Eduardo Vazquez-Vela
Council · Whistler
Cheakamus 16 yrs
About
Born in Toronto, raised in Mexico, Lawyer, Masters in Public Administration, 16 years Whistler resident and 28-year entrepreneur. I’ll ensure sensible spending, streamlined muni services, accountability and and long-term protection for the community
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.
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Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels.
No response
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Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
No response
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
✓
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
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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.
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?
My contribution has been through the daily choices I make and the ones I bring into how I run my business and my daily life. I drive an EV and actively work to cut down on plastic use, on reducing waste and sourcing locally, which has both environmental and economic benefits for our community.
Questions for Whistler
What should Whistler's top priorities be over the next four years to prepare for climate-related risks such as extreme weather, wildfire impacts, and changing environmental conditions?
Wildfire has to be our top priority — it's a matter of when, not if. We need real investment in FireSmart programs, fuel management, and clear evacuation routes so residents know the plan before a fire, not during one.
Second, we need to prepare our infrastructure for extreme weather by planning and setting aside funds now, before damage forces us to react. We need to attract all weather economic investements.
Third, we should keep pressing Victoria for our fair share of funding, including fixing Highway 99, which is also our main evacuation route.
Whistler needs to be prepared, not just reactive
Second, we need to prepare our infrastructure for extreme weather by planning and setting aside funds now, before damage forces us to react. We need to attract all weather economic investements.
Third, we should keep pressing Victoria for our fair share of funding, including fixing Highway 99, which is also our main evacuation route.
Whistler needs to be prepared, not just reactive
How should the Resort Municipality of Whistler strengthen its partnerships with community organizations to advance environmental sustainability, climate action, and community resilience?
Cut municipal spending on outside consultants and establish formal Volunteer Resident Committees, giving neighborhood associations and local groups a direct seat at the table to shape climate, planning, and sustainability decisions
Partner directly with stratas, local homeowners, and the Cheakamus Community Forest through a locally funded FireSmart rebate program, while coordinating with community organizations on a real-world Highway 99 evacuation stress test
Collaborate with neighborhood coalitions to fiercely defend the Official Community Plan, ensuring dedicated parks, wetlands, and green spaces (like Legacy Way) are protected from rezoning as vital ecological buffers.
Cut permitting red tape to partner with local businesses and private investors in creating indoor recreation (like cinemas and bowling alleys), building a diverse, weather-independent economy that thrives with or without snow.
Partner directly with stratas, local homeowners, and the Cheakamus Community Forest through a locally funded FireSmart rebate program, while coordinating with community organizations on a real-world Highway 99 evacuation stress test
Collaborate with neighborhood coalitions to fiercely defend the Official Community Plan, ensuring dedicated parks, wetlands, and green spaces (like Legacy Way) are protected from rezoning as vital ecological buffers.
Cut permitting red tape to partner with local businesses and private investors in creating indoor recreation (like cinemas and bowling alleys), building a diverse, weather-independent economy that thrives with or without snow.
What indicators should Council use to evaluate Whistler's success beyond economic growth and tourism, and how would those indicators influence your decision-making?
Housing affordability
Rental vacancy rate
Wildfire and climate resilience
Health of our natural environment
All of these indicators would shape my decisions directly, they have to help affordability, resilience, quality of life and benefit locals and visitors
Rental vacancy rate
Wildfire and climate resilience
Health of our natural environment
All of these indicators would shape my decisions directly, they have to help affordability, resilience, quality of life and benefit locals and visitors
Whistler's natural environment is central to its identity, economy, and quality of life. What actions would you prioritize to protect local ecosystems, biodiversity, and watershed health over the next four years?
Whistler's natural environment is our economy, our identity, and our quality of life all at once.
Recognize that Wildfire resilience is also ecosystem protection, well planned FireSmart programs and fuel thinning protects our infrastructure as well as the forests and watersheds.
Our water infrastructure is aging , we need to make sure we set aside funds to maintain and replace it.
Respect of our OCP, we can build responsibly without affecting protected and sensitive areas.
Protecting our natural resources is not a cost to the economy, it is what our economy depends on.
Recognize that Wildfire resilience is also ecosystem protection, well planned FireSmart programs and fuel thinning protects our infrastructure as well as the forests and watersheds.
Our water infrastructure is aging , we need to make sure we set aside funds to maintain and replace it.
Respect of our OCP, we can build responsibly without affecting protected and sensitive areas.
Protecting our natural resources is not a cost to the economy, it is what our economy depends on.
As Whistler continues to evolve, how would you balance growth and development with environmental protection and long-term climate goals?
Growth with environmental protection and climate resilience aren't opposites, they need clear rules that become the foundation of our community and local economy. Future development must respect our ecological limits and Official Community Plan.
Prioritize housing strictly avoiding encroachment into sensitive ecosystems and high-risk wildfire zones
Shift focus from vehicle capacity to reliable, electrified public transit and expanded active transportation networks along the Valley Trail
Every major decision should make sure it makes Whistler more resilient to wildfire and extreme weather and that it benefits residents as well as visitors, we should always remember we are a resort town.
Prioritize housing strictly avoiding encroachment into sensitive ecosystems and high-risk wildfire zones
Shift focus from vehicle capacity to reliable, electrified public transit and expanded active transportation networks along the Valley Trail
Every major decision should make sure it makes Whistler more resilient to wildfire and extreme weather and that it benefits residents as well as visitors, we should always remember we are a resort town.
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