Carole James

Candidate Profile

Carole James is a political leader who understands her constituency.

Elected MLA for Victoria Beacon Hill in 2005, Carole has repeatedly defended her community against attacks from the Campbell government. Carole led the fight to defend the Mary Manning Centre and its child abuse prevention and counseling services against B.C. Liberal cutbacks. She stood up for seniors living in care at Beacon Hill Villa and Mount St. Mary Hospital. She also successfully lobbied the Vancouver Island Health Authority to keep Laurel House open.

Carole and her community office developed Project ID, which has helped hundreds of residents by providing them with identification needed to access services.

Carole has deep roots in Victoria Beacon Hill. Brought up in James Bay, Carole raised her own children and foster children in the same neighbourhood. Eleven years service as a school trustee saw her act as Chair of the Greater Victoria School Board and President of the B.C. School Trustees Association. While working with the B.C. government, Carole developed childcare programs, and she led a social services agency serving aboriginal people in northern B.C.

As leader of the NDP, Carole has a plan to revitalize BC's forest communities, protect seniors, help working people make ends meet, fix health care, protect BC's environment, and promote a competitive economy that benefits business, entrepreneurs, and working people

Questions

1. Please identify what you believe to be the most important issue in your riding and your plan to address that issue.
   

   I believe these three issues must be addressed:
    The Belleville Terminal is a historical critical link between the USA and Victoria. The Coho ferry annually transports over 205,000 passengers, supports over 3500 full time jobs and generates $127 million in economic activity. That is why it is so important that plans to redevelop the site include a new terminal and docking facilities.
   
    Victoria’s transportation system is overloaded and needs a significant, coordinated overhaul, including immediate transit enhancements and a longer-term plan for light rail transit, better bike and pedestrian pathways, and upgrades to our roads and supporting infrastructure.
   
    The number of homeless citizens in Victoria is increasing and few have any real housing options. We must put resources behind a coordinated response to ending homelessness, working with our local government to provide new social housing units, employment retraining programs and social supports to move people from the streets to supportive and independent housing.
   
   Making these initiatives a priority will serve the interests of the residents of Victoria Beacon Hill.