Nicola Spurling, the BC Green Party candidate for Coquitlam-Maillardville, has worked in underpaid positions and currently owns a small construction company. These experiences inspire Nicola to push for societal equity, including strengthening human rights, providing affordable housing, uplifting marginalized people, focusing on reconciliation, implementing a universal basic income, livable wages, and climate action.

Nancy Furness – Local Journalism Initiative

Nicola says the BC Green Party is environmentally conscious and supports good governance. She says the Green Party does not have ‘whipped’ votes, thereby allowing elected Green representatives to represent their constituents. Nicola says a citizens’ assembly would be a positive step because, “When politicians get elected, they’re supposed to represent your view, not their views.” She says, “Let the people help craft the legislation that impacts their lives.”

The world is transitioning away from fossil fuels and Nicola says it doesn’t make sense to use taxpayers’ dollars to subsidize a dying industry. She says, “It makes far more sense to put that money towards new and emerging economies that are going to be profitable for the Province well into the future.”

Putting a price on fossil fuel use via a carbon tax incentivizes finding more sustainable ways to operate businesses, according to Nicola. She says a ’net-neutral’ carbon tax “is not a tax that negatively impacts the average citizen.”

Nicola is a long-time advocate for the TriCities LGBTQ2+ community. She says SOGI 123, education, engagement, and updating the Human Rights Code are all critical to reduce marginalization.

The BC Green’s housing plan includes building 26,000 units a year including affordable housing on under-used public lands. While Nicola supports BC NDP’s housing legislation, she feels more municipal consultation was needed. Access to housing will help to reduce strain on public healthcare.

Nicola says finding a doctor and long wait times are issues in her riding. She supports having “a clinic in each community where services can be quickly accessed.”

With respect to BC NDP and Conservatives plan for expanded involuntary mental health and addiction care Nicola says, “Why are we making this step to say let’s forcibly put people into care, when we can’t even take care of the people who want it?” She also questions whether expanded involuntary care is legal under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.