities will be rewarded by sharing a portion of property transfer taxes. Additionally, we will embed well-being considerations into land use planning, ensuring that infrastructure development aligns with long-term community needs, including educational, recreational, and social facilities. By prioritizing investments in key infrastructure, we aim to create resilient, thriving communities.
How will your government help make $10-a-day childcare more widely available to more families?
The BC Greens are committed to expanding affordable childcare by creating a universal Early Childhood Education (ECE) funding model. This would streamline the fragmented childcare system and reduce administrative burdens for providers, allowing them to focus on delivering care. The BC Greens also plan to allocate $250 million annually to expand childcare space creation for children under five and provide $100 million in additional funding to create more spaces through school renovations and additions. This approach will ensure continued progress towards delivering $10-a-day childcare for all, making early childhood education affordable and accessible to more families across B.C.
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?
The BC Greens understand the struggles small businesses face with rising costs, onerous leases, and community safety concerns. Our platform focuses on creating sustainable solutions that support small businesses and foster economic growth.
We will update the provincial government’s procurement policies to ensure that local contractors and businesses are prioritized in public projects, providing workers and businesses with more opportunities close to home. Additionally, the InBC Investment program will be expanded to ensure equitable access to financial resources for businesses across the province.
To help small businesses innovate and grow, we will expand the Advanced Research and Commercialization program, offering support and mentorship to early stage innovators. Furthermore, we will enhance community grant programs, ensuring that funds are directed toward businesses headquartered in British Columbia, boosting local economies and incentivizing businesses to come into our province.
For sectors like food, beverage, and hospitality, we will introduce career programs that provide job-seekers with training, mentorship and placements, helping small businesses cost effectively address workforce shortages while fostering sustainable career opportunities.
We know that local businesses are core to community, and a strong local economy benefits everyone. We are dedicated to ensuring that our economy, both at the local and provincial level, is thriving and sustainable.
Our cities are growing into the surrounding wild areas; that’s creating increasing concerns about wildlife encounters and the threat of wildfires, what kind of supports would your government be able provide in those communities to protect wildlife and residents?
As urban areas expand into wild regions, the BC Greens will prioritize both the safety of residents and the protection of wildlife. We will invest $100 million annually in wildfire prevention, including fuel management and community-based fire risk reduction, alongside $50 million to support local firefighting teams and improve response capabilities. To build resilience, the BC Greens will expand community forest programs and support Indigenous-led conservation efforts, ensuring ecosystems near urban areas are protected. Additionally, we will invest $120 million over three years in fish and wildlife programs to safeguard biodiversity and reduce human-wildlife conflicts. These measures are designed to create a balanced approach to urban growth, protecting both people and the environment.
In September, Premier David Eby told the Tri-City News his NDP government is committed to rebuilding Hazel Trembath Elementary in the same location. What will you do to ensure the school is rebuilt before the 2025-26 academic year begins?
We recognize the urgency of rebuilding Hazel Trembath Elementary and sympathize with the many families that have been impacted. Closing schools like Lincoln Elementary left holes in our local communities that have never really healed. We can’t do this again even if the surroundings schools had capacity to absorb the students. To expedite the building replacement process, we would use pre-approved, climate-resilient school designs, allowing for quicker construction while maintaining the high-quality standards School District 43 (SD43) is known for. We would also prioritize working with local companies to complete the project, keeping our local economy strong and ensuring jobs stay in the community. Additionally, we would collaborate closely with the City of Port Coquitlam, the school board and local stakeholders to ensure the new school meets the needs of students, educators and the broader community. This approach balances speed, local economic support and community-focused design.
How will your government ensure Port Coquitlam gets SkyTrain?
It was my pleasure to announce that BC Greens support breaking ground on a SkyTrain extension to Port Coquitlam by the end of 2026. By working closely with TransLink, regional partners and the city, we will accelerate the planning process, secure necessary funding and break ground swiftly so we can bring sustainable an high capacity transit to our community. The development of high capacity transit in Port Coquitlam is essential to the communities continued growth, we have all experienced the traffic along Lougheed and the Mary Hill, and getting SkyTrain built will get people out of cars and reduce the overburdened demand on our roads.
This project will connect existing bus and West Coast Express services with SkyTrain, making transit more affordable and accessible to the entire community. With every dollar invested in public transit generating up to five dollars in business revenue, the extension will not only expand access to Port Coquitlam for transit users across the Lower Mainland but also significantly boost local businesses, bringing new revenue into the community.
Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West has called the provincial government “irresponsible” for not replacing the Coquitlam River bridge, along the Lougheed Highway. When will your government fix this aging piece of infrastructure?
Our government is committed to addressing critical infrastructure needs like the Coquitlam River Bridge. We recognize the concerns raised by Mayor Brad West and share the urgency to replace this aging piece of critical infrastructure. We will work closely with the City of Port Coquitlam, regional partners and stakeholders to prioritize this project, securing the necessary funding and expediting the planning process. Funding for the Coquitlam River Bridge replacement would come from the BC Greens' commitment to provide $650 million annually in infrastructure funding to municipalities, as outlined in our platform. Our goal is to ensure that construction on the new bridge begins as soon as possible, and incorporates modern design such as protected pedestrian and bike paths, addressing safety concerns and improving transportation flow along the Lougheed Highway while supporting local economic growth by employing local contractors.
The Mary Hill Bypass has many vehicular and cycling accidents each year. How will your government improve its safety?
To improve safety on the Mary Hill Bypass, our government will prioritize enhancing road infrastructure to reduce accidents while maintaining the highway’s functionality. We will also work with traffic engineers and the City of Port Coquitlam to explore reducing points of conflict between fast-moving vehicles and cyclists or pedestrians. This could involve reconfiguring certain sections of the highway to better accommodate all road users, ensuring that safety remains the top priority. Additionally, we will engage with the community and stakeholders to identify key areas where safety interventions are most urgently needed. This could include adding dedicated cycling lanes separated from vehicular traffic, installing better lighting and signage, improving intersections, and creating safer crossings for both vehicles and cyclists. Additionally, we will engage with the community and stakeholders to identify key areas where safety interventions are most urgently needed.
