← All candidates · Cowichan Valley Regional District

Alan Sutherland

Director · Area B · Cowichan Valley Regional District

Neighbourhood:: Shawnigan Lake
Years in the community:: 41

About

I'm committed to communication that is transparent, clear, open and honest.

Policy commitments

Buildings

We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.

~ Support electrification of new buildings. Neutral

~ Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems. Neutral

✓ Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security. Supportive

~ Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings. Neutral

~ Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events. Neutral

Climate Justice

Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.

~ Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels. Neutral

~ Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources. Neutral

~ Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters. Neutral

~ Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation. Neutral

Ecosystems

The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.

~ Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being. Neutral

~ Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater. Neutral

~ Prioritize native tree planting in all areas, especially those with low tree cover, higher population densities, and more vulnerable residents. Neutral

~ Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife. Neutral

Land Use

We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.

~ Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit. Neutral

~ Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience. Neutral

~ Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens. Neutral

Transport

Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).

~ Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit. Neutral

~ Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities. Neutral

~ Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone. Neutral

~ Expand EV charging infrastructure. Neutral

Watersheds

Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.

✓ Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water. Supportive

~ Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure. Neutral

~ Develop and implement a water security plan. Neutral

Zero Waste

Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.

✓ Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal. Supportive

~ Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience. Neutral

~ Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible. Neutral

✓ Supportive

~ Neutral

× Opposed

– No response

Questions for Cowichan Valley Regional District

The Cowichan Valley is vulnerable to many climate-related risks (e.g. wildfire, drought, smoke, flooding, heat, local supply chains). How will you address these risks to support our community’s resilience?

In the case of wildfire, follow the guidelines of all our Fire protection services.
In the case of drought, we don't have drought but always minimize your usage and store rain water.In the case of smoke, stay indoors or remove yourself from the threat.
In the case of flooding, stay away from low lands.
In the case of heat, prepare for it with the necessary means.
In the case of local supply chains you have to be specific about what supply chain.

With the lack of snow pack, low river flows & drought here in the Cowichan Valley, will you support a ban on AI data centres with their high water & energy use, plus the broader concerns about AI use?

There is no snow pack in the Cowichan Valley. Snow packs are at higher elevations then our area.
I have no information on AI data centre's to judge their water and energy use.

Fire risk is high throughout BC, including here in the Cowichan Valley. If elected will you advocate for a higher budget and profile for the CVRD's valuable Fire Smart Program for CVRD residents?

We are very well protected in our Cowichan Valley.
We have our BC Wildfire Service in our area.
Every Area in our CVRD has first Class Equipment and personnel to meet our needs.
We don't need a Fire Smart Program. Our BC Wildfire Service and all our Area Fire Departments are the best at being Fire Smart.

What ideas do you have to decrease reliance on personal gas vehicles and improve how people get around the city using low emission transportation methods (e.g., walking, biking, carpooling, bus/transit, EV)?

Car companies, bicycle manufacturers, are all producing the necessary transportation means. BC Transit is first class in providing low cost public transit and its up to individuals what they chose to use.

How would you approach land use and housing policies to ensure that people of all income levels—including low-income residents—have access to safe, affordable homes that are also resilient to a changing climate?

You can't approach land use if you don't own it.
What is an affordable home. Give me an example and the expected cost.
Your claim of a changing climate doesn't tell me if it's getting hotter or colder.
Either way you have to be well insulated.

Compiled & presented by

Questions compiled by local non-profit 'One Cowichan' (One Cowichan Community Education Society). We are not registered as a third party sponsor.

Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.

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