Flip-flop!

I've moved to a new website www.saanichsouth.com

This blog will live on as an unedited digital memory of the 2009 campaign.

Thanks again to everyone who made it happen!

I'm getting organized!

Hi,

I hope everyone is having a good summer.

I've been working very hard to set-up my Constituency Office and get organized at the Legislature. My goal is to have the office open by Mid August. And the Legislature begins sitting in just over one month, on August the 25th.

As you may know, I was recently appointed the NDP Agriculture Critic!

My passion for food production in British Columbia runs deep and I am so fortunate to have this opportunity. Thank you!

Food has always fascinated me. As long as I can remember, I have loved to prepare it and been intrigued by how it grows...and now I have officially been given the responsibility to fight for it!

Carlo Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food movement, once said, “I am a gastronome. No, not the glutton with no sense of restraint whose enjoyment of food is greater the more plentiful and forbidden it is. No, not a fool who is given to the pleasures of the table and indifferent to how the food got there. I like to imagine the hands of the people who grew it, transported it, processed it, and cooked it before it was served to me.”

We are starting to have a renewed awareness about our food and where it comes from. We are starting to see a growing demand for local, clean, safe products. We, as eaters, are a new political force. I strongly believe that we are the key to successful agriculture in British Columbia. Misdirected policy is taking away our choices, but as eaters, we have the power to make sure we go in the right direction.

There has never been a time when politics and food have so dangerously crossed paths.

Demand local food, demand safe food, demand clean food.

I promise you that I will be doing the same.

Saanich News: Election Wrap SAANICH SOUTH

Saanich News
Election Wrap SAANICH SOUTH: Popham pledges push for light rail

By Keith Vass - Saanich News

Published: May 14, 2009 2:00 PM
Updated: May 14, 2009 2:18 PM

Lana Popham wasn’t quite ready to believe the result until the last poll was counted.

“I needed to see my name with that check mark beside it and that didn’t happen until 11:30,” said the newly-elected Saanich South MLA, the morning after voters chose her to represent the riding by a narrow margin of 413 votes over her nearest challenger, Liberal candidate Robin Adair.

The close result, in which Popham claimed 47 per cent of ballots cast, made a point she says she’ll take with her to the legislature.

“For me, the message was I’d better work hard for these guys because they put their faith in me last night and I’m not going to let them down.”

Over at McMorran’s Beach house in Cordova Bay, a crowd of more than 200 Adair supporters felt the highs and lows of watching their candidate’s numbers flirt with the lead. During one 30-minute stretch, the running tally went from showing Popham leading by 400 votes, to Adair pulling ahead by 200 and then back to Popham in the lead.

“Everybody said this was going to be a very close race and they were right,” Adair told the crowd when he appeared onstage to concede defeat and thank his team just after 11 p.m.

Adair told reporters his plan now is to return to his communications consulting business.

But he added the community may have had a better shot at winning government infrastructure investments if they’d elected a government member.

“I don’t know how effective (Popham) will be in getting the kind of infrastructure money to Saanich South that (it) needs for overpasses or roadways or buildings or other things it needs,” he said.

Popham countered by saying she will go the legislature as part of a chorus of voices, including community groups and South Island municipalities, calling on the province to invest in light rail transit for the region.

“We may have gotten an overpass if (Adair) was elected ... but I don’t think that’s one of the projects we need,” she said.

Popham will wait to learn if she will be selected for an official critic’s role in the NDP opposition. But the organic vineyard and winery owner said she would like to be considered for the agricultural critic’s job left open by retiring NDP MLA Corky Evans.

She has leased her land and winery to other producers, enabling her to focus on her new job as an MLA, she said.

“But I’m a farmer at heart so I hope I’m able to spend some of my time with that. I also have a 10-year-old son who I need to spend time with,” Popham said.

“It’ll be a challenge, finding the right balance, but I can do it, I’m sure. I’ve got endless energy.”

kvass@vicnews.com

Saanich South results

X Lana Popham, NDP - 11,141 47.11%

Robin Adair, Lib - 10,728 45.37%

Brian Gordon, Green - 1,551 6.56%

Doug Christie, WCC - 228 0.96%

Results aren’t considered official until Elections B.C. conducts a final count May 25.

