Coquitlam-Maillardville candidates answer your questions

Candidates were given five days to answer these questions. Two of the three candidates in the riding responded by deadline.

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words.

Nicola Spurling, BC Green Party

How long have you lived in the riding?

I’ve called Coquitlam home since 2013. At the time, I wanted to buy my first home and I found a small area of Coquitlam I could afford. As prices have inflated, I’ve been thankful to have stability in that home, in the Austin Heights neighbourhood that I’ve grown to have a deep love of.

How will you create more good jobs in your riding?

I will work with the City of Coquitlam to better understand their strategic job creation plans for the region, and to be the city’s advocate at the provincial level. Similarly, I will communicate the province’s strategic plans to the City of Coquitlam in order to create synergy.

The BC Greens will scale-up clean energy union jobs, establish more work opportunities for youth in the trades, invest in caregiving services, expand passenger rail, and explore UBI.

Under what conditions, if any, should B.C. welcome AI data centres?

I think we can all agree that AI is a powerful new force in this world and there are a lot of unknowns. As we navigate challenges surrounding AI, such as the need for massive resource-heavy data centres, it’s critical that we engage the public.

BC Greens will place a moratorium on AI data centres to fully evaluate the risks, establish regulations, and protect local communities from harm.

What steps should the province take to mitigate the effects of climate change?

The BC NDP have failed to mitigate the effects of climate change. Quite the opposite, in fact. They’ve subsidized fossil fuel ventures to the extreme, such that many of their ventures will fail to be profitable.

BC Greens will stop new fossil fuel development, institute a science-based climate plan, modernize mining laws to protect BC’s resources, support clean energy home retrofits, institute selective logging, and facilitate value-add industries over shipping raw resources.

What measures will you take to protect and restore biodiversity and watersheds?

BC Greens will ensure the biggest threats to our province’s biodiversity and watersheds are addressed. Resource extraction is necessary, but it must be sustainable in order to benefit our economy longterm. We’ll process raw resources locally, providing good jobs. Practices like partial-harvesting and selective logging will take over from old growth logging and clear-cutting.

BC Greens will establish local Watershed Stewardship Councils, bringing together First Nations, farmers, local governments, industry, and environmental groups, with authority to manage local water supplies. Additionally, we’ll commit $100M to a local watershed stewardship program, and suspend all non-essential industrial water usage during droughts.

Would you support a change to proportional representation in B.C. elections?

Every election we see a desire to vote for inspiration snuffed out by fear-based propaganda. The more we hold our noses and vote for the lesser of two evils, the more we end up in a race to the bottom of two-party politics. We’ve seen what that looks like in the USA and we don’t want that here.

There are two ways this bleak and repetitive situation ends. People either vote for what they want, to ensure a strong third party keeps the others accountable, or parties that have designed past referendums to fail decide to finally support PR.

What is your stance on micromobility devices and improving first/last kilometre travel?

Micromobility devices allow people to get around more easily, more affordably, and more reliably. They can make up for gaps in transit, improve the lives of people with physical disabilities, and cost significantly less than driving. At the same time, legislation has not kept up with the technological advancements in micromobility devices, resulting in safety concerns.

BC Greens will upgrade infrastructure with micromobility devices in mind and overhaul the Motor Vehicle Act to clarify rules related to helmet usage, age limits, speed, and more.

Has the province provided enough funding for the construction of new schools? If not, what should change?

Where possible, BC Greens recognize the value in expanding existing school infrastructure to accommodate more students and make use of land that’s already publicly owned. Where communities don’t have adequate access to existing schools, or course BC Greens supports the funding of new school construction, with a focus on safety and sustainability in the construction process.

What changes would your party make around the homeless shelter at 3030 Gordon?

Concerns about 3030 Gordon are divided. Some believe it poses a safety concern for the community and others don’t believe it offers enough to adequately address the needs of our local unhoused population. How is a provincial government meant to balance safety concerns against the need to provide shelter for those who otherwise wouldn’t have any?

BC Greens believe the answer is in addressing the root cause of these issues. People who have their basic needs met rarely resort to crime. If we make sure everyone has access to adequate healthcare, housing, and food, we relieve the strain on 3030 Gordon.

Are you in favour of privatizing or partially privatizing medical care in BC? Explain why or why not.

I am not in favour of privatized healthcare, because it’s a band-aid solution to a problem that shouldn’t exist, and a band-aid only accessible to those with money. I don’t see how we can look at the healthcare disaster in the USA and want to emulate that in any way.

BC Greens will provide more funding for healthcare and pay for it with a tax on the ultra-wealthy (those with a net worth over $50 Million). We will increase funding for nurses and implement community clinics designed to fill current gaps and better serve you where you live.

Why should residents vote for you?

This is my fourth campaign. You haven’t elected me yet, but I rarely encounter people in Coquitlam-Maillardville who think the other parties have a better plan.

