Philippe Lucas Answers Our Questions

Philippe Lucas is running for re-election to Victoria City Council. He has run for office in Victoria several times, succeeding in 2008 with 7042 votes, or 6.87% of votes cast.

In '08 Lucas ran as a Green with Sonya Chandler, but has since left the Party and is currently running as an independent. His answers below are pretty comprehensive, so we're not going to bore you with more details up here. Lucas has a website and we will post more information if it comes up.

Enjoy,
VV

Q: Why are you running and why should I vote for you?

A: While I feel that I’ve successfully represented progressive voices on City Council and the CRD over the last three years, there remain serious social, economic and environmental issues that still need to be addressed in our city and region.

The Environment and Local Food Security: I spearheaded a ban on the land application of biosolids (sewage waste) on farmland in the CRD and introduced a motion calling for a moratorium on the installation of Smart Meters in Victoria. Additionally, I’m working with Synergy Enterprises to make my re-election effort the first carbon-neutral municipal election campaign in Canada.

Economic Sustainability, Lower Taxes and Keeping Resources Public: I was the only councilor to vote to lower the residential tax rate in 2010, and to keep a rail crossing as part of the new Johnson St. Bridge project. At the CRD, I was the sole Director to vote to keep our upcoming sewage treatment project 100% public.

Downtown Vibrancy and A Family-Friendly Victoria: I’m promoting the re-establishment of a downtown local food market and I passed a motion to create family-friendly and car co-op parking spaces in the city’s parkades. and stops have a bench or shelter.

Homelessness, Harm Reduction and Poverty Reduction: I’ve championed a huge increase in affordable housing (including support for secondary and garden suites), and passed motions in support of fixed site needle exchange, the distribution of crack kits and supervised consumption sites.

Q: What issue is most important to you and why?

A: I have focused much of the last term on social justice issues that affect each and everyone one of us, such as homelessness, environmental sustainability, harm reduction and food security, and plan to continue working on these important issues, but will also spend the next three years promoting strategies for community economic development and poverty reduction (particularly childhood poverty) through City Council and the CRD.

Q: What's something people don't know about you?

A: Due to a strong philosophical belief in transparency and accountability, there are very few parts of my life that aren’t on the public record in some form or another, but many residents may not know that every year I dress up as the Easter Bunny to host a huge Easter Egg Hunt at Market Square for local families.

Posted in: Candidates,Council,Election2011,Interviews