Saanich South electoral history

2009 - Lana Popham (NDP)

2005 - David Cubberley (NDP)

2001 - Susan Brice (Lib)

1996 - Andrew Petter (NDP)

1991 - Andrew Petter (NDP)

The riding was created in 1990 after the previous two-member riding of Saanich and the Islands was divided in two.





Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/saanichnews/news/45041467.html

Thank you!

Thank you Saanich South for electing me as your next MLA! It is a privilege I intend to pay back by working as hard as I can over the next four years to make all of our lives better.

Lana.

Bike to Work Week 2009

One day to the election but i'm never too busy for Bike to Work Week!


That is Bruce Carter (CEO Victoria Chamber of Commerce) and Rob Wickson, President Bike To Work Victoria.




Dave Goudy is on the left - he is one of the owners of Serious Coffee and a great supporter and sponsor of Bike to Work Week. Next is David Cubberley, retiring MLA of Saanich South.

Wow! Only four days left....

I've knocked on thousands of doors in the last month and everything I've heard has shaped my views of what we need our government to do and what I can do to best serve the interests of Saanich South.

I'd like to send a message directly to the people of Saanich South: thank you for opening up to me and sharing your fears and hopes, your personal experiences in our hospitals and schools, your worries about the economy and our environment, and so much more. I know it is difficult to express your thoughts to a stranger who has jut knocked on your door. But I am happy that so many of you are no longer strangers - that you took the leap to share a little of your own experiences with me. Thank you also for listening to what I believe and for showing me such respect - even when we disagreed on one issue or another.

I am galvanized by the trust so many of you are showing in me. My commitment to you is that I will work as hard as I can to sustain public health care, quality education and a clean environment.

My legs are aching from walking all over Saanich South - but my spirits are high. I've never been more confident that we can win this race.

To my supporters: there is still much more to do! Please take some time in the next few days to talk to your friends and family who live in the riding and share with them why you are voting for me. This race is very close and every vote will make a big difference.

I also have a message for those who are planning to vote Green: In Saanich South on May 12, the reality is that the Green Party candidate cannot win. Voting for the Green Party in this riding will keep an organic farmer and environmental activist OUT of the legislature. Please support me so I can fight as an MLA for the causes that we believe in. Both the Conservation Voters of BC and Guy Dauncey have endorsed me. You can read about my background asn environmental activist and views on the environment by clicking here.

Below is the lastest campaign video message from the NDP. It sums up very well why we need a change.

Lana.

Campaign Photo Slideshow

Hi, here is a slideshow of campaign photos - so many great people have volunteered, it is really wonderful - thank you all!!

Thank you Guy!

PROMINENT EVIRONMENTALIST ENDORSES LANA POPHAM FOR SAANICH SOUTH!

Guy Dauncey, the award-winning author of Stormy Weather: 101 Solutions to Global Climate Change and President of BC Sustainable Energy Association today endorsed Lana Popham for Saanich South in his widely read publication EcoNews. Dauncey wrote: "Lana will be a great advocate for agriculture and organic farming in BC, and a strong environmental presence in the Legislature."

A super busy week

Last week was incredible! I’d like to share a few snapshots to give you a feel of the campaign so far.

Yesterday I represented the New Democrats at a Agriculture debate on the mainland in the morning and marched in the Earth Day rally on the island in the early afternoon and then door-knocked until dusk. 

A few days ago the Conservation Voters of BC announced their endorsements for the election. They only supported four candidates in the whole province – and I was one of them! They wrote: “Our endorsements are designed to put stronger environmental voices in the BC legislature. Our endorsees are individuals who have shown strong leadership on climate change and other local issues. They will be an asset to the Legislature."

Last week was also very special because NDP Leader Carole James dropped by my farm to meet local farmers and hear, first hand, the issues that are important to them.  

Carole and I spoke about the importance of local agriculture and it turned into quite a gathering with local and provincial media and many, many supporters. Here is a video.

