Peter Julian is the NDP candidate in New Westminster-Burnaby. Julian is the incumbent, having served as a New Westminster MP since 2004.
How long have you lived in New West?
I was born and bred in New Westminster. Four generations of my family have lived here. I’ve lived here almost all my life, except when I was back east living and working in Quebec, Ontario and Atlantic Canada. That was for about a decade. Aside from that I have spent my whole life in New Westminster and Burnaby. In fact, my wife and I live on the same lane where I grew up, just a stone’s throw from my parents’ house.
What is your occupation?
Financial administrator. I managed budgets and ran a number of important organizations, including a social enterprise that won consecutive business excellence awards just prior to be elected to Parliament in 2004. In Parliament, the most recent role I have had is the Official Opposition house leader, but I also served three terms as national caucus chair for the official opposition NDP caucus. And I have had all the major economic portfolios from finance to energy, to trade.
Why do you think you’re uniquely qualified to represent New Westminster-Burnaby?
I don’t think I’m uniquely qualified - I think there are a lot of people who could do this job, but I try to work harder than other members of parliament because I believe we have a responsibility. When I have 100,000 bosses and those are the folks that pay my salary, I have a responsibility to work as hard as I can to keep their trust. We have helped in the last 10 years, 10,000 families directly with services out of my constituency office. That’s a record that I think is pretty important, especially when I compare it with other MPs'offices. We’ve got a really dynamic team. We don’t win all the fights, that’s true, but we win many of them and that’s made a difference in the quality of life of the families in this area. I just believe in really hard work, being as accessible as possible and getting as much feedback as possible but I don’t pretend I’m perfect, that’s for sure. That’s why I am running for re-election, so I can keep helping people in this community.
What would be your top priority if re-elected as MP for New Westminster-Burnaby?
Well, there is a number of priorities. You can’t have one priority – we are in too complex of a community. One thing I am very concerned about is Stephen Harper’s cuts to health care, which takes a real effect in 16 months. The impact that is going to have on Burnaby Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital and medical facilities generally is going to be significant. I think the Harper government has kind of covered that up. We are going to fight to restore that funding. Of course if there is an NDP government on Oct. 19, we have committed to restoring all the funding that was cut. Beyond the question of cutbacks, we have also proposed bringing home care in, and that will make a significant difference to the quality of life of seniors in this area because having home care means seniors can stay in their homes longer and it actually saves money for the health care system. The other issues that are important - I’d say there is probably a top five – healthcare being the first, providing support to seniors and raising seniors out of poverty is the second important one. We will raise the Guaranteed Income Supplement and lower the retirement age back to 65 so that will help bring more seniors out of poverty. Thirdly, the treatment of our veterans. We see this with the cuts in services to veterans is something that needs to be reversed. I continue to fight for that, including the fight to provide more funding for veterans hospitals, like the George Derby (Centre). Access to training and education for younger people is something, with B.C. having the highest debtload in the country for students. We need to have a federal government that actually lowers tuition fees and reduces substantially that student debt so more younger Canadians and British Columbians can access post-secondary education training and university. The fifth would be the economy, generally. Part of how we re-stimulate that is by repairing the infrastructure that is deteriorating but also by bringing in a national child-care program, which provides economic stimulus, and lowering the small business tax rate so small businesses can thrive. Those are all elements that can make a difference and will create more jobs right here in New Westminster and Burnaby. Those are my five priorities. It’s difficult – when you knock on doors I’d say those are the five issues that come up most regularly, but there’s a lot of diversity in this area so you wouldn’t be able to say that’s the one issue people care about.
What accomplishment in your life are you proudest of?
The helping of 10,000 families is very important. That’s certainly the political accomplishments I am proudest of. There are family accomplishments that I am proud of and personal accomplishments I am proud of. I will say, helping 10,000 families and seeing the difference that has made is my proudest political accomplishment.
