North-Island Powell River forum question covers coast guard, DFO

During an all candidates forum at Powell River Recreation Complex last week, four candidates seeking to represent the North Island-Powell River riding as MP were present to answer questions from the audience in Evergreen Theatre. Jessica Wegg (Green Party of Canada), Glen Staples (Independent), Jennifer Lash (Liberal Party of Canada) and Tanille Johnston (NDP), were on hand for the event hosted by Powell River Chamber of Commerce.

In opening statements, Johnston discussed her background in social work and experience in health care, emphasizing her commitment to respect, honesty, integrity and truth. Lash emphasized her qualifications and experience, particularly in reconciliation, the economy and climate change, and her commitment to advocating for the North Island-Powell River riding.

Staples discussed the historical context of independent MPs and criticized the current political system, comparing it to a choice between two dictators. Wegg highlighted her background in law and her work in criminal defence, emphasizing the importance of due process and her commitment to creating a safe and secure future for children.

Two other candidates in the race, Aaron Gunn (Conservative Party of Canada) and Paul Macknight (People’s Party of Canada) did not attend the event on April 17.

One of the questions from an audience member focused on the ocean and how it is protected: “My question is a two-part one. The first part is that federal organizations such as DFO and our coast guard that service our communities have been gutted. They're under-resourced, undermanned and have been for a while now. I want to know what you what you propose we do about that. The second part is we have organizations like Western [Economic] Diversification Canada that have been and could be extremely helpful in the days to come. What we do need is for those programs to be new, targeted programs. We need to expand and allow access to small business and entrepreneurs in the value-added sector, to export markets that are maybe different than what we have now, and so those are avenues that exist that have not been utilized properly for quite some time. I want to hear what you have to say about that.”

Here are the responses from the candidates in attendance, in the order they were given:

Jennifer Lash, Liberal Party
“Yes, DFO needs to be resourced properly. They need money for research, they need money for enforcement, they need money in many ways, and I will advocate for that. I love the ocean deeply. My children are also commercial fishermen. As an ocean conservationist, we need to look after it.

“We've already committed to expanding the mandate of the coast guard to increase coastal surveillance and do a little bit more work. So there will be, if we're elected, more money going into the coast Guard, so they would play a bigger role on the coast, which I think is exciting, because it will pay off, not only in terms of protection from people trying to smuggle things in, but also safety, because having the coast guard is so good for ocean-going people.

“In terms of diversification, absolutely, if there are existing facilities that we can just change the mandate to improve it, give them money, help them be better at what they do, like Western Diversification, that is easier than trying to create new models for doing that. I’m absolutely interested in helping models like that so we can help small businesses access markets."

Jessica Wegg, Green Party
“What I really love about it is that it highlights what makes the North Island-Powell River area so special, and how our needs aren't the same as the needs of people in Toronto. Our communities aren't the same and what I'm hearing is that there isn't enough support and investment from the government in the things that Powell River needs, and we need to change that.

“We need to make sure we are giving support to every community in Canada, and it's based on what that community needs. We need the coast guard here, we need the DFO here. We've got entrepreneurs who want to be able to make their living off of things and they need to be supported.

“What makes the Green Party so great is that we are able to focus on what our constituents want because we don't have to do what our bosses tell us. [Green Party co-leader] Elizabeth May doesn't tell us how to vote. [Co-leader] Jonathan Pedneault, doesn't tell me how to vote. You tell me what works for North Island-Powell River and that's what I take to Ottawa.”

Tanille Johnston, NDP
“I agree that we definitely need funding in these places. But as far as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, I think we need a little bit of an overhaul. Feedback that I've gotten from commercial industry is that we really need some harvesters, some recent harvesters, at those tables to deconstruct policies and recommendations that are coming through, so they actually work for the whole industry, and not just have people who have been a part of the DFO for decades and decades.

“There's definitely value added for that historical experience and that institutional knowledge. But we need the harvesters in there really letting us know what's going to work for them and what are really good decisions moving forward.

“Another opportunity is in the coast guard having a significant relationship with nations. There's some really great work happening up in the North Island in Port Hardy; they carved some beautiful totem poles. It's really cool how they've partnered with nations to keep our coasts safer.

“Our guardian program is another example of that. We need to expand the guardian program and that relationship with the coast guard.”

Glen Staples, Independent
“All three of those answers I found to be quite good. I can't really add any of my own wisdom. These three candidates have done a great job of bringing up good ideas for that.”

The candidates also answered questions on how they plan to support local businesses and subsidies for large corporations, about government spending and how Canadian resources are harvested and sold, as well as crime and policing, and missing and murdered Indigenous women inquiry recommendations. Questions and answers on transparency in politics and national unity will be published in the Thursday, April 24, edition of the Peak, and at prpeak.com.

General election day is Monday, April 28. For more coverage of the all candidates meeting and other election stories, both local and national, go to prpeak.com/2025-canada-votes.

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