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Lyle Fenton, NDP

A life-long resident of Squamish, Lyle Fenton served as a Squamish councillor from 1996 to 1999 and has remained active on various issues through his involvement with the water caucus of the B.C. Environmental Network.
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Fenton, 53, is a welder/steel fabricator and hospital maintenance worker. He is married and a father of three.

His website is: http://candidates.bc.ndp.ca/index.php?page_id=1172

Pique: Why are you running?

Lyle Fenton: Well, this is home and I donÕt really like whatÕs happened here in the last four years with the Liberal government dismantling social services and the sort of wholesale sell off of our public assets, resources, and the way that they seem to have a disregard for who they hurt in the process. And really, if you want to look a little deeper, itÕs all being done in a manner that gives the U.S. and the large multi-nationals control, in a way that we most likely wonÕt get back, even if there is a change of government down the road. And I find that quite frightening, really.

Pique: What do you see the role of the MLA being?

LF: Looking after those things that are precious to our society here in B.C. as well as in this riding, and health care, education are some of the things at the top of the list. But thereÕs things like B.C. Hydro, one of the biggest economic generators in the province, thatÕs literally being legislated over to the private sector. Again itÕs international interests, some of whom they wonÕt tell us who they are. Plus issues within the corridor that need to be dealt with in a more equitable manner, a manner of inclusion, rather than making a deal behind the scenes and announcing it later.

Pique: What do you see as the issues in the corridor?

LF: ThereÕs quite a few, it depends where you are. The health care issue: a politician of any stripe that tells you you can have private health care, and just some of it, is wrong. WeÕve had treaties signed, such as NAFTA, and now the free trade of the Americas, the GATT. And weÕre safe protecting our health care like we have it in Canada. Sure we need to fix it, tune it up, but weÕre safe as long as itÕs public. Once we start going private, you open the door to the American companies who have been trying like heck to get in here for a long time. WeÕll have a two-tiered system: if you have money youÕll get health care; if you donÕt you wonÕt.

Pique: How about in this area, Whistler, Pemberton, are there particular issues?

LF: In Whistler-Pemberton weÕve seen these independent power projects, and again theyÕve had minimal input or planned structure as far as looking at them all and deciding whatÕs best for the area and where they should go and shouldnÕt go. These people were waiting with water licences before the last election, just waiting. After the last election they knew exactly what they were going to do. And theyÕre pushing these through as fast as they can. And weÕve seen some of the conflicts that have arisen. This kind of dialogue has to happen up front, and it has to happen in the public interests.

And a larger number of the population now realizes that this is part of a structured plan to do away with B.C. Hydro. It was the independent power producers who put the energy policy to the government. I was first alerted to this when I was on the LRMP, and I challenged them that they were not considering these projects within the LRMP because the government said they were not allowed to. The person representing the independent power producers gave me a copy of what they presented to the government, and thatÕs when I first became alarmed.

Pique: Do you see the need for more co-ordination of IPPs or are they the wrong thing to do?

LF: I have nothing against the run of river projects, done properly and with consideration for the local economy and environment. But to use it to dismantle a public utility, I donÕt agree with. We have to be very careful when we privatize things now because theyÕve put in place these international treaties.

One of the reasons we have reasonably priced power is because we invested in it as citizens a long time ago. It was W.A.C. Bennett who made a Crown corporation out of B.C. Electric. He understood what it took to build a province and what it meant to have economic generators such as energy and railroads and infrastructures.

Pique: Whistler has identified affordability as one of its three top priorities this year, and itÕs becoming an issue throughout the corridor. What can the MLA do on this front?

LF: ItÕs a tough one to tackle because, again, itÕs really open to the market the way it is, thereÕs no checks and balances there. So when you have the Olympics coming along and land speculation driving real estate prices up, itÕs a very difficult one to control. Squamish is seeing it too. Working people can no longer afford a house, even in the way of a condominium.

I guess for one thing we recognize that within limits people need the right to free collective bargaining, sometimes thatÕs necessary so that they arenÕt individually left at the mercy of some people who couldnÕt care about the ordinary individual.

But affordability issues go with the likes of hydro costs, health care. Affordability is all those things.

Pique: Do you see tourism as a growing industry?

LF: I see tourismÕs role increasing, without doubt. We have a beautiful province here, itÕs a jewel. WeÕre bound to see the demand for resort type developments and eco-tourism and the whole gamut. ThatÕs good. We have to diversify our economy. Right now weÕre a resource-based economy and weÕre subject to the fluctuation of commodity prices. ThatÕs really whatÕs driving our economy right now.

But you take a look at what the Gordon Campbell government is doing: theyÕre going to allow mining in parks, theyÕre threatening some of the protected areas and giving up Crown land to the private sector which in some cases is quite questionable, because one of the experiences Europeans and foreign visitors like is the wilderness and that outdoor experience, and we shouldnÕt spoil that.

Pique: WhatÕs the role of MLA in land-use issues?

LF: The local governments are (subordinate to the provincial government), so there is certainly a role for the MLA to have provincial government processes to facilitate the local governments and everyone getting together, or having processes that consider the various interests in that land. The LRMP process was started under the NDP government and that was an attempt to bring people together at the tableÉ and figure out what we can do and eliminate conflict.

I see no reason why there canÕt be Crown land set aside for the likes of affordable housing, so the extreme cost of real estate in a place like Whistler is not a factor. I think there is room for those sorts of things without depressing real estate prices. I canÕt promise that, but the Gordon Campbell government isnÕt going to do that sort of thing. ItÕs a free for all market system, the biggest bully take all.

Pique: What do you see for First Nations in the corridor?

LF: I certainly respect their rights and title. In fact itÕs our courts that have decided yes, they still have those. And I think I demonstrated that when I was on municipal council and the estuary was being sorted out. When the Squamish Nation came forward I passed a motion to say hold it; weÕre not going to accept this plan until the Squamish NationÕs interests are addressed. In doing so it accommodated the Squamish Nation in having use of some of that estuary as well as it gave them an opportunity to purchase some land down around the Porteau area from the government.

But I also say thatÉ the rights of others have to be respected too. And again it comes to how land is used and whatÕs being done. TheyÕre involved with the independent power productions. IÕve said I have no problem with run of river projects. I have no problem with First Nations owning them, operating them. However, I question their involvement in the proliferation of these things as part of the plan to dismantle B.C. Hydro and give it to the multi-nationals.

When Crown land is given away for resorts or other tenure, weÕve got to be very careful that weÕre not simply setting up for the taxpayers of the province to turn around later and have to compensate First Nations for something that weÕve given away without due process.

Pique: Is there one message you would like to leave with voters?

LF: I would say this is possibly one of the most crucial elections in B.C.Õs history, because the Gordon Campbell government is divesting the province of our assets, of public services, our energy corporation, in a manner that we may not be able to correct. And itÕs done in a way that serves corporate America and the United States for the most part.

So what weÕre seeing is this agenda of deep integration with the U.S. but itÕs not out in the public debate and it threatens the very social fabric and economic well being of the ordinary person in B.C.



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