Robb Johnstone

Council · Esquimalt

Esquimalt 7 yrs

About

I manage the Esquimalt Run Club and am active in the community as a volunteer. I have attended all Esquimalt council meetings since January. I work in the software industry for a Canadian company that enables charitable giving in the workplace.

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. Supportive

✓ Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems. Supportive

✓ 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. Supportive

✓ Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events. Supportive

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. Supportive

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

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

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. Supportive

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

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

✓ Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife. Supportive

Land Use

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

✓ Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit. Supportive

✓ Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience. Supportive

✓ Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens. Supportive

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. Supportive

✓ Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities. Supportive

✓ Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone. Supportive

✓ Expand EV charging infrastructure. Supportive

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. Supportive

✓ Develop and implement a water security plan. Supportive

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. Supportive

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

✓ Supportive

~ Neutral

× Opposed

– No response

Climate action

How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?

I have volunteered with Green Teams to plant trees in Gorge Park, and reduced my personal carbon footprint by making 90% of my trips by bicycle, as well as committing to zero plastic use in my home.

Questions for Esquimalt

Esquimalt is rapidly losing its affordable housing with rising renovictions and demolitions. What strategies would you promote to ensure affordable housing is built and protected?

With a healthy vacancy rate sitting at 3%, we can look at encouraging the development of more affordable housing in our community. We should be providing incentives to build homes that truly address the "missing middle."

Natural Asset Management (NAM) puts a monetary value on living assets. It is key to Tree Protection. Public engagement for Small Scale Multi Unit Housing (SSMUH) identified tree protection as the number one concern.

Yes, I believe we need to implement a Tree Protection strategy that preserves the important tree canopy which acts as a natural heat sink during climatic heat events. Trees are more than just nice to look at; they are important players in keep our community healthy and vibrant.

With Department of National Defence and SeaSpan expansion, what are your solutions to deal with its impact on the existing challenging rush hour traffic?

I am on record as supporting Restore Island Rail as just one way of alleviating concerns about traffic volume and congestion. While some detractors seem to believe bike lanes increase congestion, the fact is that every bike traveling in a bike lane is one fewer car on the road. That number will only increase over the years as modes of transportation balance out.

A temporary permit has been issued for a private, for profit, sauna business to run in Esquimalt Gorge Park. What are your thoughts on private business in public parks?

I will need to have more information on this, as I already see for-profit vendors at Esquimalt Farmers Market in Memorial Park and Gorge Park. Ribfest vendors in Bullen Field are also for-profit. So although I basically believe in keeping public parks for public use only, there appear to be nuances and exceptions that might limit Council's ability to prevent something like a private sauna business.

What is your position on whether Esquimalt should join an initiative to have local governments recover a fair share of climate costs from fossil fuel companies, eg: Sue Big Oil?

I am not convinced that local governments should be involved in class action lawsuits of this nature. Despite its well-intentioned purpose of the initiative, it would detract significantly from other important work that Esquimalt Council is devoted to. It also positions the community in a political framework, where the stance of local government as I see it should be neutral as much as possible.

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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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