CRIME, UNITY AND HAPPINESS

The News asked the seven federal election candidates in the Pitt
Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission riding five questions:

1. How would your party deal with the growing use of handguns,
shootings and gang wars in the Lower Mainland? 2. What do you consider
the main issue in Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission in this election?
3. What of your past achievements qualifies you to be a Member of
Parliament? 4. How should Canada deal with national unity,
international sovereignty and foreign policy? 5. What is your
favourite pastime, interest or hobby outside politics?

Dan Banov

Marijuana Party

1. "A lot of this is caused by the drug wars. It is the prohibition
[against marijuana] that is causing the drug wars." Removing
prohibition against drugs will get rid of 90 per cent of the gang
wars, said Banov. The government should not control what people put
into their bodies. However, with all drugs but alcohol banned, it
means currently there are no limits to the levels of drug intoxication
when someone is driving, he added. 2. "Probably the No. 1 issue is
crime." 3. "I have been a teacher for 30 years. I've got a degree in
business and I've lived 30 years in Maple Ridge." 4. "Nationalism
to me is what creates conflict and I don't believe in putting a lot of
emphasis in nationalism. I think we're all citizens of the world." If
Quebec wants to separate, that's its business, he said. "Free and fair
trade will bring eventual peace in the world, is what we should be
striving for." 5. "I enjoy gardening," Banov said. While he believes
people have the right to smoke marijuana, "I am definitely against the
personal use of drugs. I never consume marijuana. I never use it."

Mike Bocking

NDP

1. "I believe in much stronger sentencing for any crimes committed
with an illegal handgun, including possession of illegal handguns."
Bocking also calls for stronger border control, reinstating port
police and increasing funding to the RCMP. 2. "One of the top issues
is to bring Ridge Meadows Hospital and Mission Memorial Hospital back
up to where they were before the [federal] cuts to health care,"
Bocking said. He also wants to ensure the two new bridges (Golden Ears
and Pitt River) get assistance from the federal government and wants
to ensure they can accommodate light rail. He also wants to increase
frequency of the West Coast Express by negotiating more track time
with CP Rail. 3. "I have been a journalist, of course. As a
journalist, I'm used to dealing with a wide variety of issues that
affect the public." As president of Local 2000 of the Communications,
Energy and Paperworkers Union, Bocking said he can represent the
public on difficult issues in the same manner he's represented union
members. 4. "In terms of national unity, I don't think there's any
question that we have to elect to Parliament people who are respected
because people in Quebec are disgusted." The NDP was the first to
oppose sending troops to Iraq and opposed the sale of B.C. Rail and
Terasen Gas, Bocking said. 5. "Spending time with my family, skiing
and running."

Keith Henry

Liberal Party

1. "It's a wholistic solution. Part of it is dealing with tough laws.
Part of it is getting hands on the handguns themselves through the
proposed regulations." The ethnic and social factors have to be
addressed "in a wholistic view," said Henry. 2. "Probably the one I
hear more often is infrastructure challenges." Henry said twinning of
the Lougheed Highway between Maple Ridge and Mission should be
completed and the West Coast Express should be more convenient for
commuters. "It's one of these things that have to be addressed." 3. "I
have been able to reorganize organizations twice. I have administered
significant funding. I have worked with various boards and advisory
bodies." Henry said his communication skills are his strongest point
and he knows how the federal government moves things forward. 4. On
national unity, Henry said: "Canada needs to be very, very careful
about how we address these issues right now." Another referendum in
Quebec may be close and it's a critical time for Canada, he added. 5.
"My favourite pastime is to try to get to the gym."

Robert Hornsey

Green Party

1. "I think the big issue is to enforce the laws more vigourously that
are on the books. We'd lobby for a more decisive use of existing
legislation." Support for families, either for daycare, home support
for seniors or families with home-schooled children, can help relieve
stress which may lead to violence, he said. 2. "I always consider the
economy to be the core issue. If you don't have an economy you don't
have a community. But it can't be development at any cost. Canada can
be a world leader in creating a green economy." 3. "I think I'm
perhaps uniquely qualified among this group." Hornsey has senior
management experience in all three areas used to evaluate projects
based on the triple bottom line basis -- economic, social and
environmental. "I've been a management consultant for big companies
like Finning, did management training for Alcan, MacMillan Bloedel,
Prince George Pulp and Paper." 4. "The Green party is the only party
that has an integrated global reference. The world is coming to
understand that what we're talking about with the Green party is a
global necessity. Whether it's Quebec or any part of Canada, the green
issues are a common denominator." 5. "Music, dance laughter."

Erin Knipstrom

Independent

1. "I would definitely focus on the people who are using the guns, try
and figure out what's going on instead of slapping down these
restrictions. We have to figure out why this is happening. Is it a
certain age group, demographic? 2. "I consider it to be crime
because it affects so many other factors in society. Getting that
under control and getting information out and accountability of
government is very important." 3. "I think the fact that I'm
passionate about what I say, the fact that I don't back down. I'm
willing to stand up for what I believe in =85 I think this is the
number one thing I have going for me." 4. "I think we should be
working better with our neighbours to the south, the U.S. I think we
should be showing them that we're not a country to be bullied. We need
to stand up and say you take as much from us [in trade] as we do from
you." Canada needs to be seen as a peacekeeping nation independent
from the U.S., she added. 5. "I create crafts, art and photos. I can
take pictures and I can see those things differently through those
pictures. I love to garden."

Randy Kamp

Conservative Party

1. "We would implement mandatory minimum sentencing for
firearms-related criminal activity. We think we need to send a strong
message that the possession of illegal firearms is going to land you
in jail." 2. "I think based on what people are telling me on the
doorstep, it's crime. [They] want to feel that it's a safe place to
live and their children are protected." 3. "As an MP, I've tried to
work very hard for my constituency and to think carefully about the
issues and treat people with respect and keep my primary focus on
issues in the riding." Kamp said he initiated the Conservative task
force on crystal meth and that his previous jobs as assistant to MP
Grant McNally and as a pastor and as a linguist for an overseas
Christian-based educational group also helped in learning to be of
service to people. 4. "In terms of foreign policy, we obviously need
to be sure that we maintain our sovereignty in terms of the way we
deal with other countries, even with our neighbours to the south =85
But I think under the Liberal government, we've lost our place in the
world, to some degree at least, and we need to rebuild that." 5.
"Probably watching football. I just love football."

Marxist-Leninist candidate Frank Martin declined to participate.