Salmon Arm-Shuswap
Provincial Candidates 2026
Spotlight on Climate Policy

Candidates Who Did Not Respond:

Gloria Morgan, BC NDP

David Williams, BC Conservative

Barbara Presch, One BC

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Question 1 - In point-form, briefly summarize your party’s platform to address climate change, including mitigation and adaptation polices and strategies.

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Denise Reimer, CentreBC Party

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- Reduce emissions through practical, affordable solutions that balance environmental protection and economic growth.

- Help homeowners make energy-efficient upgrades, including heat pumps, insulation, and solar panels, with no upfront costs and affordable repayment options.

- Improve wildfire prevention through better forest management and FireSmart programs.

- Invest in flood protection and help communities prepare for extreme weather.

- Protect our water supply, watersheds, and salmon habitat while supporting farmers and local agriculture.

- Reduce methane emissions and ensure progress is measured and publicly reported.

- Make responsible, evidence-based decisions that protect our environment, support our economy, and consider future generations.

Jed Wiebe, BC Green Party

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- End fossil fuel expansion: Stop approvals for new fracking expansion, LNG terminals and expansions, and new fossil-fuel pipelines.

- Phase down oil and gas production: Plan a managed decline of existing production, working with affected First Nations, workers and communities.

- End fossil fuel subsidies: Redirect public money away from expanding fossil fuel production.

- Expand clean energy: Invest in renewable energy and electrification to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

- Make homes more energy-efficient: Support home retrofits to cut energy use, lower utility bills and create good union jobs.

- Develop a science-based climate plan: Strengthen climate action to get BC back on track toward its emissions-reduction targets.

- Cut transportation emissions: expand charging infrastructure and improve access to cleaner transportation.

- Make polluters pay: Strengthen industrial carbon pricing, require major emitters to cut pollution and tax extraordinary corporate profits.

- Prepare for climate impacts: Provide stable funding to help communities prepare for wildfires, floods, droughts and extreme heat.

- Protect forests: Permanently protect big-treed old-growth and large second-growth forests, and shift toward selective logging and more ecologically sustainable forestry.

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Question 2 - What strategies will you and your party implement to meet or alter the province’s stated emission reduction targets by 2030 (40% reduction relative to 2007 levels), 2040 (60%), and 2050 (80%)?

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Denise Reimer, CentreBC Party

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CentreBC will be honest with British Columbians and set realistic, achievable milestones. We will revise the 2030 emissions target to 20% below 2007 levels while maintaining the 2040 and 2050 targets. Our focus is on energy efficiency, clean energy, cleaner transportation, and methane reduction. An independent Climate Accountability Office would report annually to the Legislature so British Columbians know whether we are on track and can hold government accountable. Our approach balances environmental protection, affordability, and economic growth.

Jed Wiebe, BC Green Party

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My/Our strategy to hit these targets would look like this:
- End new fossil fuel development to avoid locking BC into decades of additional emissions.
- Accelerate renewable energy and electrification to replace fossil fuels with clean energy.
- Reduce emissions from buildings and transportation through home energy retrofits, cleaner heating and transportation.
- Make major polluters pay through stronger industrial emissions rules and a fairer share of resource revenues.
- End fossil fuel subsidies and redirect public investment toward clean energy and green jobs.
- Track progress and strengthen climate action to ensure policies align with climate science and emissions targets.
 

I support stronger climate action to get BC back on track toward its legislated targets!

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Question 3 - What is your party’s position on LNG, fracking and new pipelines?

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Denise Reimer, CentreBC Party

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CentreBC supports responsible LNG development that creates jobs and economic opportunities while protecting our environment. We believe new pipelines should be assessed based on their environmental impacts, economic benefits, and long-term sustainability. Fracking must have strong oversight, particularly when it comes to protecting our water and reducing methane emissions. We’ll put BC’s methane reduction target into law because we believe we can protect our environment while supporting a strong economy.

Jed Wiebe, BC Green Party

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The BC Greens take a strongly opposed position on expanding fossil fuel development:
- LNG: Would stop approvals for new LNG terminals and expansions.
- Fracking: Would stop approving new fracking expansion and plan a managed phase-out of existing gas production.
- New pipelines: Would stop approvals for new fossil-fuel pipelines, including opposing the proposed Pacific Link pipeline.
- Existing industry: Would phase down oil and gas production in a planned way, while ending public subsidies for fossil fuel expansion.
- Workers and communities: Would work with First Nations, workers and affected communities on economic diversification, retraining and good jobs.

My position is that expanding LNG, fracking and pipeline infrastructure is incompatible with meeting BC’s climate targets!

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Question 4 - Please share your thoughts and experiences regarding climate change, including personal actions or commitments to address the issue.

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Denise Reimer, CentreBC Party

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Living in the Shuswap, I recognize the importance of protecting our forests, water, farmland, and salmon habitat. I believe climate change needs practical, common-sense solutions that balance environmental protection with the needs of our communities. I'm committed to listening, learning, and supporting responsible decisions that protect the long-term health of our region.

Jed Wiebe, BC Green Party

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On a daily basis I experience grief contemplating the loss of life that has been and will be caused by climate change. Our future will be significantly less wonderful thanks to the effects of not turning away from fossil fuels (to better and cheaper - not so polluting alternatives). Yet I am relentlessly optimistic! We have all the technology now to reduce our CO2 emissions - and amazing new technologies are being announced weekly! We have everything we need to rise up and unshackle ourselves from this seemingly inevitable sentence. We don't need to be resigned to a future of endless wildfires and a climate that warms so fast that we see Grand Canyon like climate by 2090!

The average British Columbian does not want to be part of making climate change worse. In fact, the average BC'er deeply desires that we address climate change and ensure that we have not only a liveable future - but a healthy and wonderful future. Corporate lobbyists and billionaire shareholders are what are standing in our way. They invest massive $ into swaying public opinion to reject technologies that could be used to solve climate change. We need to rein them in. I believe that no one should be able to use their immense wealth to sway - and ultimately direct the BC government's decisions when it comes to climate action. That is why we so desperately need a wealth tax - and a leader like Emily Lowan who has the courage to stand up to multinational corporations - and tell them: In this province - the polluter pays!

What have I done? Aside from being a regular doorknocker - dedicating as many Saturdays to canvassing with climate projects as there are opportunities to do so. I also sit on the City of Salmon Arm's Environmental Advisory Committee - I have yet to miss a single meeting - and in these meetings I relentlessly have advocated for strong climate action from Council.
In my personal life I have been the architect of designing my own life to have the lowest carbon footprint possible. I won't go into the details - But I have fully committed to living in housing with the smallest footprint that is achievable. I have also had the privilege of being able e-bike or drive electric transportation wherever I go.

But it can't just end with the above obvious actions to fight climate change. Climate change exists in a complex web of intersectional issues. That is why I am committed every day to trying my best to decolonize my mind, fight racism, tackle the patriarchy, support justice at every turn, and join the fight to protect democracy and human rights. We can't tackle climate change without also fighting for each other!