Post-Forum Answers From Art and Kevin
Kevin Demers and Art Gourley did not attend the by-election forum on climate change, sustainability and the environment. Below are their answers to questions posed during the November 10, 2021 Forum at the Performing Arts Centre:
1. Smart Growth and the OCP. Development, guided by an Official Community Plan and featuring Smart Growth Principles, results in lower taxes for residents, less gridlock, cleaner air and fewer GHG emissions, more green space, more housing options and preserved farmland. Following Smart Growth principles results in new housing being built in the downtown core and an increase in density in the downtown core. Will you advocate for Smart Growth principles in Vernon’s updated OCP?
Art Gourley: Would like the down town area up graded. A transportation system for the downtown area and parking area. Speak to gov. about lower taxes on business people and lower costs for people. More trees added to the downtown area. For shade ect.
Kevin Demers: Yes. Absolutely.
2. Affordable Housing. Many business owners in Vernon are currently having trouble finding and retaining staff. Employees that work in retail, tourism, or the restaurant industry, just to name a few, are often paid BC’s minimum wage ($15.20/hr). “Living Wage For Families, BC” has just released its 2021 update which states that the living wage in the Vernon and Kelowna area is $18.49/hr. The living wage increased across the province mostly due to the cost of shelter and accommodations. If elected, would you make affordable housing a priority so workers can afford to live, work and raise their families in Vernon?
Art Gourley: Give the workers the raise in pay that’s a livable wage. $20 per hour would be good. We are building affordable housing.
Kevin Demers: Yes, this should be our number 1 priority.
3. Urban tree canopies: The urban heat island effect is the phenomenon whereby cities tend to be hotter than the surrounding landscape because trees and other vegetation are replaced with roads and building surfaces that heat up easily. Planting more trees and conserving those we have are effective ways to cool our neighbourhoods. Large trees with mature canopies that cast a wide shadow of shady coolness are far more effective than smaller fruit and ornamental trees. The City of Vernon has a Tree Protection Bylaw (1995) that doesn’t seem to protect urban tree canopies. What will you do about this?
Art Gourley: We will make sure trees are (not removed) and also plant new trees in housing areas, to help shade us.
Kevin Demers: I would be eager to look into this. Living for a span in downtown Calgary has given me an appreciation for a living canopy in the city’s core and it’s positive impact on the community and business.
4. Climate Action Plan. How will you work to support Vernon’s new Climate Action Plan? What do you think are some of its most important actions?
Art Gourley: I will make sure, people who look after that part of our agenda do a good job.
Kevin Demers: Of the nine characterized actions all important to the plan, to me the most important: Assessment, Policy, Project.
5. Development inside sensitive habitat: The City of Vernon continues to approve development on properties with mapped streams running through. One such example is Frind winery development on the dry hillsides above Tronson Road, where sensitive habitat has now been altered beyond recognition. Folks living below found their yards and basements flooded last spring. Instead of using reclaimed water to irrigate grapes, a new $3 million + pump station will be built on Okanagan Lake. How sustainable is this approach, and what will you do to prevent the continued destruction of sensitive hillsides?
Art Gourley: We don’t build on hillsides where bad things can happen. We hire smarter people to figure it out.
Kevin Demers: Not very. If resources can be reclaimed uncontaminated or easily refined, this option should be considered first. A decade consulting on Drilling and Completions projects has given me respective consideration on this topic in planning and reclamation. Always leave a little footprint, if any.
6. Emissions from Transportation. 63% of Vernon’s GHG emissions comes from transportation - from people driving gas-fueled vehicles. What do you see as the most effective ways of reducing the emissions in this sector?
Art Gourley: Maybe build a bypass road around the city for trucks. Electric cars soon.
Kevin Demers: First and foremost, high rises in the downtown core. Density in our core means foot traffic. Let’s not give residents a need to fire up their cars.
7. Emissions from Buildings. 30% of Vernon’s GHG emissions come from buildings. The Climate Action Plan notes that residents have to reduce their emissions by 3% per year (exclusive of population increases after 2020). How can the existing residential stock, currently heated by natural gas, achieve net zero by 2050 and contribute a 50% reduction by 2030? Your thoughts?
Art Gourley: I can’t see a change in the future.
Kevin Demers: I think this is largely a federal and provincial matter but the municipality can be proactive and mindful of its carbon footprint and reduction through project bids and its own fleet and maintenance.
8. Wildfire/Flood Risk. Vernon’s Climate Action Plan identifies areas of wildfire and flood risk. Would you approve new developments in these areas or should the OCP reflect these areas as development-free wildfire and flood mitigation interfaces?
Art Gourley: Certain areas that are known as dangerous should not be allowed to build on.
Kevin Demers: We need options to affordable living. As such, we can do better to mitigate risk. If we push for policy that is proactive in reducing and eliminating climate crisis in these areas, we can further the example of taking action on current risks before they become a crisis.
9. Cosmetic pesticides. SENS and members of the general public have made numerous presentations over the years about banning cosmetic pesticides. How many signatures does it take before the City takes action. If they give us a number, we will collect the signatures. The question is: Do you support banning cosmetic pesticides for the health benefits to residents of Vernon?
Art Gourley: I support banning cosmetic pesticides. It can kill people in time or make you sick.
Kevin Demers: I don’t know enough about this to comment. I’d need to see analysis specific to the area before committing to an answer.
10. Develop with Care Guidelines. Our Province has clear guidelines, and the federal government has laws, that clearly lay out how species at risk and their habitats can be protected when development occurs nearby. Will you support following the guidelines when dealing with developers?
Art Gourley: I support the guidelines when dealing with developers.
Kevin Demers: Yes, absolutely.
11. Growth. The Climate Action Plan forecasted emission (net?) reductions as of 2018 but has not allowed for, or budgeted (on paper) for new carbon footprints associated with population increases. Would you approve new residential growth proposals or rezoning that are not immediately net zero?
Art Gourley: I will approve new residential growth proposals.
Kevin Demers: Yes. While net zero is the goal, deadlines must be pushed back so Vernon can manage its immediate crisis – housing.
12. Electricity generation: Would you support the City exploring using the sewage plant as a heat and electricity generating system (from the methane gas produced) to use locally or feed back into hydro's grid.
Art Gourley: I will support something new to Vernon on electricity generation.
Kevin Demers: While I would support innovative infrastructure int eh city like this, I’d prefer to see analysis on methane production, refinement and sustainable levels of usage as it pertains to this project before commenting further.
13. Solar: Would you support putting solar PV systems on any or all city owned buildings? Solar systems can be installed using $5000 federal grants – cost to install is about $8000for a home. What would you do to encourage such installations?
Art Gourley: Yes, I would support solar systems.
Kevin Demers: The Federal and Provincial governments have gone to great lengths and expense implementing cost analysis that includes replacement, recycling and disposal fees.
14 .Would you regulate domestic cats that roam freely, killing birds at an alarming rate?
Art Gourley: That’s a hard call.
Kevin Demers: If data supports an alarming reduction to any one domestic bird species in our city that is due to household pets roaming.
15. In Burnaby 20% of new condos is reserved for rental housing. Would you support this for Vernon?
Art Gourley: Yes, I would support renting.
Kevin Demers: Yes, though I don’t know if 20% is the number for Vernon, there’s a need for analysis first.