James Harasymow

Council · Victoria

Victoria 26 yrs

About

Having worked and owned a business in downtown Victoria for over 25 years I’ve seen a lot of things change. I’d like to see Victoria be a place we can be proud of again.

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.

✓ 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.

✓ 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

✓ 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.

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

Land Use

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

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

✓ Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities. 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.

✓ Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure. 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 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?

Walk to work. Don’t vacation over seas. Worked for Greenpiece Canada.

Questions for Victoria

What are Victoria’s three most important environmental priorities for the next four years? What policies and budgets would you advance, and how would you respond when environmental protection is presented as conflicting with housing or economic growth?

All of my decisions would be based on an environment first policy. As a Métis, I believe in leaving the world in better shape for our next generation than it was when we received it.
•We need improved transportation
•We need better recycling
•We need a free store where people can donate and take things instead of having a middle man like Valley Village.

What policies and investments would you prioritize for the next heat dome to retain mature shade trees, expand canopy in heat-vulnerable neighbourhoods, improve public cooling and drinking-water access, and ensure all at-risk residents receive protection?

We are extremely blessed to live in Victoria and have the cool ocean to keep us from experience in extreme temperature fluctuations like heat domes. If there are simple things we can do to prevent deaths in the future they should be done. I think these steps can be done on a small budget and should be.

What changes to bylaws, development standards and approvals would you support to retain mature trees, Garry oak ecosystems, wildlife corridors, adequate soil and permeable ground to measure and enforce progress toward the 40% canopy target?

Keeping all trees is hugely important as far as I’m concerned. I would increase fines and penalties for the removal of trees.

Which municipal actions would you prioritize to close Victoria’s 2030 emissions gap? What improvements would you require or incentivize, how would you make them affordable and accessible, and what measurable results would you deliver during your term?

I’m not really sure how lacking we are doing at this. With the explosion of E bikes and bike planes certainly finding a way to reduce car. Traffic from the Westshore would be a high priority.

Campaign contributions

Public records from Elections BC — 3 contributions totalling $1,787.62.

2022 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

2 contributions · $1,467.62

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
JAMES HARASYMOW	Jun 6, 2022	$1,176.62	COUNCILLOR	VICTORIA
MATT KUHUKE	Sep 5, 2022	$291.00	COUNCILLOR	VICTORIA

2018 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

1 contribution · $320.00

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
JAMES MARCEL HARASYMOW	Sep 1, 2018	$320.00	COUNCILLOR	VICTORIA

Compiled & presented by

Seniors for Climate Victoria
SI-CAN Natural Asset Management Team
WE-CAN Together 2026

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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