Andrew Hamilton

Council · Squamish

Neighbourhood:: Garibaldi Highlands
Years in the community:: 10

About

I am an instructor of Computing and Data Science at Capilano University, a husband, and a father of two boys. I have a PhD in physics from U of A and worked at CERN. I was first elected to the DOS Council in 2022.

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. Neutral

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

~ 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. Opposed

✓ 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Neutral

~ 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. Neutral

~ 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

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?

Personally, I reduce my carbon footprint by riding to work when feasible and drive an EV. I also learn about the core challenges of climate change by reading books like "Not the End of the World" by Hannah Ritchie (2024).

On Council, I am supportive of climate action initiatives while balancing the cost of those initiatives for the community. The novel "Ministry for the Future" by Kim Stanley Robinson (2021) explores a question that comes to my mind often in my Council decisions: we know that the impacts of climate change are continuing to grow; how far are you willing to go to stop it?

Questions for Squamish

Municipal tax rates are determined by council every year to meet community needs. What do you think the Major Industry tax rate should be set at to ensure Woodfibre LNG contributes its fair share of taxes if the project is assessed at $600 million?

Given that a closely related question is currently before Council and WLNG's legal action against the District and Council over the 2025 and 2026 Class 4 mil rates, I will decline to answer this question at this time.

What steps will you take to advocate for the health and safety of Squamish residents in response to excessive and harmful air pollution from Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC’s compressor station?

The community should have the opportunity to have informed conversations about air quality during flaring events. To have that informed conversation, the community needs data from air quality monitoring stations sensitive to flaring emissions. To have that data, the air quality monitoring stations need to exist. I will work toward getting the monitoring in place so we can collect the data and have an informed conversation.

What is your position on the proposed Garibaldi at Squamish, Cheema Lands, and North Crumpit developments?

Garibaldi at Squamish is not within the boundaries of the District of Squamish. It is in the SLRD; therefore, the SLRD should consider it first.

Cheema Lands is inside the District, but outside of our Growth Management Boundary. Therefore, the Growth Management Boundary should be considered before the Cheema Lands are considered.

North Crumpit is within both the District and the Growth Management Boundary. I believe it is a great opportunity to connect Valleycliffe to Logger's East.

Squamish is vulnerable to many climate-related risks (e.g., extreme storms, flooding, sea level rise, wildfire, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat events). How will you address these risks to increase our community’s resilience?

Flooding: build dikes and continue with policies like the flood construction level in the IFHMP.
Wildfires: strengthen the fire-smart program; start fuel-reduction work in interface areas.
Extreme Heat Events: have cooling centers.

How will you continue to collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation?

I have learned a lot from Squamish Nation members and from Tiná7 Cht Ti Temíxw. I will keep listening and learning.

Campaign contributions

Public records from Elections BC — 1 contribution totalling $1,000.00.

2022 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

1 contribution · $1,000.00

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
ANDREW HAMILTON	Aug 31, 2022	$1,000.00	COUNCILLOR	SQUAMISH

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