Sadie Hunter
Candidate for Mayor
Contact Information
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Personal Information
Resident of: North Kamloops
Political Experience:
4 years Kamloops City Council.
UBCM Director at Large.
Biography
I'm a long-time resident of the city of Kamloops, choosing to move here in 2001 over other cities because I recognized the opportunities this community would have for both myself and my son.
I attended the University College of the Cariboo and Thompson Rivers University earning undergraduate degrees in both journalism, and ecology and a Master's degree in environmental science with a focus on policy and planning. I also have a graduate certificate in leadership from Royal Roads University and am a small business owner providing communications and capacity-building support to a variety of sectors.
As a young single mother, I accessed many services, including low-income housing. Without the support from this community, I wouldn't be as accomplished as I am today.
I'm running for Mayor to be in service to the people in this community that gave my family the opportunity to succeed. People like you.
Organization Endorsements
Kamloops & District Labour Council
We are the elected representatives of roughly 13,000 unionized workers in the Kamloops area covering Merritt to Valemount and Chase to Lillooet.
Our affiliates work collaboratively to advance the economic and social welfare of workers and with other progressive organizations in the promotion of social justice and human rights as described in the United Nations’ Charter of Human Rights.
We are members of the BC Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress, the latter of which represents over three-million unionized Canadians.
View WebsiteAnswers to Questions from the Public
Many communities are facing drug addiction challenges, homelessness and have seen increase in crime and property crimes. How would advocate for our disadvantaged community members and what solutions would you propose?
Sadie Hunter Answered
I have been a strong voice for providing more support for our disadvantaged citizens, bringing forward several initiatives to proactively plan for extreme weather shelters (heat & cold), more outreach, day spaces, public washrooms, an additional Car40, and additional RCMP support amongst many other things.
Through my role on the Executive of the Union of BC Municipalities, I sat on the Community Safety Committee and advocated for increased access to services including mental health services, complex care and transitional housing, directly to the provincial government.
We have accomplished a lot in the last 4 years (see list below) and now it's time for us to use our voice to elevate our needs to the provincial and federal government as much of what we need must be addressed by these levels of government. As mayor, I will also establish community health and safety forums. We need to find our own solutions by working together and collaborating while also standing united to tell others what we need.
To date, we have:
- supported additional Car 40 units
- called for a sobering centre
- lobbied for more detox and recovery beds for youth and adults
- worked with the school district on anti-gang and anti-drug messaging for students
- conducted research with TRU through the Researcher-in-Residence program on street issues
- authorized an increase in the strength of our local RCMP detachment
- worked with the Chamber of Commerce and initiating an anti-tagging and graffiti program
- liaised with Business Improvement Associations
- added 20 new Community Service Officers and expanded their program to 24/7 coverage of the streets
- worked closely with and supporting the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), ASK Wellness, The Mustard Seed, and other shelter and social-housing providers
- lobbied the Crown Prosecutors Office for changes to the charge assessment standards
- supported CPTED (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design) talks with neighbourhood associations and with business
- worked with BC Housing to get more supportive and subsidized housing opportunities for those local residents that are street affected
- worked regionally with the Southern Interior Local Government Association (neighbouring municipalities)
- worked with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc to support the work they are doing on behalf of Indigenous persons in crisis
- provided funding to support the Envision shuttle, which provides outreach and transportation to shelters for people experiencing homelessness (operated by CMHA)
- provided funding and providing a location to support a day space for people experiencing homelessness at 48 Victoria Street West (April 1 to October 31)—a joint collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous service providers
- established good neighbour agreements with shelter and supportive housing operators with commitments to site management, risk mitigation, and compliance with the Good Neighbour Bylaw
- funded security services and patrols in commercial corridors and centres to help support a sense of safety for businesses and residents
- administered funding to support a sharps pickup program that provides employment to people with a lived experience of homelessness and/or substance use—operated by CMHA, ASK Wellness, and The Mustard Seed
- developed (in progress) a shelter land use analysis that uses criteria linked to social and community planning principles to help identify areas that may be suitable for future shelter sites
- established a memorandum of understanding to support a collaborative approach between the City and BC Housing with regard the planning, development, operations, and communications for future shelter, supportive housing, and affordable rental housing sites
Many municipalities are facing ongoing problems and are dealing with staffing issues as part of the current health care crisis. Describe from a local government perspective how would you plan to recruit workers to our community?
