Voters have a new opportunity to check out where Rossland municipal candidates stand on their council’s potential to move forward with climate change and sustainability measures.
In most parts of the world now, in every election climate change and a sustainable environment are major concerns for voters. Since it is important to find out about the environmental views of West Kootenay candidates in the November 15 municipal election, concerned West Kootenay citizens got together to survey the candidates on key questions. Rossland candidates have the local version of the survey in their inboxes as we speak and their responses will be posted on a widely circulated website on or before Wednesday November 12.
“Might they show more interest in informing voters than Castlegar candidates did?” wonders Antoinette Halberstadt, a member of the Rossland - Trail - Fruitvale Dogwood Initiative group working on this local survey. When an earlier version of the survey went to candidates in Nelson, Castlegar and the surrounding districts, 100 per cent of Nelson’s candidates and only 33 per cent of Castlegar’s ten candidates responded.
“While we understand how busy candidates are at this time, when they choose not to complete the survey it really speaks volumes to where they are at with environmental, community and democratic values. I hope Rossland and Trail candidates all choose to complete it so the voters can see where they stand on these super important issues,” says Halberstadt.
Janet McIntrye expressed her hopes: “It’s a privilege to live in such a vibrant community as Rossland. The successful municipal election candidates will face a wide array of issues and I hope they will use their influence during decision-making processes to place green solutions as their top priority.
A Trail youth said, “I’m hoping candidates reveal some real plans and actions for a more sustainable and environmentally responsible region and that these are not empty promises. The health of my generation and those after me are depending on it.”
For further information contact Antoinette Halberstadt by phone: 250-608-3454, or email: a1halber@gmail.com