It was also an amazing week in terms of fund-raising, our best week ever. It is really very humbling to see so many people contributing what they can to this campaign – it definitely redoubles my commitment to work every day to protect our quality life and to secure our children’s future. We have a lot of money still to raise – please help! Click here to make a donation to the campaign.

The volunteer energy is electric! Heather, my campaign manager, often just shakes her head in happy disbelief! But we still need to ramp it up! Please drop by the office (4087 Quadra) call 250 479 2224 or email samuel@lanapopham.ca

A few upcoming public events you may be interested in:

• April 28 - CFAX 1070, on-air debate between Lana, Dallas Henault (Liberal) and Adam Saab (Green) on the environment. 9 - 9:30 am. Please call-in and ask questions. 250 386 1161. 
  
• April 29 - All candidates, Saanich South, 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 5575 West Saanich Road. Sponsored by Prospect Lake Community Assn.
  
• April 30 - Food Matters, Regional (I’m representing the NDP), 7-9 pm, First Metropolitan Church Hall, 932 Balmoral (@ Quadra).
  

In honour of Earth Day on Wednesday, I handed out one hundred reusable shopping bags at local shopping centres – that was fun! Earth Day is great time to refocus on creating green options which can help people live in a sustainable way. On Earth Day I also joined Wilderness Committee’s ‘walk into the woods’ to view some of our local big trees. I pledged to work towards greater protection for the 100 largest and oldest trees in BC. We have tr

ees in this province that are over one thousand years old. They and their immediate ecosystems must be protected. 

And the week began on Sunday when I joined hundreds of people celebrating Vaisakhi at Victoria's Sikh Temple onTopaz Street. Vaisakhi is a four week celebration of harvest time celebrated by millions of people around the world. This year marked the 310th anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa when the Sikh faith was formalized. The growing enthusiasm about the festival of Vaisakhi shows how much pride British

Columbians take in the tradition and culture of B.C.'s Sikh, Indo-Canadian and South Asian communities. Vaisakhi allows all of us to come together and celebrate the South Asian community's culture as part of our province's collective heritage. It helps us learn about one another and strengthen our pride in our shared customs.

And this week will be even busier!!!

Lana.

P.S., By the way, I am now twittering, please  click here if you want connect.

 

Rally for Farmers!

Yesterday was a great day - it was a real honour to speak at the rally for farming and food security...and on the steps of the Legislature, no less. 

Brent Warner gave a really smart keynote on specific changes we need to make to our ag policy. He noted that in the 70s there were ten full time extension officers helping fruit farmers in the Okanagan - and today there are...NONE! Jordan Marr and Tom Henry did a super job organizing the event,  Organic Farmer Heather Stretch and local food expert Linda Geggie shared 

important insights...well done everybody!

I was humbled by all the support local farmers and food security advocates gave me - and it only deepened my resolve to work towards better farming policy in British Columbia. 

Following is the rough text of my speech... (I also gave shout-outs to the big crew of NDP provincial candidates who were there to show their support for farmers - but I didn't mention how not a SINGLE Liberal Candidate bothered to show up, depsite repeated invites. As Jordan said, their absence speaks volumes.) 

"Good afternoon, thank you for inviting me here today on a beautiful spring day. I know how critical these spring hours are to your farms and gardens - and I appreciate that you have all taken the time to be here.

I am here to talk to you about something that has driven me to step up to the challenge of provincial politics. I am speaking as a mother, I am speaking as an eater, I’m speaking as a community activist, I’m speaking for the New Democrats and I am speaking as a farmer.

I believe we are at a critical point with local food production, maybe even the tipping point, and I am here to tell you that I believe in agriculture!

So much of what we do, so many of the policies that we believe in are ultimately tied back to local farming and our food supply.

As a candidate for the NDP, I’m proud of my party’s commitments to support and protect farming, and I am personally committed to strengthen these commitments once elected.

For the past eight years, government has ignored the concerns of farmers and paid lip service to what I believe is one of the most important industries in BC.

Sometimes it seems like government is more concerned about defending their badly thought out policy rather than encouraging local farmers to be successful.

It’s about time that we put local food production first.

We need to bring integrity back to the Agricultural Land Commission. The ALC should be focused on protecting farmland. Period.