Sadie Hunter Answered
Our role in local government is to set the policy that will create a community people want to live, work, plat and retire in - and to visit. Recognizing there are multiple things people look for when choosing to move for work and approaching recruitment holistically, is the only way to be effective in these efforts. Many potential employees have children, spouses and/or other family members who will also be moving with them.
So we need to ask what the needs are for the entire family. What amenities and services are they looking for? What kind of housing do they need? How can we help them learn more about what Kamloops has to offer and connect them to those things? We all have a role to play in creating a desirable community and helping others feel welcome.
Describe how you would prioritize fire and flood management and other infrastructure issues such as poor roads and services in our community. Are you prepared to raise taxes to pay for improved infrastructure?
Sadie Hunter Answered
Asset management to protect from fire and flood is going to be one of the biggest challenges we have in the near future. Managing this infrastructure will require proactive planning and is one of the reasons this term council implemented a regular annual allocation to an asset management fund. We also need to move towards incorporating our natural assets and look at ways we can use them to protect property an infrastructure. I consider our asset management planning to be fairly robust.
In terms of raising taxes for other services and infrastructure, I think it needs to be a community conversation, which would take place during the budget cycle. If there is a critical community need then I think it's incumbent upon all of us to find a way to find a way to support it financially - whether that be a tax increase, applying for funds, or reducing a service somewhere else.
Define Fiduciary Responsibility and how would you personally apply this to an elected role in Council or the TNRD.
Sadie Hunter Answered
Elected and public officials have a fiduciary duty to carry out their responsibilities in a manner that recognizes and respects the trust the public has placed in them. This means acting in the best interests of the public, especially where fiscal responsibility and ethics are concerned. I hold myself to a high standard and take my role in protecting the public interest very seriously and never for granted. I will always ask if something is in the best interest of the public.
Millions of jobs were lost during the pandemic. Describe how you will advocate for replacing those lost jobs with good union jobs.
Sadie Hunter Answered
We are experiencing a critical labour shortage in almost every field and profession in our city. In conversation with various local union representatives there is an expressed desire to work more closely together with mayor and council to develop a better understanding of what the challenges are and how local government might be able to help. I think this conversation and advocacy needs to be driven by the unions and the solutions developed in collaboration with the community, including council.
What steps will you take to work towards action on Truth and Reconciliation?
Sadie Hunter Answered
I will continue to listen to and learn from the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc people. I'm proud of the relationship we've worked hard to develop. I've had the honour of working closely with TteS as a council representative on the joint Cultural and Heritage working group which was established as a means to find ways we can work collaboratively and respectfully to recognize our shared history and culture appropriately. I'm committed to continuing this important work and learning, under the guidance and leadership of TteS.
How will you promote ethical purchases, including local unionized goods and services, where available?
Sadie Hunter Answered
Local and ethical procurement practices just make sense. Ethical procurement is a global issue and I think we should do our part to make sure we are doing what we can to avoid supporting human rights violations. Local procurement practices are an essential component in building our local economy and supporting local businesses and enabling them to be competitive with larger companies is important on a community level. Enabling local companies to be competitive with larger companies means everyone in Kamloops needs to support local as much as possible – then these businesses can reduce operating costs, allowing them to be more competitive in bidding processes.
What steps would you take to ensure your local government hiring practices reflect the community’s population diversity? Are you aware of any existing Employment Equity policies in your community or other communities?
