Duane Nickull: We can restore B.C. as an economic and environmental leader

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      I am Duane Nickull, a successful technical entrepreneur, fiscal conservative, libertarian, sustainable energy advocate, rock musician, former UCI World Cup cyclist, noted software architect, husband, and father. B.C. is my home. I want to retire here and enjoy the natural beauty of this province. I am dismayed to find this goal is becoming out of reach for many due to a growing debt, spiraling inflation, declining GDP, and lack of high-paying jobs.

      Seniors in my riding have told me horror stories of taxes and inflation shattering their retirement dreams. Environmentalists express concerns that the B.C. carbon tax revenues are not reducing GHGs. My own technology sector worries of government legislation that prevents raising capital. Students are concerned about high student debt and a lack of high-paying jobs upon entry into the workforce.

      I have listened! We used the same formula that built successful technology companies to create an action plan to put B.C. back on track. Using an Agile methodology in politics, we can solve many of our problems.

      Our growing deficit seems an intangible thing that doesn’t affect us. This is simply not true. Our growing deficit hits every one of us daily. It means being forced to cut back on issues like health and education if not checked. When a generation is not educated properly, they do not get high-paying jobs. Retirees have a smaller tax base upon which to retire. An unsustainable economic model can lead to draconian measures such as those experienced in Cyprus where many residents lost a lot of their life’s savings. In the tech industry, we call this a “death spiral”. I support full accountability and transparency in government to start fixing the budget.

      I am an environmentalist. I care about our province and the nature we share. Free enterprise and a good environmental policy are not antonyms; they are in fact two pillars of a modern sustainable culture. Enbridge, the company many demonize for the pipelines, now generates over 1,365 megawatts of clean and renewable energy from wind, solar, and geothermal. By contrast our own B.C. carbon tax has produced zero megawatts of renewables. I was told by alternative energy companies that our laws discourage the development of clean and renewable geothermal energy in B.C. Let’s change legislation to build a green energy industry in B.C., accept the private investment to start that wave, and create high-paying jobs. This is one of the most energy wealthy regions in the world in terms of renewables. We can bring in investment to kickstart that industry by changing legislation that is out of date.

      When elected, I will focus on fixing our growing deficit. I will prevent reckless spending and systematic short-sighted financial planning and make B.C. accounting transparent to taxpayers. I will use our abundant renewable natural resources to develop a clean, sustainable energy industry boom for British Columbians. This will bring thousands of high-paying jobs and serve as an example for the rest of the world. All British Columbians will prosper.

      The Vancouver-Point Grey riding has some of the most dangerous schools in the province. My own children’s school is at extremely high risk of collapse in a seismic event and has asbestos directly exposed. Education is not an “expense”; it is an investment into our future. Those who get high-paying jobs later will be supporting many of us when we retire via the taxes they pay as we support our elderly today. Let’s make sure they are not working at dead-end jobs and give them the education they need.

      Why Duane Nickull as an MLA? The future of my own children is at stake. There is simply no more powerful motivation. B.C. Conservatives need a chance to improve our standard of living and create the rising tide that floats all boats. We are entrenched to restore B.C. as an economic and environmental leader. We want fair taxation that everyone can understand. We believe in a strong B.C.

      Comments

      8 Comments

      J A MacDonald

      Apr 9, 2013 at 7:52pm

      Thank you Duane. You have my vote and support. You will do a great job I am sure when you are elected on May 14!

      BC Man

      Apr 9, 2013 at 10:25pm

      Well I hope you can. You also need to make Politicians accountable for their actions such as the River Run fiasco. Selling our natural resources has to benefit everyone not just a few. Foreign worker deals IE Tumbler Ridge, why would any politician allow what happened with that Chinese company. Those politicians should be in jail!

      Hamada

      Apr 10, 2013 at 3:40am

      i SUPPORT YOUR IDEA TO LIVE IN CLAEN AND GREEN ENVIRONMENT ALSO , ID LIKE TO SHARE LIKE THIS NATURE.

      Emily the Cat

      Apr 10, 2013 at 11:46am

      The BC Cons, if queried on the matter, would deny the existence of man-made global warning. The platform expounded here is nothing but smoke and mirrors. Conservatives are bad for the environment. Look at the Prime Minister's fondness for muzzling environmental scientists for instance.

      Duane Nickull

      Apr 11, 2013 at 3:05pm

      Dear Emily the Cat:

      Being me, I like to think I have a pretty good idea what I am thinking and believing. I would like to extend an invitation to you to get to know me. I have worked in the field of renewable energy and I want to make a difference. I have two young daughters and I do this for them. Please also note that the BC Conservative Party is not affiliated with the federal conservative party. I do not support the muzzling of scientists and regularly speak up about the right to free speech. http://duanenickull.ca/2013/03/18/protecting-rights-to-freedom-of-speech/ This is the hardest right to uphold when the person you are protecting is saying something you don't agree with.

      Protecting the environment is a core part of our platform. We are fighting Jet Fuel ports in the Fraser River (http://carolday.net/no-jet-fuel-on-the-fraser-vapor-rally-sat-jan-28th/) and fighting contaminated soil being dumped in a critical watershed on Vancouver Island (with our leaders support - http://www.shawniganresidentsassociation.com/news/bc-conservative-candid... ) amongst other things.

      I would like to invite you to be open minded about what I stand for and what I will do. Not saying you have to agree, but please consider some of the ideas. Even a broken clock tells the correct time twice a day.

      Best wishes & have a great weekend.

      Duane Nickull

      Clive B

      Apr 11, 2013 at 4:44pm

      Hey Duane,

      You forgot to mention you're also a kart racing champion... we had some great battles on the track back then.

      I'm impressed by your platform and if any politician could ever come close to actually delivering on their campaign promises, us citizens would all be surprised, but with your track record and energy, I'd never bet against you.

      Good luck in the election.

      Perdido

      Apr 21, 2013 at 10:12pm

      As a long-term Kits resident, I have viewed this upcoming election with dismay as a choice between bad and worse. To be honest, when I started goggling/reading Duane Nickull’s prolific posts on a great number of issues, I first thought, “here we go again, the same rubbish as usual.” I am happy to say that I was wrong.

      Duane seems to share my concerns in regards to senior citizens, abused animals (remember Captain?) advocates personal responsibility in environmental matters, seismic upgrading for our schools, and has a realistic grasp of transportation issues. Best of all, he has a fiscally sound platform; the last thing we need is a party that will spend like drunken sailors. I don’t spend what I don’t have in my personal life and I expect those that govern us to act the same way.
      Duane gets my vote.

      Paula Poutie

      Apr 27, 2013 at 3:48pm

      Clive, are you the guy who had thick black hair? I think I met you at Trade Ex at a race a long time ago. Funny to cross paths again. Your wife (can't remember her name) was very nice.

      I'm voting for Dwayne too. He might be in the wrong party or maybe he is about to change the whole party. I hate Harper but can totally support him.

      .pp