Lately it’s been distracted by court cases, conflicts of interest and allegations about questionable dealings.

We need to value our small lot farms. Farmers are being put though an exercise of having to prove themselves innocent while they are accused of being guilty of not using their land in ways that qualify them for farm status.

I sat through more than 20 BC Assessment appeals last year with farmers in our region who lost their battles. My friend Mary Alice Johnson had her farm split. It was like a slap in the face to farming as she is one of our finest food producers on the South Island. She asked the people who decided the fate of her farm ….”who is going to feed you? I am here for Mary Alice.

We need to restore the Buy BC Program that helped farmers and small business people promote their products to local consumers.

It’s inexpensive and it works. So why was it cut? Because politics got in the way and farmers paid the price. The NDP will bring this back.

We need to get rid of unworkable meat processing regulations.

We shouldn’t be punishing farmers, but rather helping them by creating a system that protects the public’s health without imposing prohibitive new costs. The NDP will do this.

We need to bring extension services back to farmers in BC so we stop losing our future farmers. The NDP will do this.

We can and we must maintain our community’s farming roots. If we are to thrive as a society then we need to rely on our farms more than ever.

Most importantly, we need to support the farmers we depend on. If we loose the fight for agricultural support we loose everything. That’s is not acceptable you, its not acceptable to me and its not acceptable to the New democrats.

We used to value agriculture in this province, and that is the BC that I want back.

Thank you for your support!"

The Election Has Begun......Finally!

It's day two of a 28 day election period. The excitment has built for months and now it is a reality. The fight for our future in BC is going to be a tough one everywhere, but in Saanich South the race will be watched very closely.

Getting through the next month will be an adventure. I haven't had very many moments to sit back and reflect lately but I did get a chance to take my bike out on the weekend and ride around Saanich South. Saanich South is an amazing community. The urban/rural split makes it very unique. I feel lucky to live here and I am going to fight hard for the honor of being the MLA.

I would love your vote on May 12th!

Lana Popham

March 24th is No Tankers day!

Watch this.....and remember the devastation....if we lift the moratorium, like the Campbell Government wants to do, we will be reliving this nightmare.

http://www.dogwoodinitiative.org/notankers

From The Oil Free Coast Alliance......

www.oilfreecoast.org

In 1988, beaches along the west coast of Vancouver Island, between Uclulet and Tofino, were contaminated when oil swept north from a spill in Washington State after the fuel barge Nestucca collided and ruptured sending 890 tonnes of heavy bunker C oil into the ocean. Then, in 1989, one of the worst spills he world has seen occurred in Alaska when the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, spilling approximately 11 million gallons of oil - roughly equivalent to 125 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Unprecedented levels of public outrage in B.C. and beyond, and fear of future disasters, led the federal government to leave the moratorium in place.

British Columbia’s offshore area includes four key basins: Georgia, between the east coast of Vancouver Island and the mainland; Queen Charlotte to the north, between Haida Gwaii and the mainland; and Winona and Tofino, off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

While the federal government has been considering lifting its moratorium in the north, on the Queen Charlotte Basin, the province wants the blanket moratorium lifted, which would allow offshore oil and gas in the Strait of Georgia and off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

A number of oil companies, including Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobile, hold leases to the seabed in these basins, which were issued by the federal and provincial governments before the moratorium was instituted. One of the great unknowns is just how much oil and gas would be found in B.C.’s offshore seabed. In order to find out, ecologically destructive seismic testing and exploratory drilling must take place. Risking damage to an exceptional marine environment with untold numbers of plant and animal species as well as jeopardizing ancient First Nations cultures and jobs is nothing more than reckless.

In 2004, the federal government asked British Columbians their views on the moratorium by conducting public hearings and First Nations interviews. The public review involved the participation of 3,700 individuals, many of who work and live on the B.C. coast. Seventy-five percent of the participants told the federal government that they wanted the moratorium maintained. The First Nations review, which involved 70 nations, found 100 percent support for maintaining the moratorium.

The B.C. government is ignoring the views of B.C. residents and First Nations by pressuring the federal government to lift the moratorium and open the coast to offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction. We must work together to protect the B.C. coast and coastal economy from this threat.

