MLA Nicholas Simons: “We need a discussion about municipal oversight”

In his first interview with The Coast Clarion since the election, Nicholas Simons talks about pressing issues on the Coast

by Margot Grant

“We need a discussion about municipal oversight,” says Nicholas Simons, the New Democratic Party MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. “Other MLAs have brought this up as well.  Municipal councils are criticized loudly in many communities.

“The auditor-general has made comments about openness, the right way to conduct a public meeting, and things like that, but until now, the office’s role has not been to questions decisions of local governments. But it may very well be that under this government, the auditor-general will be more interested in what is happening in different municipalities.

“Clearly, there are people who are dissatisfied with their municipal government. They feel that the checks and balances for big projects are insufficient to protect the public interest.

“If people ask me to raise an issue with the minister, and they have examples or evidence of things they consider inappropriate, it is my responsibility to bring that to the minister,” Simons emphasizes. “And I will, I always have. I have been successful on a number of issues.”

Simons also thinks that if people feel Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson should know of their particular perspective, they can get in touch with her directly. In other cases, they can contact George Heyman, the minister of the environment and climate change strategy.

When contacting decision-makers, groups are more effective than people making an individual complaint, he says — the better organized, the bigger the groups, the better. “That’s how public servants learn about issues. If a community expresses a particular need, then that need has more chance of being addressed.”

In the new NDP-Green Legislature, Simons has been appointed chair of the select standing committee on children and youth. The committee is to receive the reports of the representative of children and youth — formerly the children’s commissioner — and to request investigations related to child welfare.

The other nine members of the committee have not been selected yet, but Simons already has a list of topics he would like to see investigated. “Our focus will be on youth aging out of care, and the supports for them that are missing. Children and mental health is an important topic. And then there is the federal government’s failure to adhere to the human rights tribunal ruling that First Nations children are discriminated against by systemic underfunding of programs and services that can keep them out of care. Seven per cent of our population is indigenous, while 63 per cent of the children in foster care is indigenous. As far as I’m concerned, we can only talk of true reconciliation when we have addressed these huge injustices.”

The new government has made a commitment to empower the select standing committees.

“Image!” Simons says enthusiastically. “For so long, policies have been dictated to the House and voted on. But my committee, which will be made up of 10 members of the Legislature: 5 NDP members, 1 Green member and 4 Liberals, will bring issues to the ministry of children and family development, the ministry of health, the ministry of education, and the ministry of social development and Poverty Reduction, and help formulate policy. I’m very excited about this committee.”

As an MLA, Simons still represents his constituents in the Legislature, and he is aware there are many contentious issues on the Coast. “Maybe contentious is not a good word. Let’s call it differences of opinion. My role is to help with legislative change, if possible.”

What do you think of the decision of Gibsons Town Council to sell land to Trellis for a for-profit care facility in Gibsons, a decision that was made behind closed doors?

“It is strange to think that changing a location will make the opposition go away. I don’t believe Vancouver Coastal Health can unilaterally decide that we will have for-profit care facilities on the Coast. People who are concerned should very clearly express these concerns to Adrian Dix, the minister of health. I’ve already had a lengthy discussion with him about this issue. He is aware and fully briefed and is seeking input from community members. I know he has spoken with people who have diametrically opposed views. I don’t know what he can do with respect to contracts, but he is the minister of health.

“We need a regional plan. I know that people north of Sechelt are concerned about the distance to Gibsons. It is telling that Trellis has not abandoned Sechelt as a proposed location; it wants to keep an iron in both fires.

All I can say is, contact me, and contact the ministry of health. I’ll keep informing the minister what the sentiment is. Vancouver Coastal Health is part of the government, so they do not need to be contacted, really, but they might want to be.”

Last week, 75 angry people showed up at a protest meeting against the plan to use Pratt, Chaster and Rosamund Roads in Area E as the only access to the Gospel Rock development in Gibsons. They fear a massive traffic increase. You sent your regrets because you had to be in Victoria. Do you have any thoughts on a solution to the problem? Should there be development first, and then infrastructure? Or should infrastructure precede further development on the Coast?

“I’m sorry I could not be there. Strange that the two people of the ministry of transportation and infrastructure who were invited did not show up.

“As for development and infrastructure, it is very complicated. I’ve been told that right now, we don’t have enough fresh-water sources for the permits that are in line to be approved on the Sunshine Coast — including the Gibsons aquifer. This problem is obviously something that needs to be addressed. And look at our main road: what are we going to do with this extremely busy highway? At what point do traffic numbers dictate that we need to do something? And what is the impact of doing something going to be?

“As for Pratt Road, the ministry of transportation has to find a solution. I totally want to go to the next meeting about Pratt Road to hear the concerns.”

Much has been said about the ferries lately. Do you want to add anything?

“Yes. I hope the 15-per-cent fare reduction will be implemented as soon as possible. Something else that needs to be addressed is the special discounts that don’t apply on the Sunshine Coast route. Fares for trailers are 50-per-cent less if you go to Nanaimo, but full price if you go to Langdale.

“It’s ridiculous that 12-year olds have to pay adult fares. The Experience card is unfair. People on limited incomes do not have the capacity to top up the card to the $115 minimum, so they are unable to achieve the discount.

“The fares should be fair and in keeping with the goals of our province. We live in a community that provides great wealth to this province. But even if we [didn’t], as British Columbians we should make sure all our communities are accessible. We share the cost of forest fires, we share the cost of snow clearing, we share the cost of health care. I see no difference with transportation.”

Did you hear about the opposition against a new, temporary homeless shelter in Sechelt?

“Yes. Are people worried that we have to have homeless shelters at all? I’m concerned I was not briefed ahead of time. We need a place where people who have no home can find shelter.

“We also need out-of-the-box thinking about other solutions, because there is no way we can build the housing stock needed to meet the province’s demand. We know businesses are suffering because of lack of affordable housing for workers. There is an urgent need for housing for seniors. There is a serious lack of affordable housing. And now we have no place for people with any home.

“In the meantime, people like [Sechelt shelter outreach worker] Nick Gaskin are part of the solution by bringing up alternatives. That’s going to be part of the strategy of our new government. We need not only long-term plans, but immediate plans, too.

“The use of Crown land is one of the potential out-of-the-box solutions. It’s complicated, but it can be done if we make sure that it’s safe. The government needs to make different options available by directing resources. Obviously we are in need of figuring out a lot of short-term plans.”

Simons is happy with the direction the new government is taking. “We are changing the tone of the government of British Columbia from one that focused on wealthy corporations to one that focuses on the needs of the people. I look forward to that and I’m excited,” he says.