BC Green Party Fraser Nicola Jonah Timms 2020 BC Election

Jonah Timms is the BC Green Party Candidate for the 2020 BC Election in the Fraser Nicola Riding. Jonah sits down with Gareth Smart the HUB Online Networks Civic Journalist.

Jonah is the son of a small town single dad who relied on several non profit groups just to get by. Jonah received several scholarships to go to university for geography, where he met his now wife. They were involved in several environmental groups and has now ended up in Lillooet where he is the first nations relations advisor for the ministry of forests.

When asked about Indigenous reconciliation Jonah says that the government hasn't been doing enough. BC has taken some good first steps, but that laws need to be changed to take indigenous values into consideration.

When asked about the snap election and whether or not Jonah was in talks with the Green before the election, or did he have to scramble when the election was called. Jonah said that he had put his name forward before the election but only because there were rumours of the possibility of the snap election and once it was confirmed he started jumping through all of the hoops to be confirmed. This is Jonah's first time running for a political office. At 26, Jonah is still not the youngest person running for the green party.

Some of the major Green Party platform points involves eliminating subsidies on fossil fuels, including early childhood education into the school system. There is also a 500 million dollar renter support system, a small business support system and a mental health investment that will help destigmatize people dealing with mental heath issues.

When asked what Jonah feels that he can accomplish in the Fraser-Nicola riding, he said that he is hoping to help impact the health care system in the area and help businesses that are finding it tough, championing the renters support part of the larger party promises. Jonah says that he is in support of the lumber industry as long as it is done environmentally responsible.

Low lights of campaigning includes not being able to go door knocking, but a highlight involves a car wave event in Clinton and visiting the various farmers markets around the riding. Jonah's work has taken him all over the riding, but this campaign has taken Jonah for the first time to the highway between Ashcroft and Merritt, when asked about the copper mine on that highway, Jonah says that he sees the need for them as they are a great tax source to the government and a great support for the surrounding small communities, however when these larger projects are created, the indigenous communities need to be involved and the land, rivers, forests and animals need to be protected as well.

On days when Jonah is not campaigning you can find him hiking, playing video games such as Halo the Master Chief Collection or maybe even Dungeons and Dragons provided he has enough time which in in short supply at the moment. Jonah's wife been a big help to him, driving him to and from events on the weekends, "without her I would be very tired" Jonah said after the interview.