Sadie Hunter Answered
One of my main campaign focal points in 2018 was increasing accessibility and inclusion in our city. This recently culminated in a cross departmental initiative to identify where accessibility, diversity, and inclusion initiatives are needed and how to implement them. This ultimately led to the hiring of the city's first-ever Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion coordinator. Part of this role includes developing and implementing employment equity practices and the city's Accessibility and Inclusion plan along with other departmental initiatives. I'm very proud of my role in this work!
What are the top three critical issues facing your community?
Sadie Hunter Answered
The issues are interrelated and hard to separate as stand alone topics. I would suggest affordability/inflationary costs, housing, and community safety are at the top of the list.
What steps would you take to ensure a Pay Equity policy is in place and that the policy is applied to all staff employed by the local government?
Sadie Hunter Answered
Work with our Human Resources Manager to ensure this policy is being implemented. I also believe CUPE 900, the union representing most local government employees, is advocating for and implementing this policy on behalf of their members.
Describe how you will address housing needs and housing that people can afford in your community?
Sadie Hunter Answered
Housing is the foundation of a vibrant and prosperous community. I will continue to support innovative projects and approaches including reducing parking minimums in areas close to transit and walkable neighbourhoods. This will make it easier to explore different types of housing and create more housing to reduce the pressure on the rental markets.
I will also continue to work at the Provincial level to advocate for incentives for developments to be accessible and include affordable rental units. I'll also continue to support providing land options for affordable housing to be built and the exploration of different housing models like cooperatives and land trusts.
Other initiatives to implement ASAP include:
- online application portal which includes all required information relevant to a project (OCP, neighbourhood plans, zoning requirements etc)
- pre-zoning certain areas to streamline development application
- having pre-approved plans for different types of housing
What can local governments do to attract and create green jobs and businesses in their community?
Sadie Hunter Answered
The city's primary economic development activities take place via Venture Kamloops. Through VK, we can develop a targeted recruitment initiative to attract and create green jobs and businesses. There's also a lot of opportunity in this to work with stakeholders like TRU and Kamloops Innovation to support green business ventures and ideas which help existing businesses transition to greener practices and/or technologies. We have a real opportunity in this space to leverage existing knowledge capital.
Describe your position on Contracting Out and Public Private Partnerships and how they effect existing jobs.
Sadie Hunter Answered
From a risk management and access to government funding perspective, P3s make sense for municipalities—they are almost mandated to follow this structure.
That being said, providing local employment and procurement are critical to our local economy and offer multiple benefits. I think aiming to ensure any municipal project supports local jobs and businesses only makes sense and are integral to a healthy local economy. Any time existing jobs can be created and retained, we all win.
Do you support the Living Wage for Families Campaign? Please explain why or why not.
Sadie Hunter Answered
Absolutely. A basic income is key to building healthy families and communities. I supported a recent Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Bass endorsing this campaign and efforts to enact this as legislation.
Are you or have you ever been active in any community organizations, actions, or campaigns?
Describe your volunteer work, positions, and any tangible change to the community from your involvement. Are you still involved with this work?
Sadie Hunter Answered
I have actively volunteered for the Kamloops YW/YMCA, Kamloops Pit Stop and with the Kamloops Rotary Club as a member. I also volunteered with the planning and organizing for both StartUp Weekend, the StartUp Canada Awards and the Amazing Race to Inclusion in 2019. I am currently part of the planning committee for the upcoming 2022 Amazing Race to Inclusion which aims to educate others on the experiences of those with diverse abilities.
If you are a Union member, does your union (provide union/local name) offer endorsement to members running for public office? If so, have you applied for/received endorsement from your union?
Sadie Hunter Answered
I am not a union member.
Have you ever been a candidate or volunteered in a previous civic, provincial, or federal election? If so, please give details.
Sadie Hunter Answered
I'm a current city councillor, elected in 2018. I also ran for city council in 2017 in the local byelection and for MLA in the 2020 provincial election.