Sunday, September 15, 2019 ~ COLWOOD
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
About 80 people showed up for the official launch of Dr Randall Pewarchuk’s campaign office on Sunday afternoon, September 15, in Colwood.
Pewarchuk is the Conservative candidate for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke. His office is at 162-328 Wale Road in the Coastal Offices building behind the Holiday Inn in Colwood.
The 67-year-old dentist who lives in Metchosin (and whose dental practice is in Langford) gave a short speech to supporters about the need for changes to some areas of taxation (including the elimination of income-splitting) that the Liberal government has implemented in their 2015-2019 term which have been detrimental to professionals who run their own businesses.
He says more young medical professionals would open up their own practices if the overhead cost of running an office (about 40% of revenues) weren’t so onerous.
Pewarchuk is the father of three sons and four grandchildren. Many of his supporters at today’s event spoke highly of his ethics in his dental practice and have put their full commitment behind his campaign.
He says as the Conservative candidate he is “getting a better reception at the door” than the Conservative candidate did in 2015. “People have been honest and responsive,” he told West Shore Voice News.
His first time running for political office, Pewarchuk says he is concerned about the “fiscal mismanagement and deficit financing” of the last four years under a Liberal government. He says the Conservatives — same as anyone — also want to see a cleaner environment, adding that the Conservatives’ plan for green tech would be effective because it is based on “technology and innovation, not taxation”.
He adds that encouraging industry to invest into research and development of new technologies is a faster way to reducing the carbon footprint than by taxing industry. He mentioned carbon capture technology as just one such example, adding that if new technologies are sold to large foreign countries like China and India that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would drop rapidly on a global level. He points out that the carbon tax now in BC for 10 years has not reduced GHG emissions after all.
“The volunteers are giving their heart and soul” to his campaign, said Pewarchuk. And he’s working 40 hours a week on his campaign after putting in 37 hours a week in his dental practice. If he wins, he would not quit being a dentist, but would probably scale back to part-time (and his practice would continue with a part-time associate).
The Pewarchuk campaign is still seeking volunteers for all the usual campaign activities including door knocking, attending organized events, doing social media, being drivers, being scrutineers on voting days, doing administrative support, and putting up signs. “People who have time” such as students or people who are retired might be interested, says campaign manager Doug Bancroft.
Campaign events coordinator Ann Butler says several campaign events will be coming up where constituents can meet directly with Pewarchuk.
The large Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding with a population of about 120,000 includes Esquimalt, Colwood, the north-Quadra/Tillicum area of Saanich, Metchosin, Sooke and Juan de Fuca up to Jordan River.
The other candidates of major parties in the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding are Randall Garrison, NDP (incumbent); Jamie Hammond, Liberal; and David Merner, Green.
An All Candidates Forum for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke candidates will be held at Pearson College on Wednesday September 18 (doors open 7 pm).