The BC Green Party candidate in Courtenay-Comox wants to bring his experience in environmental science and public health to provincial politics.
Jay Van Oostdam is a retired veterinarian who has lived in the Comox Valley for 12 years and spent 25 years studying the effects of environmental contaminants on human health.
He said he values the region’s natural beauty and has volunteered with several local environmental organizations.
Van Oostdam said the region needs better watershed management, more funding for public transit and action to address water restrictions.
He said many local achievements over the past two years have grown out of community initiatives, pointing to progress on the Kus-kus-sum restoration project along the Courtenay River as a positive development.
“I think a lot of the successes [over the last two years] are because people stepped up and did things,” said Van Oostdam. “One of them is the completion of the Kus-kus-sum project by Project Watershed, so that we can restore part of that watershed to support salmon and many other species.”
He said recent land acquisitions to preserve habitat have also been encouraging.
Van Oostdam raised concerns about water security in the Comox Valley, pointing to the return of Stage 3 water restrictions in October as a warning sign.
He wants to promote green energy projects and stop further liquefied natural gas expansion. He also supports balancing the provincial budget and introducing a wealth tax, as outlined in the BC Green Party platform.
“I’d like Comox Valley and British Columbia to become a green energy superpower,” said Van Oostdam. “We have wind, solar, tidal, hydro and geothermal, green power in spades.”
Van Oostdam said a Green government would stop old-growth logging.
He said he decided to run because he felt he needed to step forward during what he considers an unnecessary early election.
“I’ve supported the Green Party for over 40 years, and I felt I needed to step forward in this uncalled for election,” said Van Oostdam. “90 million dollars just for an election.”
Voting day is Oct. 24.
