By CKPG News

Garth Frizzell

Candidate Questions: Garth Frizzell – Cariboo-Prince George

Sep 10, 2021 | 8:23 AM

Why are you running for office?

After 13 years being a non-partisan City Councillor, last year I led the municipalities of Canada during the pandemic. We received unprecedented access to cabinet and the Prime Minister. During the crisis, they paid attention, and acted. So, when senior party members – including the leader – asked me to consider it, I acted. There’s a lot of work ahead.

How does your party plan to address the issue of climate change?

Addressing climate change is the most pressing long term issue facing humanity. The biggest contributors to climate change are carbon dioxide and methane emissions; humans are the cause of recent vast increases in both.  Our plan is to get these emissions down.  In the meantime, we must find ways to reduce the impact of climate change.  We will encourage the shift, now underway, to a zero-emission automotive sector.  We will invest in a “Futures Fund” for the oil-producing provinces, to assist them in transitioning away from fossil fuel production over the long term and to help them move to “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050 while at the same time drastically reducing methane emissions.  We will support domestic retrofits to clean energy sources.

How would you address the challenges facing some Aboriginal communities across our region?

As Canadians, we inherit a terrible legacy in our relations with aboriginal peoples, and we are working hard at reconciliation with our brothers and sisters. We will support First Nations and work together to a better future after the harms brought by the residential school system, including exploring for remains as yet undiscovered, by increasing funding for mental health and wellness, continuing to support the work of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and supporting the work of aboriginal child and family services.

What’s your stance on the development of pipelines?

As a strategic initiative, the government of Canada purchased the Trans-Mountain Pipeline, which runs from Edmonton to Burnaby, from Kinder Morgan, and we are funding the “twinning” of the pipeline as a necessary means of getting our petroleum products to overseas markets in the short term, even as we transition to a new, clean energy economy. Much as we want it to, this transition will not happen overnight.

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How high a priority is affordable childcare for your party? What’s your party’s pitch?

In the federal budget of April 21st, our government committed to the goal of implementing childcare across the country at an average of $10 per day. We are working with provincial, territorial and indigenous governments to reach that goal, and agreements have already been completed with British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and Alberta. In Northern BC, this move has already been recognized as a “game changer” for childcare.

What’s your party’s stance on vaccinations? Should they be mandatory?

We strongly encourage all Canadians, who are eligible and who are medically able, to fully vaccinate against COVID-19 as soon as possible if they have not already done so. It is the best possible defense against the virus for them, and the best protection that they can offer to others.  Vaccinations cannot be imposed, however; whether to be vaccinated is always an individual decision.

What would you do to help seniors?

We have already restored the eligibility age for the OAS and GIS from 67 to 75, reversing the punitive policy of the previous Conservative government. We have provided a one-time OAS supplement of $500 to Seniors who will be 75 or older by June 30th of next year, and we will increase the OAS payment beginning next year by 10% for all seniors aged 75 or older. We will also increase GIS payments to single seniors and couples starting at age 65.   We will set up a 1-800 help line for Seniors to support them in accessing government services and benefits.

How would you address the opioid crisis?

Among many measures, we will introduce a comprehensive strategy to address problematic substance use to end the opioids crisis. We will also invest $500 million to support the provinces and territories in providing access to a full-range of evidence-based treatment, recognizing that successful treatment is not determined by long-term abstinence.

Where in the riding do you live? Why? What are your favourite places to spend time in?

Prince George is where I met Sue, where our children have gone to school, and where I have been a City Councillor for 13 years. We love hiking. Most recent trips include Fang Mountain, Mount Pope and Fort George Canyon.

Who’s your favourite singer/band?

Most recently, and ridiculously, I played Denyque’s “Inflationary Targeting” song in my Economics classes.  It has a fun video that I used to engage students when I taught them about inflation. Incredibly catchy beat!