CaroleAnn Leishman will run for City of Powell River council in the upcoming November 15 municipal elections.
“If you would have asked me several years ago if I would ever get involved in politics I probably would have laughed,” Leishman said. “But having spent the last several years getting more involved in political and environmental activism it has really struck a chord. I hope I can bring my passionate optimism to whatever role I may play in shaping community. I see that it all germinates at the municipal level.”
Leishman said she comes by her desire to run for council from family. “My mother, Myrna, has been a city councillor for many terms. The first was during the 1980s. I admit my mom has always been a huge influence in my life. She’s been the only politician in the family, although my late father was known to write letters to the editor from time to time so I know he would support me in running as well.”
As an architectural designer and Built Green project manager for Agius Builders for the past 12 years, Leishman has accumulated experience working with city staff and council to apply for development permits, building permits and re-zoning applications. She said that, as a result, she has a solid understanding of the processes involved, as well as flaws and weaknesses.
“I think there are avenues in city operations that can be tightened up so that some processes can run more smoothly and be much more effective.”
Leishman said these challenges sometimes result in delays, redundancies and in some things getting lost.
She is a founding member of Pebble in the Pond Environmental Society, formed in 2008 to raise awareness about the harm of plastic bags and other disposable products on the environment. “We presented some solutions to council in 2008 regarding ways they could support a reduction in single-use plastic bags,” Leishman said. “We really had no response from council. They said it was outside of their jurisdiction and that their hands were tied. I say it’s time we start thinking outside the box to accomplish beneficial shifts in the way we do things.”
Leishman said it is not an option to carry on with business as usual. She recently attended the Columbia Institute conference on Civic Governance and was amazed at some of the progressive things that other councils are implementing. “Many of these projects may be things that people think ‘Oh no, that’s going to be too expensive’, but when you weigh the cost savings over the life of the project it ends up saving a city money, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Leishman said she intends to do just that by helping implement some green initiatives through her participation on the city’s Sustainability Steering Committee. “It’s time to be proactive,” she said. “And I don’t mean rushing the process before all the facts are in front of you.”
Leishman said she firmly believes in engaging the community and listening to what people really want and acting based upon that. A city council should be obligated to communicate with the citizens and uphold its promise of engagement, she said. As an example, she pointed to the liquid waste management plan, which still includes co-treatment at Catalyst Paper Corporation Powell River division’s facility. Leishman said this is still included even though the community does not seem to want it. “Council promised public engagement before they would submit the plan to the ministry of environment for approval and are now blatantly going against that promise. It’s really sad. That’s not democracy in action.”
Leishman has recently been elected to the executive of the New Democratic Party Powell River/Sunshine Coast provincial constituency and the new federal NDP Vancouver Island North-Comox-Powell River Riding Association as a board member.
“With the way things have been going with both our provincial Liberal government and of course the federal Conservative government, I see that I can’t stay in the background any longer,” she said. “I have a vision of how this world can be changed for the better and how we should be protecting it for future generations. I know we can create a green jobs economy so I figure it is time to step up or shut up.”
She would like to see a record number of people voting in the next civic election and taking a front seat in the direction of their community.
