Candidates for Port Coquitlam Riding Debate Issues

The Port Coquitlam riding is not as contentious as the other ridings in the Tri-Cities. Mike Farnworth, the incumbent NDP party candidate, has been in office since 1991 and has been re-elected to five consecutive terms.

As with the other ridings throughout the Tri-Cities, much of the discussion revolves around the party platforms dealing with COVID 19. Other topics of discussion include their policies in dealing with the resulting economic repercussions of COVID 19, housing / homelessness, and climate change.

The three candidates who took part in this debate hosted by the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce on October 14, 2020 were:

Erik Minty, Green Party of BC -- Mr. Minty is an SFU Engineering Science grad with over two decades experience as an engineer, project manager, consultant and entrepreneur. served on the PoCo Soccer executive, building the referee program and coaching for many years. 

The BC Green Party platform includes; a fair and just transition away from fossil fuels, an immediate ban on fracking, and zero subsidies for fossil fuel corporations with the goal of having a carbon neutral BC by 2045. They are also the only party at this time that is not in favor of continuing with the Site C Dam project

Mr, Minty says that his first personal initiative is a center of excellence for home energy retrofits located in Port Coquitlam. He also says that he will work closely with the federal government towards establishing a fully sustainable basic income.

Mike Farnworth -- New Democratic Party of BC, incumbent;

Over the past 19 years Mr. Farnworth has served as the Official Opposition spokesperson for Justice (Public Safety and Solicitor General), and as the Official Opposition Caucus House Leader. As MLA, he served in numerous cabinet positions, including Minister of Health and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Mr. Farnwoth says that the NDP has a 30-point plan to deliver 114,000 affordable homes over the next 10 years. A key part of their plan is the creation of the “Housing Hub,” which brings together non-profits, community organizations and churches who may have land together with experts in development and building to get new housing projects built.

The NDP is also implementing a comprehensive child care plan expanding the $10/day program and new schools being constructed now have child care spaces in them.
 

Mehran Zargham, Liberal Party of BC -- Mr. Zargham says he strongly believe in public service. He studied mechanical engineering at BCIT, during which time he was the president of Engineers Without Borders and he helped spread fair trade in the campus. Mr. Zargham also has a Master’s of Engineering from UBC.

Mr. Zargham says that the Liberal Party of BC will eliminating the PST for a year and setting it to 3% the next. He says that they will also eliminate small business income tax entirely and will appoint an independent fair-tax commissioner to review all provincial taxes.

Mr. Zargham  also claims that the Liberal Party of BC has a $1 billion dollar seniors plan and $10-dollar per day child care plan.