Petrina Arnason
Running with the BC Green Party

鈥� Candidate鈥檚 age:  No age provided
鈥� What neighbourhood of 91原创/Aldergrove/Abbotsford do you live in? Murrayville
鈥� How many years have you lived in 91原创 or Abbotsford? Over 20
鈥� Have you held political office in past?  Yes. Township of 91原创 Councillor from 2014 - 2022
鈥� Profession: Retired

Candidate Bio
I have lived in the 91原创s for more than two decades and during that time the ongoing pace of growth has been unprecedented. 
Recent changes to our community have come at the cost of an unaffordable housing, increased homelessness, more crime, and a lack of social infrastructure. 
I received a masters of environmental studies and law degree at York University in 1994 and served on 91原创 Township council from 2014 to 2022.
I currently serve on many other boards and was recently elected to the United Way鈥檚 community-based senior services board.
If elected, I will use my considerable education, political experience and acquired knowledge to advocate for new social and physical infrastructure, school funding, support for seniors, public safety, and more affordable housing.
 
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鈥� Phone: 604-340-5278
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Candidate Questions
We asked all candidates a question about how they envisioned 91原创 in 20 years, and what they and their party would do to get us there: 
This election is an opportunity to elect an MLA to help build a better community. 
I envision a vibrant and walkable 91原创s community with transit and infrastructure to support alternative transportation, with development providing density and affordable housing options, with parks and tree canopy for climate mitigation.
The BC Greens 2024 platform provides bold political leadership and a fact-based 鈥渨ell-being framework.鈥�
Our party would enhance the social safety net to lift people out of poverty by doubling provincial income and disability assistance rates.
Our communities also require safe, efficient, and effective transportation and transit. A holistic review of the existing service model and a defensible business plan is needed for SkyTrain.
Everyone needs a place to live. 
We would build more non-market housing and expand SAFER and other supports. We also need to build  鈥渞ent geared to income鈥� units to secure below market affordable rental housing.
Health care is a number one priority. 
Some of the gaps should be addressed by securing a family doctor for everyone, creating an enhanced public mental health-care system, enacting harm reduction strategies, and building a new hospital with a campus of care with seniors housing.
Homelessness is a complex and growing power in our community. 
We have a strategy to address a wide variety of populations that would save significant tax dollars otherwise spent on social services.
Education is also critical to our community. 
We would deliver expanded and expedited educational services including more early childhood options and after school care.

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Andrew Mercier
Running with the BC NDP

鈥� Candidate鈥檚 age: 39
鈥� What neighbourhood of 91原创/Aldergrove/Abbotsford do you live in? 91原创 City
鈥� How many years have you lived in 91原创 or Abbotsford? I鈥檝e lived in 91原创 my entire life, except for a few years in university, when I lived in the Maritimes.
鈥� Have you held political office in past? Yes, I鈥檝e had the honour and privilege of being the MLA for 91原创 since 2020.
鈥� Profession: Labour lawyer

Candidate Bio
I was raised in 91原创 by a police officer and a nurse, with a belief that it鈥檚 important to make a positive contribution to your community.
Over the past 4 years I鈥檝e been humbled to represent my hometown in the Legislature and help make a difference for folks in 91原创.
It鈥檚 been an incredible feeling to help folks out in the community I was raised in with new schools, SkyTrain and a new urgent primary care centre. I hope to be able to earn the trust of the community to continue this work for another term.
91原创 is my home. I attended Blacklock Elementary and L.S.S., and live in 91原创 with my wife and two children. 
 
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鈥� Phone: 604-996-3387

Candidate Questions
We asked all candidates a question about how they envisioned 91原创 in 20 years, and what they and their party would do to get us there: 
91原创 has changed remarkably over the last two decades, and it will continue to change with the construction of SkyTrain. In 20 years, 91原创 will be a major transportation hub bustling with community services. 
We have an opportunity now to get ahead and shape growth by making investments and decisions for services in 91原创.
That is why the BC NDP is making 91原创 a priority. We are focusing on building more housing, removing barriers to new construction and cracking down on flippers and speculators in the housing market.
I hear from parents in 91原创 about the importance of making sure we have classrooms for our kids. We are building and expanding schools across 91原创, from 3,000 new school spaces up the Willoughby slope, to expansions at L.S.S., R.E. Mountain, Nicomekl, and others.
And we will also get more teachers into classrooms by creating a faster pathway to teacher certification for adults already working on-call in our classrooms.
As 91原创 grows, we need to make sure we are keeping up with our health-care needs. People need to know that our doctors and nurses are there when they need them. We will continue to invest in healthcare in 91原创 with a new 300-bed long-term care facility at 91原创 Memorial Hospital, as well as building a brand new hospital down the road in Cloverdale. We will continue to train and hire more nurses and doctors 鈥攁nd we just can鈥檛 afford John Rustad鈥檚 $4.1 billion in healthcare cuts.

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Jody Toor
Running for the BC Conservatives

She chose not to participate in this forum.