Offshore oil and gas development starts with seismic testing, a process used to find oil reserves, which comes with significant risk. This testing requires shooting high-pressure sound waves into the ocean. Impacts from such extreme pressure include the destruction of eggs and larvae, damage to fish with swim bladders, such as rockfish, and disruption of migratory paths of marine mammals. For more info on the impacts of seismic testing click here.

Oil spills continue to be one of the greatest threats from offshore oil and gas development. Research has shown the Exxon Valdez spill of 1989 is still impacting the marine ecosystem. In addition to spills and blowouts, the industry produces drilling muds and produced waters, which flush poisons directly into the ocean. A single production platform can drill 50 to 100 wells and discharge over 90,000 metric tons of drilling fluids and metal cuttings directly into the ocean. What’s more, one offshore rig emits the same quantity of pollution as 7000 cars driving 50 miles a day.

Developing offshore oil and gas reserves will perpetuate our dependence on fossil fuels, which is contrary to Canada’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. It’s time to invest and encourage the development of alternative energies, such as wind and solar power.

When will they learn?

The BC Liberal government promised to reduce class sizes and improve support for students with special needs but they never provided the funding to get the job done. Instead, they downloaded additional costs onto local boards. As a result, 177 schools closed.

Last year, there were thousands of classes across the province that exceeded the government's own legislated requirements. There were more than 10,000 overcrowded classes that violated standards for students with special needs.

The mantra from the education minister of "highest ever" funding does not stand up to scrutiny. Data on inflation versus funding tells a different story. Compared to other provinces, BC is way behind. The numbers tell the story.

Improving the lives and education of children must be a priority. Read more in the BCTF Education Funding Brief.

When will the provincial government learn?

Look at www.bctf.ca/WhenWillTheyLearn.aspx

Our BC Education advocates are worried......

Jerry Oetting, president of CUPE Local 2081 representing staff at Camosun Community College and Paul Waterlander, a teacher in the Sooke School District,Lana Popham NDP Candidate Saanich South, Dr. Paul Shaker, former Dean and Professor at Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Education

Monday, March 9, 2009

Education advocates host forum on public education

VICTORIA—Come and find out why B.C. education advocates are worried about our public education system – from K-12 through to university – at a free public forum for residents of Greater Victoria. The forum is sponsored by the BC Coalition for Public Education.

Join us to hear Dr. Paul Shaker, former Dean and Professor at Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Education. Dr. Shaker will be joined by students, teachers and staff from the public school, college and university sectors.

Elsie McMurphy, trustee for the Saanich Board of Education (School District 63), Jerry Oetting, president of CUPE Local 2081 representing staff at Camosun Community College and Paul Waterlander, a teacher in the Sooke School District, and a representative of the UVic Students’ Society will offer brief comments on a range of education issues.

What: Free public education forum

When: March 10, 2009 7–9 pm

Where: Spectrum Community School Theatre

957 Burnside Road W. Victoria

The Coalition for Public Education supports and promotes universally accessible, quality public education and includes students, community organizations, and the people who teach and work in B.C.’s schools, colleges, institutes and universities.

Making the connection!

http://blip.tv/play/Ad3WG5HTXg

CFAX 1070 News Release

NDP NAME SOUTH SAANICH CANDIDATE

Mar 8, 2009

THE PROVINCIAL NEW DEMOCRATS ACCLAIMED LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVIST LANA POPHAM AS THEIR CANDIDATE IN THE SAANICH SOUTH RIDING FOR THE UPCOMING PROVINCIAL ELECTION.

POPHAM SAYS BECUASE SHE IS FROM SAANICH SHE HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO IDENTIFY KEY ISSUES AND TO BRING THEM TO THE FORE.

"I think that's what people want. I don't think people want an MLA who is elected thats going to be bringing messages from the government to the community. I'm the type of MLA that will be bringing messages from our community to the government."

IN THE LEAD UP TO THE MAY 12 ELECTION, POPHAM SAYS SHE IS PLANNING THE MOST DYNAMIC CAMPAIGN SOUTH SAANICH HAS SEEN. SHE FACES ROBIN ADAIR, THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE FOR THE RIDING.

