The following is a Q&A that was distributed to all Gibsons candidates.
Candidate name
Desmond Delaney
Occupation (s)
Self-employed construction management consultant on a variety of large projects over the last several decades
Which position are you running for?
Councillor
Live in Gibsons? For how long?
6 years
What are your priorities if elected?
Zero percent tax increase; Immediately rescind the tourist accommodation bylaw to prevent the destruction of Gibsons tourism; Address the fact we are out of water; Advocate for increased rental subsidies
Should Gibsons facilitate creation of more affordable housing? How?
The Town of Gibsons can only lease community owned land to a nonprofit society under the current restrictions for funding from BC housing. The only real option is to advocate for rental subsidies to existing residents requiring income assistance.
What should council be doing to protect the Town’s water supply?
Immediately address the fact that based on our current population and the number of new housing units being built over the next four years we are out of water
Should Gibsons prepare for climate change? If so how?
We need to start conserving water, introduce an urban green scaping plan that maintains view protection areas and increases our tree and greenspace areas. Attention should also be focused on managing the fuel on the floors of our adjacent forests
How can council mitigate the many upward pressures on property taxes?
Pet projects that divert money away from our basic necessities should be shelved and grants only applied for that will reduce the burden on our municipal tax dollars.
How would you balance pushback on development with need for housing?
There must be a sustainable development plan in place that both sides can understand and follow – the current spot zoning system in use is destructive to the community. There are between 115 and 200 market rentals being built now
What do you wish we'd asked you?
The current bylaw changes affecting home-based tourist accommodation business must be immediately rescinded and revert back to the existing bylaw in place before this current council was elected
Who else is running for Gibsons council? See profiles for David Croal, Annemarie De Andrade, Stafford Lumley, Blake MacLeod, Bob Morris, Greig Soohen, Christi Thompson, Leslie Thomson, Silas White and Phil Yeung.
