Miguel Godau

Climate action is a personal initiative that I work to incorporate into my everyday decisions. This includes my composting and recycling habits at home, to shopping choices, to my choice to drive or walk in community, and whether I need to print documents to paper. As president of the Castlegar Arts Council I have partnered with the West Kootenay Climate Hub to publicly support the work they are doing. I am open to learning participating in more initiatives as time and opportunities present.

I need to develop a deeper understanding of where Castlegar currently stands in its energy and sustainability planning before determining what additional steps should be taken. Good decisions begin with understanding what is already working, where the gaps are, and what our community can realistically accomplish.

The Plan provides a long-term vision for reducing reliance on fossil fuels and moving toward a more renewable energy future by 2050. I support exploring renewable energy opportunities and improving energy efficiency, while recognizing that meaningful progress will require cooperation between the City, residents, businesses, and provincial and federal governments.

It is also important to be realistic about what municipal government can accomplish independently. Reducing natural-gas use in existing buildings and addressing emissions from commercial transportation, for example, may require provincial or federal policy changes, technological advancements, and investment beyond the City's direct control.

As a councillor, I would advocate for practical renewable-energy initiatives that make sense for Castlegar, while carefully considering affordability, feasibility, and the long-term interests of taxpayers. Environmental responsibility and fiscal responsibility do not have to be competing priorities. With thoughtful planning, they can work together.

My approach would be to listen to residents, examine the evidence, understand the costs and benefits, and identify opportunities to make meaningful progress. I would rather focus on achievable actions and measurable results than make promises that may not be realistic.

I believe Castlegar can pursue a cleaner and more sustainable future while remaining practical, financially responsible, and responsive to the needs of our community.

We are experiencing the impacts of a changing climate, from wildfire and smoke to drought, flooding and extreme heat. As a city councillor, I would focus on practical, affordable steps that strengthen our infrastructure, protect residents and improve our ability to respond to emergencies.
We need to continue investing in wildfire preparedness and mitigation around neighbourhoods and critical infrastructure. This includes fuel management, FireSmart practices, maintaining evacuation routes and ensuring residents have clear, timely emergency information. We should also identify municipal facilities that can provide clean-air and cooling spaces during prolonged smoke or heat events.
Water security must be another priority. I would support responsible water conservation, efficient municipal systems, protection of watersheds and planning that recognizes increasing drought risk.
Flooding and extreme weather occurrences require ongoing attention to drainage, culverts, roads, bridges and other vulnerable infrastructure. We should use current risk information when planning infrastructure investments and new development, rather than relying solely on historical weather patterns.
Finally, resilience means strengthening our local capacity to withstand disruptions. I would work with regional partners, local businesses, emergency services and residents to identify gaps and improve emergency planning.
My approach would be to work with our council and municipal leadership to advocate for the prioritization of projects based on risk, cost and community benefit. Climate resilience should not be about fear or costly projects for their own sake. It should be about making smart investments, so Castlegar is safer and more prepared.

I believe people should have realistic transportation choices; not simply be told to drive less. Castlegar’s geography and spread-out neighbourhoods make this challenging, and I recognize that cars will continue to be necessary for many residents. My focus would be on adding options, not taking them away.

One of the biggest barriers is walkability. Many of our neighbourhoods, schools, shopping areas and community facilities aren't connected by convenient walking routes. As a council member, I would advocate and support practical investments in sidewalks, safe crossings, lighting, exploring more accessible pathways and better connections between existing trails and neighbourhoods. We should prioritize routes that connect people to schools, transit, shopping, health services, parks and other everyday destinations.

I would also make improving public transit a priority. More frequent and reliable service, better connections between neighbourhoods, downtown and Selkirk College, and improved evening and weekend options would make transit a more realistic choice for more residents.

The goal isn't to eliminate the personal vehicle usage. It is to make sure residents have other practical choices when they want or need them. The City's Community Plan already identifies reducing reliance on personal vehicles, expanding active transportation and improving transit connections. I believe we should build on that work and make thoughtful, practical investments that make it easier to walk, bike, or take transit.

Every person in Castlegar should have access to a safe, stable and affordable housing, and our housing policies need to recognize the climate challenges we are already experiencing.
As a City Councillor, I would focus on advocating for more housing choices while ensuring that affordability and climate resilience are built into how we grow.
First, I would advocate for and support conversation around density increases in areas where infrastructure, services, schools and transportation already exist. Exploring ways to make it easier to build secondary suites, small homes, townhomes, apartments and purpose-built rental housing. More housing options can help seniors, families, young people and working residents find homes that fit their needs and budgets.
Second, increasing supply alone is not enough. I would support partnerships with BC Housing, non-profit organizations, developers and other levels of government to explore options of increasing below or non-market affordable housing, while protecting existing affordable rental housing. We should also support housing that allows seniors to age in place.
Third, climate resilience must be part of housing policy. New homes should continue to be designed to handle extreme heat, wildfire smoke and other climate risks through energy efficiency, heat pumps, passive cooling, shade utilization. We should also encourage retrofits of existing affordable housing so lower-income residents are not left behind.
Finally, we need to plan growth responsibly. Housing should be directed toward areas where infrastructure and environmental risks can be managed, while protecting important green spaces and avoiding unnecessary sprawl.

Castlegar’s natural environment is one of our greatest community assets. I want to help build or continue partnerships that protect what we have, restore areas that need attention, and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the parks, rivers, forests, and trails that make Castlegar home. Community partnerships would be central to this work. I would advocate and support further collaboration with local stewardship and recreation groups, trail organizations, volunteers, schools, Indigenous communities, landowners, regional partners, and residents. By bringing these groups together, we can share knowledge, resources, and responsibility for caring for our natural areas.

I would also support practical initiatives such as community clean-up and restoration events, invasive-species management, native tree and plant restoration, responsible trail development, and public education about protecting sensitive areas. I would also encourage to pursuance of grants and partnership funding for these initiatives to expand what the City can accomplish while being mindful of taxpayer resources.

One of my main focuses, if elected to Castlegar City Council, will be to foster collaboration, open dialogue, and meaningful community engagement. I believe that success in any parliamentary setting depends on creating space for respectful discussion and ensuring that decisions are informed by the needs, experiences, and priorities of the people who live in our community.

As a councillor, I would seek to better understand those priorities through regular community engagement, including polls, surveys, needs assessments, and opportunities for residents to share their perspectives. These tools can help council identify common concerns, understand where priorities may differ, and ensure that community voices are meaningfully considered in the decision-making process.

My role would be to bring those perspectives to the council table and advocate for the needs identified by residents. At the same time, effective governance requires working collaboratively with fellow councillors, staff, community organizations, businesses, and residents. I would strive to foster constructive dialogue, find areas of common ground, and work toward practical compromises when differing priorities arise.

I also believe that collaboration must be balanced with fiscal responsibility. The needs of our community are important, but so is ensuring that public resources are managed carefully and transparently. My goal would be to help council make informed decisions that reflect community priorities while considering affordability, long-term sustainability, and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

I want to contribute to a council culture where residents feel heard, differing perspectives are respected, and decisions are made through open and thoughtful discussion.