- LIZ MCARTHUR

What a party!!!!

What a great night we had on Saturday! Over 150 volunteers joining our dream team that night and many more wonderful people who contacted us to attend our next volunteer party . This was the first of many thank-you parties we will be having as we move towards May 12th! It was so nice to see our community represented by our guests. We had people from business to agriculture and everywhere in between. A great big slice of Saanich South, and a great big thank-you to all of you!

Notes From The Campaign Trail.......

There are over 20,000 doors standing between me and election day, May 12th!

One of the most enjoyable parts of this campaign so far is the door knocking
around our Saanich South community. The different neighbourhoods are
interesting to explore. I had a similar enjoyable experience when I ran as a
candidate in the 2005 Saanich Municipal election. I've found people to be
both welcoming and good-natured as I introduce myself door by door. It's
reassuring each time a resident recognises me from my work in the community
or recognises my voice from being on CFAX with Joe Easingwood and offers a
kind word.

I have heard so many supportive comments and have received offers to help
with my campaign.

Door knocking is a bit like a thermometer. It's like I'm taking the
political temperature of our community as I spend the hours moving from
doorstep to doorstep and there have been many nice surprises along the way.
What has been very encouraging are the positive responses I have been
receiving in Broadmead. People told me Broadmead isn't traditionally an area
where New Democrats do well, but many people seem to share my interests and
my concerns. They seem ready for change and as I said, it's very
encouraging. As I work my way around Saanich South I will be talking to many
people, and I hope I get to talk to you!

Reflections

Taking a step into the ring of Provincial politics is exciting and meaningful for me. Last August I made the decision to be a part of the May 12th race to the Legislature and I haven't looked back. Almost every day now I am asked why I am doing this, or why I think I am ready.

This is not a question that has a simple answer. There are so many reasons to enter into public service and I will get into the details over the next week. Today I can tell you that I have been on this journey my whole life. Whether it started in grade 7 when I won the Marie Mercier Leadership Award, or in Grade 11, when I became Prime Minister of my school.

Now I am 40 years old, and there have been so many important days in my life when I stood up and said things need to be different, and I want to put in the time to make the change.

This happens to be the time that everything I believe in deep inside, is in the spotlight. This is a time when, more than ever, I feel the opportunity to make a difference is now.
So I am working as hard as possible to have the chance to make a difference at the Provincial level. I won't stop until the polls close the evening of May 12th, and I would love your help along the way.

MLA Rob Fleming's Nomination. Congratulations Rob!

The 2009 NDP South Island Team!

Connect the dots....................

The funding that we could be using to begin developing a much-needed LRT system in this region keeps passing us by. At what point will our provincial decision makers start connecting the dots when it comes to funding a strong economy and sustainability?

We watched a ton of money come and go last summer in the form of individual $100 carbon cheques. This money, distributed by the government, was to offset the carbon tax that gasoline consumers started paying in July 08. The government distributed $440 million dollars across British Columbia. If we had pooled our cheques for this region we would have had about $33- million to begin bringing LRT to Greater Victoria. Using carbon tax funding to invest in a regional transportation solution would have been smart and progressive. This government is not there.

A regional LRT system is where we need to go to meet our carbon-reduction targets. Waiting for the guaranteed ridership levels to increase, waiting for pollution to get bad enough, or waiting for the moment when it takes 2 hours to get from the Westshore into Victoria due to traffic snarls, is inappropriate. We only need to look at Portland, Oregon , to know it’s a mistake to wait.

Money invested in LRT in this region will create jobs and stimulate our economy while moving in a direction that we are talking about going. We need government to stop using the word sustainability if they are not prepared to fast track sustainable projects. I don't want my tax money being used to fund single occupancy vehicle projects, such as massive traffic interchanges, I want my tax money solving problems.



Lana Popham

Saanich South

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

This was a wonderful day in Victoria BC. I was so happy to be participating in all of the celebrations. The colors and the costumes were a treat. Gung Hay Fat Choi!

Homelessness In BC......we have to fix it.