that are paired with trying to pay down student loans while also
pursuing a new career. “People want to feel secure, but if they can’t
find a house they can afford because they are trying to pay down
their student loans, it makes it very hard for them to grow their
careers and take those risks they need to take,” he said. Sy feels the
Greens really understand the affordability crisis in the region. He
highlights that that the Green Party has put together a plan for rental
assistance for those whose rent exceeds their earnings.

The New Westminster riding has delt with a lot over the last year
between COVID-19, the loss of businesses due to coronavirus, and
the burning of the New Westminster Pier. Sy believes that proper
leadership that puts New West first is key to the recovery of the region.
“We need to have representation in Victoria that puts the needs of
the community first,” he said. He believes that New West needs a
representative who will stand up for New West residents’ rights.

The riding has had a long history of NDP dominance, but Sy
believes that he can stem that tide with the Green way of thinking,
and support for the schools, children, and people. He hopes to bring
the same care to the riding that he has shown through his school
board work.

Jennifer Whiteside - NDP

Since 1952, the New Westminster riding has elected an NDP
candidate to represent the riding in every election with the
exception of the 2001 campaign. Statistics would state that the
NDP should consider this riding safe, but that won't stop Jennifer
Whiteside from working hard to court the vote of the community.

Born and raised in New Westminster, Whiteside has a passion
for the health care sector, working multiple positions for the
Hospital Employees’ Union and as Labour Relations Officer for the
BC Nurses Union. “For the last 20 years | have been advocating
for our public health care system and health care workers [...] I’m
looking to take the lessons I’ve learned in a lifetime of activism and
a lifetime of understanding people to the legislature,” she said in
an Other Press interview.

Whiteside understands what Douglas College students are
going through because she was once a Douglas College student
herself. “When | was at Douglas College, | developed a taste
for activism. It was in advocating for accessible post secondary
education. It was in my time at Douglas that | learned about social
movements and learned how to organize,” she said. She mentioned
that she recently visited the college to talk to students about the
struggles they are facing with COVID-19 and other issues like food
and housing insecurity. She also knows what it is like to deal with
student debt from higher education as she had a $20,000 debt
that took her a long time to pay off. “John Horgan and the BC
NDP take access to education very, very seriously, and they have
taken steps to [increase] accessibility. They've eliminated interest
on provincial student loans, they've eliminated the tuition on adult
basic education, and they have eliminated tuition for children in
the foster care system,” she said. Whiteside mentions that the NDP
have brought back the grant program and promise to increase the
amount of money given out from the grant to $4000 per year.

Whiteside’s strong advocacy for the health care industry and
the response of the NDP government to the COVID-19 virus is why
she wants to run under the NDP ticket. “I think what COVID has
really demonstrated is the importance to have a strong government
response to coordinate all parts of our health care system, our

economy, and to protect British Columbians—and that's what this
government has done throughout COVID,” she said. Whiteside
has been helping people in the health care system for most of her
professional life. She now also wants to bring that level of care to
the people of New Westminster and BC.

Lorraine Brett — Liberal Party

Lorraine Brett is a marketing professional and real estate
professional who has resided in New Westminster since 1994 with
her family. She was motivated to run in the provincial election
because she has not been impressed with the NDP’s handling of the
overdose crisis. This is an issue that hits close to heart for Brett, as
her son has struggled for years with addiction and homelessness.
In an interview with the Other Press, Brett stated “| have a son
who is homeless, addicted, and mentally ill | have seen first hand
the failure of the NDP at street level [...] Offering a tent, as the
NDP would do, to a person with schizophrenia is an inappropriate
response to what is a complex medical problem.”

Brett blames the NDP for not improving on the crisis and
believes that a Liberal government under Andrew Wilkinson would
create a coordinated effort to take on the overdose crisis and help
people who are in need. “A BC Liberal government, with a track
record of successful infrastructure builds including 14 hospitals, will
invest $8 billion in infrastructure improvements over three years,
an increase of 35 percent in infrastructure investments, to create
jobs, stimulate our economy, and meet the needs of our growing
population.” She states that the Liberals intend to make the
biggest investment in infrastructure in our province's history, with an
investment of $30.9 billion over three years.

Brett ran for the BC Liberals in the 2017 election, placing third
behind the NDP and Greens respectively. She has also run for New
Westminster City Council in 2005 and 2008. Brett has contributed
to many New West based organizations like the Queens Park
Hospital Foundation, Hyack Football, Hyack Festival Association,
the Queens Park Residents’ Association, and the 2010 Olympic
Torch Relay Committee. She also founded the New Westminster
Homeless Coalition, which aims to help marginalized people in New
West. When it comes to the problems small businesses are facing in
New West, she states that “the BC Liberals have instead delivered
a historic move that will save people and small business a lot of
money right away, not later.”

Douglas students have suffered due to the circumstances and
Brett believes “bold policy moves are needed” if these problems
are going to be solved. She states that “eliminating the PST for a
year (and only charging 3 percent until COVID is behind us) is a
bold idea and will put money back in everyone's pockets including
those of students; especially as the PST is a regressive tax that
burdens the lowest income earners the most and many of those
are students.” Brett is hoping that second time's the charm for her
hopes of entering the BC legislature.

Who will win the riding of New Westminster in the BC’s Provincial
Election and represent Douglas College students at the main
campus? Mail-in ballots will be accepted starting October 15
through the 24, with election day on October 24. Advance polling
stations will be open from October 15 to the 21. Register and make
sure you are eligible to vote by visiting Elections BC.