We asked candidates to provide a 300 word (or less) response to the following question: What are the hallmarks of an excellent public servant and how do you epitomize that description? Here are their answers, in alphabetical order. Please note we have not edited or corrected any of the candidates' responses.
South Surrey-White Rock
Former Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts will be carrying the Conservative flag in South Surrey-White Rock, competing for the MP seat in that riding against NDP candidate and environmental lawyer Pixie Hobby, and Green candidate Larry Colero, who has taught graduate-level business ethics at UBC and SFU. Former Surrey city councillor Judy Higginbotham is the riding's Liberal candidate. Also running is the Libertarian Party's Bonnie Hu and the Progressive Canadian Party's Brian Marlatt.
Larry Colero, Green
Did not respond.
Judy Higginbotham, Liberals
Judy has lived in the South Surrey - White Rock area for past 40 years and is a 25 year veteran as a Surrey City Councillor. Judy Higginbotham is a life-long Liberal who has dili- gently advocated for better transportation routes, increased services for youth and seniors, and sought relief from increasing taxes for Surrey. As a teacher for 10 years and active member of the Theatre & Arts community, Judy is passionate about her community and is a hands-on leader.
As recipient of the ‘Business Woman of the Year’, by the Surrey Business Professional Women’s Association, Judy has also received the ‘Solicitor General’s Crime Prevention’ award for her work in national and international crime prevention while serving on more than 40 committees, including:
- Union of British Columbia Municipalities
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Judy supports the Liberals commitment to:
- Investing $60 billion to infrastructure funding over the next ten years, making Surrey light rail possible
- Pledging $1.5 billion for youth jobs over the next four years
- Promising to enhance Canada’s pension plan and boost incomes for low-income seniors
- Cutting taxes for the middle class
South Surrey - White Rock needs Judy for change, real change. Make your vote count on October 19. Vote #TeamJudy2015
Pixie Hobby, NDP
The key is serving the public with honesty, integrity and transparency. An excellent public servant understands that in Canada we have a participatory democracy and this means citizens are involved in both policy development and the decisions made by government.
Here in South Surrey/White Rock we had a Conservative MP, Russ Hiebert, who became infamous for not being available to constituents and not responding to real issues in the community. The most obvious of these was the challenge to our community from US thermal coal trains and trains carrying dangerous goods, travelling through White Rock, Ocean Park, Crescent Beach and up through Delta.
A mark of excellence is a public servant's commitment to listening to the concerns of community members and engaging them in policy and decision making.
I have served the public for over 32 years as a federal government lawyer. During these years, I maintained an excellent service record by listening carefully to federal government officials, concerned citizens, provincial and First Nations governments, and working collaboratively with all of them in the development of policies and laws.
The Senate scandal has been a huge disappointment to many voters. I believe that it is incumbent on all of us seeking public office to work diligently to change the perception that politicians become involved in public life to feather their own nests. I am firmly committed to serving the citizens of South Surrey/White Rock by listening to them and actively engaging them in government policy and decision making to the greatest extent possible.
Bonnie Hu, Libertarian Party
As a Libertarian, I want to decrease the size of government, lower costs to the taxpayer, and maximize personal freedom. As such, I believe an excellent public servant should accept and use as little of the public’s money as possible, encourage free international trade, decriminalize victimless crimes, increase immigration, refuse to engage in international conflicts, and allow private alternatives to health care.
When it comes to tax policies, I will reduce the federal income taxes to a maximum of 15%, and increase the personal income tax exemption to $17,300 from $11,500. I will end corporate welfare, audit the Bank of Canada’s effect on inflation, and gradually phase out government control over the money supply.
I will remove all tariffs and quotas currently in place with regulatory agencies such as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the Dairy Board, and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority.
I oppose the criminalization of victimless crime and will re-evaluate all victimless crimes in the federal criminal code. Law enforcement should instead spend its time and budget on targeting and punishing violent offenders. Sex work and cannabis will be legalized. I will immediately decriminalize the consumption and possession of all other drugs.
I advocate for a more welcoming immigration policy. Immigrants who pass a background check for violent or fraudulent criminal activity should be allowed into Canada.
My non-interventionist policy calls for the Canadian armed forces to only be used for defensive purposes. I oppose the international conflicts that Canada has been involved in for the past decade.
As for health care, I will allow private alternatives for care and insurance, which will alleviate public wait times and cost.
Brian Marlatt, Progressive Canadian Party
Our MPs represent all Canadians and all parts of Canada equally while bringing the voice of our community to Parliament. They do so with a duty to listen and, in so doing, they are empowered to offer us their best judgment when they debate and vote and represent us in Parliament, enlightened by our voices, by the views of their peers in party and parliament in the service of Canadians.
Of no less importance is the responsibility to our community to be a guide and advocate for every individual living in our community when help is needed and for the community itself when interacting with government or seeking its assistance.
Progressive Canadians are guided by Sir John A. Macdonald’s vision of nation-building for all Canadians, the National Dream; Sir John A. described the Tory party as “progressive Conservative.” The PC Party was founded to keep faith with Confederation’s National Dream.
We elect Members of Parliament to the Parliament of Canada, not parties, movements or prime ministers. Our MPs are elected to represent all of us and all of our voices in Parliament, not just supporters or party or even just our constituents although some parties and MPs in recent years - and our most recent prime minister, who believes he is a law unto himself - seem to have forgotten this duty of service. I will not. My duty is to you and to all Canadians, and to hold government to account.
As our PC MP in South Surrey-White Rock this duty of service to you and to all Canadians will be constantly in mind. This includes a duty to listen, be informed and treat with equal respect everyone’s needs and opinion in our community - all of our community - when serving you in parliament, thus enlightened, because good will and integrity matter.
Diannew Watts, Conservative
Did not respond.