Looking ahead to 2017, I can’t help but feel incredibly excited – not the least of which is because the provincial election is on the horizon. I sincerely thank you for putting your trust in me these past four years. This May I’m hopeful that you will afford me the distinct honour of serving you as your MLA for a second term. I’m also eager to see how the election will play out across British Columbia.

The politics of 2016 were trying, to say the least, but I feel that positive change is afoot in B.C. From east to west and north to south people are realizing that status-quo politics is not serving them or their communities. We are seeing people reach their limits with parties who bend to organized union or corporate interests. People are fed up with political parties and their MLAs being reduced to puppets controlled by corporate or union puppet masters with a firm grip on their purse strings. The election, however, will put the power back where it belongs, in the hands of British Columbians.

Since the B.C. Greens, of which I am now the leader, stopped accepting corporate and union donations, we have seen an incredible ground swell of support. Politics for the people, by the people, has really struck a chord in B.C. and I know it has not gone unnoticed by other politicians. These politicians now have to leave their back room meetings and answer directly to British Columbians. And British Columbians are demanding thoughtful responses, not sound bites or media lines, to their questions about housing, affordability, public education, income security, MSP premiums and hydro rates, environmental protection, climate change, doctor shortages, and the spiraling Fentanyl overdose epidemic, to name but a few.

The riding of Oak Bay – Gordon Head had the highest voter turnout in the province in 2013, something I am endlessly proud of to this day, and I’m optimistic that the change that started in our community will spread to other ridings in 2017.

I draw my inspiration from our community that I’ve been grateful to call home for my entire life. I was born in Victoria, attended Oak Bay High School, raised my family in Gordon Head and built a career here. As a professor at the University of Victoria for the past twenty-five years, I have been fortunate enough to work with, and teach, some of the brightest minds in science.

The B.C. Greens have incredible candidates stepping up across the province. I’m convinced that this election will be the first time in a very long time that voters have a viable third choice, and no longer have to hold their nose when voting for the lesser of two evils. It’s my job as leader of the party to provide people with something they can vote for, not against.

We will face some massive challenges in our future, to be sure, but I am confident we will overcome them. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with my office.

I wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.

4 Comments

  1. Brent-
    January 4, 2017 at 11:27 am

    I would like you to know that you Andrew Weaver have inspired me to make my very first political donation! You give me hope in a dark light of politics, hope that you will be able to contest and even win this upcoming election based on knowledge and just plain doing whats right for future generations in this province. Thank you and I hope the Best of Luck this coming May

    • January 4, 2017 at 11:51 pm

      Thank you Brent. Today was an exciting day. Ten of our Vancouver-area candidates were present to open the Vancouver office of the BC Green Campaign. Momentum is building and it is an exciting time for the BC Greens.

  2. Trevor Holness-
    January 2, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    Have you taken money or championed causes for the provincial Liberals? Do you believe a 15$/hr minimum wage or 500,000$ dollar maximum wage is unattainable? Would you form a coalition with the NDP if the Liberals keep their majority after May ’17.
    Who is your representative for my area code V5C0G9.
    thanka again

    • January 2, 2017 at 7:42 pm

      Hello Trevor, thank you for your questions. We hope to announce our Burnaby North candidate shortly. It is outrageous to think that we would take money from any political party. We are our own political party and we only accept donations from people (no unions or corporations). Please also examine the posts about Basic Income on this website. Type “Basic Income” in the search bar.

      We are running to govern and so will contest every riding. The BC Greens offer people something to vote for, instead of vote against. We have support from across the political spectrum.