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Joan McIntyre, Liberal

Joan McIntyre co-founded the polling firm McIntyre & Mustel Research Associates Ltd. in 1980. She sold her interest in the company in 1996 and has since done independent work, concentrating on the qualitative side of the research business.
mcintyre-joan

She spent 12 years on the West Vancouver-Garibaldi Liberal riding executive, including six years as president. She was also on the B.C. Liberal provincial executive for three years. Married and a mother of two, she has lived in West Vancouver-Garibaldi since 1983.

Her website is: http://www.joanmcintyre.com/

Pique: Why are you running?

Joan McIntyre: There are three main reasons. They relate to bringing my personal skills to the table; the listening and interpretive skills that IÕve honed over 30 years in the research business and now have a chance to put those skills into action and to hopefully be a strong voice for the corridor and advocate on behalf of our needs and concerns.

On the constituency level, IÕd like to make sure that the benefits and rewards of this difficult economic turn-around flow back into the communities and families of the corridor. WeÕre going to have a global spotlight on us as we move toward 2010 and I want to make sure that we have VictoriaÕs attention on this riding and that we provide the communities with the infrastructure and the funds they need to reach their goals.

And on the provincial scene, I would like to see this provincial government get a second mandate to keep us on the upward track, to keep going and make sure we build on the momentum and the progress weÕve already made to date.

Pique: What do you see your role as the MLA being?

JM: I think the role of the MLA is to look at the bigger picture. We have nine or 10 communities in the corridor, we have shared interests, shared concerns, but in some circumstance we also have competing interests Ð and even within communities we have competing interests. So I think itÕs important that at a certain level thereÕs a look at the bigger picture and the vision for the whole corridor. But I really think itÕs the role of the MLA to help with the infrastructure, to make sure that communities get to meet their needs, and to helpÉ as a facilitator and make sure that weÕve got balance, that weÕre looking at the social and the environmental and economic concerns in balance, in a perspective so that one is not getting ahead of the other and that thereÕs sort of an overseer of the visions and concerns.

Pique: What do you see or have you heard are issues for voters, in Whistler and throughout the corridor?

JM: In Whistler one of the thingsÉ is to make sure that VANOC honours its commitments to the community. There were some commitments made in terms of land and things like financial tools that I know people are concerned about. ItÕs important that thereÕs someone there to help the community in dealing with those issues. There are First Nations issues that have also been given commitments by VANOC. So I think thatÕs a big role for the MLA to play in the coming years.

I think one of the other issues for Whistler in particular is to help with their Comprehensive Sustainability Plan. They have a long-term look now at 2020 and I think it will be very important for the province to help Whistler achieve some of those sustainability goals. They will need the province to help with some of their infrastructure needs.

There have also been in Whistler, as there has elsewhere in the corridor, lots of land-use challenges. Looking at our competing interests between development and recreation, and even within recreationÉ mechanized or non-mechanized. So again I think it comes back to balance.

Pique: Are land use issues big issues for the whole corridor?

JM: Yes, I think they are. Some of the issues relate to some of the independent power projects Ð the Ashlu that the SLRD was ruling on and things up in Pemberton. In actual fact I feel very hopeful. I think some of these issues have galvanized the different communities. Look at the public transit project: Whistler and Squamish were involved in that together to try and deal with the issue and there now seems to be a will for people to be working together and stakeholders are now more interested in getting to the table. ThatÕs really important because we need dialogue and balance.

I think for Whistler... Whistler is different from some of the other communities in that it is a resort municipality. One of the issues that comes up of course is the fact that the infrastructure is being supported by a small resident base. I think that needs to be looked at. I think some of the taxation issues have to be looked at for Whistler.

Pique: YouÕve said you support independent power projects, in part because weÕre a net importer of power, but is there a need for a more co-ordinated approach?

JM: Yes, to be fair, they have to be looked at case by case. But in principle I support the idea because if they can produce clean, green energy that can be put on the grid, I support that. But I think itÕs really important that thereÕs a right place, that thereÕs a business case and that they arenÕt infringing on other community goals.

But I think the really important thing is the process. I think pretty clearly what weÕre seeing is that we need a focus and I think it should be from the provincial level down to set the guide posts, so that everybody knows what their roles are and what that process is.

Pique: WhatÕs the role for tourism in this province?

JM: This government has absolutely supported tourism. WeÕve doubled funding from $25 million to $50 million, weÕve allowed $2 million to each of the tourism regions, weÕve been very supportive and very unhappy that the NDP is looking at repealing that. ItÕs hard to believe that in a province like this, and certainly in our corridor, that we could be thinking of going back, to me itÕs indicative of going back to the Õ90s of the NDP.

And interesting that the Green Party is talking about a 5 cent per litre fuel tax. Again, hereÕs the corridor, tourism people that need to commute up and down the corridor. And theyÕre also looking at punitive taxes on our resource industries, on forestry and mining and energy. It baffles me. WeÕre now getting industry up and running after 10 years of the NDP driving it out.

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

JM: I think thereÕs a huge role to play and the governmentÕs already been doing that. From talking to some of the Squamish Nation leaders and LilÕwat leaders, theyÕve been very receptive to that. ItÕs primarily economic opportunities.

There is a treaty process that is going on that has probably not been going at a rate that everyone is happy with. But a parallel process is happening with these economic partnerships. I think the B.C. Liberal government Ð in fact IÕm very proud of that Ð theyÕve gone ahead on a number of fronts to make sure that thereÕs training, skills training, and educational opportunities for First Nations and apprenticeships. For instance on the Sea to Sky Highway thereÕs a construction apprenticeship designated for First Nations. And in forestry issues, giving back some of the allowable cut to communities. There have been forestry opportunities for First Nations and theyÕve been very welcome. I know Squamish Nation actually partnered on the defeated Ashlu IPP proposal. ThereÕs opportunity for the Squamish Nation at Porteau Cove, I understand thereÕs a proposed development with Concord Pacific.

And Lyle Leo has been fabulous. HeÕs dealing on a lot of economic fronts. He and I have spent a lot of time talking about looking for the win:win. And both the Squamish and LilÕwat Nations have benefits, cultural legacies from the 2010 Games.

Pique: Affordability is one of WhistlerÕs top three priorities. Is there a role for the provincial government there?

JM: Whistler spent an enormous amount of time and effort and a lot of input from community stakeholders to develop its 2020 plan, so certainly from the provinceÕs perspective, we like to facilitate communities meeting their goals. And affordability is a big part of the 2020 plan. We want people to be able to live and work and play in their own community. The province could play a role perhaps with land and use Crown land that could help with employee housing. Certainly some of the legacies from the Games relate to employee housing.

Pique: Is there a final message you want to leave with voters?

JM: I have a lot of passion and energy for the job. IÕve spent the last eight months really trying to get a grasp on the issues. IÕm very keen to be a strong voice for the corridor. But I think the biggest thing for me is that I really hope when people will go into the polling booth on May 17, that when they make that decision they will look at who they really think is best to lead the province forward and who will keep the economy going strong. And I hope on that basis theyÕll vote B.C. Liberal and theyÕll vote Joan.



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