All of New Westminster's provincial candidates agree the global climate is changing - but opinions vary on whether it's a hoax that will be better understood by future generations or an issue needing immediate action.
More than 75 people attended a May 1 all-candidates forum hosted by the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce. Candidates fielded questions on a variety of topics, including Royal Columbian Hospital, pipeline construction, transportation, debt and climate change.
Green party candidate Terry Teather said his party has been looking into climate change for more than 25 years.
"It is the biggest issue of our time, ladies and gentlemen," he said. "If we don't start now, it's going to affect our children, their grandchildren and future generations for many years to come."
The Green party proposes a series of initiatives to combat climate change including raising the carbon tax until emission targets are reached and putting caps on greenhouse gas emissions for the 10 largest emitters.
Libertarian candidate Louis Dahlby said concerns about climate change are "a bit ridiculous" because the changing climate is part of a trend that's been underway for years.
"Climate change is an asinine term to use," he said. "We have always had climate change. This area was covered in glaciers 20,000 years ago."
Dalhby said the climate has been warming for the last 18,000 years, and the oceans have been rising. He said the issue is "way overrated" and suggested young people will one day realize what a "hoax" the issue has been.
"Yes, the climate is changing. Science tells us at one time New Westminster was under a glacier," said Conservative candidate Paul Forseth. "I remember elderly people talking about how they would take sleighs across the Fraser in winter. We are gradually changing. We have to look at science and say, what is science telling us and who is standing in the way, what are the barriers?"
Forseth said there are limits to what government can do, but it does have a role in helping individuals understand the things they can do to have a smaller footprint on the environment. "We certainly can lead by example through public education," he said.
NDP candidate Judy Darcy said she found it astonishing that the provincial budget introduced by the B.C. Liberals made no mention of climate change. She said an NDP government would renew B.C.'s climate action plan to meet legislated greenhouse gas targets, lead the call for a national energy and climate change strategy because Canada has a "shameful" record on the world stage, invest a portion of the carbon tax revenues in transit and expand the energy efficient retrofit program.
"Let's be very clear - since 2001 we have come a long way in British Columbia, and the NDP has voted against us every step of the way," said Liberal candidate Hector Bremner. "We were the first region in North America, still the only region in North America, to implement a carbon tax."
According to Bremner, the B.C. Liberals have been able to both grow the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. During their time in government, he said the B.C. Liberals have been shutting down beehive burners, pushed for green energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions - something he said no other region has been able to do.
Independent candidate James Crosty said he's recently become more aware of the issue of global warming, after a coal export facility was proposed across the river at Fraser Surrey Docks.
"The government can do a lot," he said. "They have to have the will, the desire and the pressure from people like you to make that happen."
Crosty said addressing the coal export facility is a "small piece of the puzzle," but it could make a difference and give people the confidence to move forward on bigger environmental issues.
