To provide North Shore residents with a meaningful civic update, Sherry Soltani—LJI journalist from Skyrise Media Society and Parvaz TV —sat down with Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale and BC’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. The wide-ranging interview, produced by Skyrise Media and aired in early May 2025, offered a clear and heartfelt overview of the challenges facing the region—and the work being done to meet them.

 Sherry Soltani – Local Journalism Initiative

Minister Ma shared the provincial government’s ongoing efforts to expand affordable housing. “We need to make sure that people aren’t priced out of their own communities,” she said. With over 92,000 housing units completed or underway across BC, she outlined multi-level strategies including investments in rental housing, supports for homeownership, and new legislation to increase density on the North Shore.

Transportation was another key focus. “The North Shore is growing,” Ma said, “but our infrastructure hasn’t kept up. We need smart planning to meet both current and future demand.” She discussed long-term efforts to extend rapid transit to the region, working in coordination with TransLink and Metro Vancouver municipalities.

Investing in Families: Childcare and Community Services

Sherry Soltani raised the topic of family life and affordability, prompting Ma to elaborate on the $10-a-day childcare program and other supports for working families. She explained that over $250 million has been invested in childcare services and subsidies in the North Shore region alone, helping reduce financial pressure on families and enabling greater workforce participation—especially for women.

Emergency Preparedness and Climate Action

Reflecting on her tenure as Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Ma acknowledged the intensifying threat of climate disasters across BC. She emphasized the province’s investments in wildfire response, flood mitigation, and community preparedness, while also calling for collective action on long-term climate resilience.

“We’re in a new era,” she said. “We need to build a province that’s ready—not just to respond, but to withstand what’s coming.”

On community engagement, she spoke movingly of her relationship with the Iranian-Canadian community: “I’ve been deeply moved by the courage and unity... It’s an honor to walk alongside you in both grief and hope.”

Bowinn emphsized that “Local media plays a vital role in keeping people connected to the issues that affect their daily lives,” said Bowinn Ma. “Community outlets like yours help ensure that everyone has access to the conversations shaping their future.

Bowinn Ma envisions a North Shore that’s affordable, connected, and climate-resilient. “We need smart, forward-looking planning that puts people at the center,” she said

Reflecting on the conversation, Sherry Soltani added, “Conversations like these are vital. They remind us that civic engagement begins with listening—and grows with understanding. Local media has a responsibility to bring important updates directly to the people we serve. When our communities are informed, they are better equipped to participate, to advocate, and to thrive.”