Suzanne Anton may be fighting a reputation as a contrarian underdog in the run-up to Saturdays election, but the NPA mayoral candidate sees herself as much more than that.
Anton characterized herself as an environmentalist who would lower Vancouvers carbon footprint through strategic density and champion the city through building new cultural and recreational facilities and good public infrastructure.
If elected as mayor, Anton would raise height restrictions on some developments to allow for increased density and more housing stock. Though shes focused much of her campaign on Mayor Gregor Robertsons handling of the Occupy Vancouver camp, Anton said the most pressing issue facing Vancouver right now is housing supply. Building social housing and ending homelessness are the responsibilities of the provincial and federal government, she said, not municipalities. She intends to work with senior government to complete the 10 outstanding city-owned sites designated for supportive housing.
On market housing, Anton held firm on her stance that the city should not subsidize building rental housing. The cure for Vancouvers affordability crisis is a robust economy and reducing red tape for developers at City Hall. I just want to build more housing. I think that is the only real answer.
When it comes to accepting campaign donations from corporations and developers, Anton supported Vision Vancouvers appeal to the provincial government to ban corporate and union donations to civic slates, but until that happens shell continue to play by the rules. Anton did not know how much money her campaign has received from corporate contributions so far and said she would not consider disclosing that information ahead of the Nov. 19 vote. To avoid a perceived conflict of interest, Anton said she takes steps to limit her knowledge of who contributes to her campaigns.
Anton said shes fought for good public infrastructure throughout her political career. Her platform promises such as a downtown streetcar and a new Vancouver Art Gallery would build a culturally vibrant Vancouver.You go to some famous cities in the world you go there to see their culture. Thats what I want for Vancouver.
View a complete transcript of this interview here
