Marianne VanBuskirk
Council · Salmon Arm
Downtown 33 yrs
About
Marianne VanBuskirk has lived in Salmon Arm for 33 years as a community volunteer & local leader with a proven track record in effective governance, protecting the environment, and establishing good Indigenous relationships.
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.
Supportive
✓
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.
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.
✓
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 attended municipal planning meetings and supported local environmental bylaws.
I have approved and overseen the SD83 Environmental Advisory Working Group.
As a Board of SD83, we have collaborated to review our policies and update them to be current as of 2026.
I have volunteered for the Shuswap Trail Alliance in various capacities.
I have volunteered at Larch Hills to assist with the trail development, to raise funds for the new chalet, and more.
I currently serve on the City of Salmon Arm's Active Transportation Advisory Committee and also formerly served on the Active Transportation Task Force.
I always encourage collaboration with First Nations Bands - they are the Rightsholders of the land, and they have much knowledge on ways to protect the land, air, and water.
Personally, I have always engaged in maintaining my home so that it reduces the carbon footprint. I partake in all recycling and compost models which the City has introduced. I have also recently downsized to a smaller home and a smaller vehicle.
I have approved and overseen the SD83 Environmental Advisory Working Group.
As a Board of SD83, we have collaborated to review our policies and update them to be current as of 2026.
I have volunteered for the Shuswap Trail Alliance in various capacities.
I have volunteered at Larch Hills to assist with the trail development, to raise funds for the new chalet, and more.
I currently serve on the City of Salmon Arm's Active Transportation Advisory Committee and also formerly served on the Active Transportation Task Force.
I always encourage collaboration with First Nations Bands - they are the Rightsholders of the land, and they have much knowledge on ways to protect the land, air, and water.
Personally, I have always engaged in maintaining my home so that it reduces the carbon footprint. I partake in all recycling and compost models which the City has introduced. I have also recently downsized to a smaller home and a smaller vehicle.
Questions for Salmon Arm
How will you prioritize implementing actions identified in the Climate Resilience Plan that target community emissions from buildings and transportation to reach a 48% GHG emission reduction by 2030?
To reach this target (48%), we must focus on the two largest sources of emissions which are transportation emissions and building emissions.
Transportation - improving transit by optimizing bus routes, increasing service frequency, and supporting the development of electric buses; continuing to serve on the Active Transportation Advisory Committee to support the active construction of multi-use paths and pedestrian walkways; revisiting laws regarding EV charging.
Buildings - Learn more about the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code for new construction; agriculture and greenhouse improvements can be researched; partner with provincial and federal programs for grants, info, promotions (i.e. heat pump installs, energy efficient appliances, etc.)
Transportation - improving transit by optimizing bus routes, increasing service frequency, and supporting the development of electric buses; continuing to serve on the Active Transportation Advisory Committee to support the active construction of multi-use paths and pedestrian walkways; revisiting laws regarding EV charging.
Buildings - Learn more about the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code for new construction; agriculture and greenhouse improvements can be researched; partner with provincial and federal programs for grants, info, promotions (i.e. heat pump installs, energy efficient appliances, etc.)
During recovery after an emergency like a wildfire, flood or heat event, support and resources from all levels of government are lacking. What will you do to ensure that your constituents are supported during and after such an event?
We can check on and safeguard vulnerable residents both during and after such events. Many of them might not have a voice, or might not be physically able to enlist the help of services. We need a proper check-in system, or we can create an active list / roster of where the vulnerable citizens are located and what steps can be taken to ensure their homes are receiving clean air or that they have access to cool spaces. Establishing a local volunteer registry and having neighbourhood check-ins would be helpful.
Try to be preventative, rather than only protecting during and post event. Ensure there is a wildfire plan in place. A heatdome notification system is a must. Plan for atmospheric river events (flooding) especially for those along the Shuswap River. Plan for floodplain areas - those homes which are vulnerable along rising lakes and rivers.
Try to be preventative, rather than only protecting during and post event. Ensure there is a wildfire plan in place. A heatdome notification system is a must. Plan for atmospheric river events (flooding) especially for those along the Shuswap River. Plan for floodplain areas - those homes which are vulnerable along rising lakes and rivers.
Campaign contributions
Public records from Elections BC — 5 contributions totalling $1,010.00.
2022 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS
1 contribution · $360.00
| Contributor | Date | Amount | Office | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARIANNE VANBUSKIRK | Aug 30, 2022 | $360.00 | BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE | NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP SCHOOL DISTRICT |
2018 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS
4 contributions · $650.00
| Contributor | Date | Amount | Office | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NANCY COOPER | Sep 14, 2018 | $100.00 | BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE | NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| SUEMICK FORD | Oct 13, 2018 | $100.00 | BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE | NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| MARIANNE VANBUSKIRK | Sep 14, 2018 | $300.00 | BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE | NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| MARIANNE VANBUSKIRK | Oct 22, 2018 | $150.00 | BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE | NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP SCHOOL DISTRICT |
Compiled & presented by
Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.
© 2026 Vote4Tomorrow