We’re all angry about this snap election, and the BC NDP haven’t been inspiring for a long time. Meanwhile, BC Conservatives can’t even keep a party together and don’t have a plan.

Your vote provides annual funding to the party you choose, allowing them to grow between elections. A vote for Nicola Spurling and the BC Greens is a vote for a better BC, where a strong third party holds the others accountable.

Jennifer Blatherwick, BC NDP (incumbent)

How long have you lived in the riding?

I’ve lived in Coquitlam with my husband and kids since 2008, where I served as a two-term school trustee, owned a small business, and worked as the executive director of a non-profit.

How will you create more good jobs in your riding?

Coquitlam is well-positioned to participate in international marketplaces, and working with the federal government, we’ll open new markets for BC products to help BC businesses to grow and trade with the world.

Protecting the businesses in our community now means providing direct relief for small businesses impacted by US tariffs, and create a hiring incentive credit for businesses who hire young people for their first full-time job.

Here at home, our BC NDP team doubled funding for trades training, ensuring that employers can hire skilled young people to meet growing demand.

Under what conditions, if any, should B.C. welcome AI data centres?

Our water supply and our power grid must be defended and protected for BC to be stable into the future. Last fall, the BC NDP passed a new law to limit the power available for data centres, safeguard our power grid, and support our climate goals. We’ll also be setting strict new water-efficiency standards, mandating public reporting of water use, and requiring engagement with local communities on conservation and drought planning.

What steps should the province take to mitigate the effects of climate change?

The BC NDP is taking action to fight climate change while growing our economy. Under our plan, emissions per dollar of economic activity are down over 30%, and methane emissions are down 48%. Our proposed Clean Futures Fund will dedicate provincial revenue from oil and gas to fund climate action programs that help families and businesses choose less costly clean energy and create new jobs, starting with a $50 million investment. Climate change is real, and we must prevent further change while counteracting its effects. We will continue working with partners to fight climate change and restore habitats, like Reeve Slough in Coquitlam.

What measures will you take to protect and restore biodiversity and watersheds?

The BC NDP is on track to protect 30% of B.C.’s land by 2030, currently at 20% (18.9 million hectares). We maintained the North Coast Tanker Ban, protecting a unique ecosystem. We will invest $30 million annually into the BC Watershed Security Fund to secure healthy watersheds. The Conservatives oppose our 30×30 goal and would roll back conservation. We will also provide $4 million yearly for the Youth Climate Corps to double capacity for youth aged 17 to 30 in paid positions supporting climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, wildfire mitigation, biodiversity monitoring, building retrofits, and renewable energy.

Would you support a change to proportional representation in B.C. elections?

It’s crucial that our democracy is strong and has tools to adapt to changing pressures. In 2018, a referendum showed British Columbians wanted to keep the current voting system. However, work remains to ensure our political system reflects public needs. In 2025, I chaired the all-party committee on democratic engagement, recommending increased civic participation, especially among youth. We’ll continue working with all parties to ensure the integrity of our democracy.

What is your stance on micromobility devices and improving first/last kilometre travel?

New mobility options lowering carbon emissions combat congestion and pollution, while road safety remains paramount. That’s why we launched a detailed study of e-scooters to safely integrate them into transportation networks, with municipalities choosing whether to opt-in. Our BC NDP government has invested in active transportation infrastructure like cycling lanes and multi-use paths, making it easier to travel around communities and encouraging low- or zero-emission travel.

Has the province provided enough funding for the construction of new schools? If not, what should change?

Investments must keep up with growth. We’ve built a new Centennial Secondary School, seismic replacements for Moody and Irvine Elementary, additions at Charles Best Secondary and Scott Creek Middle, along with the brand-new Coast Salish Elementary.

Currently in progress there’s the seismic replacement of Montgomery Middle, the replacement for Hazel Trembath, and the new Burke Mountain Secondary. And we will build a new middle school for Burke Mountain.

The last time conservative politicians were in government, they closed 250 schools including eight in SD 43. The BC NDP has 250 new or upgraded schools complete or underway across the province.

What changes would your party make around the homeless shelter at 3030 Gordon?

Addressing homelessness requires a range of different solutions, including emergency shelter, supportive housing, and additional support for people with complex needs.

Starting in early 2026, we funded a winter shelter at səmiq̓ wəʔelə (former Riverview lands), providing a safe place for vulnerable people in our community, and the shelter will operate again this year, with funding from a re-elected BC NDP government and support from churches and non-profits across the TriCities.

Since 2017, the BC NDP has doubled shelter spaces and invested in thousands of supportive homes. There is a lot more work to do, and we’re going to keep working.

Are you in favour of privatizing or partially privatizing medical care in BC? Explain why or why not.

Absolutely not. I, along with every single BC NDP candidate, have signed a Public Health Care Guarantee because we believe no matter your income, you should have access to quality care, when you need it. The BC NDP will close loopholes that allow clinics to charge user fees and extra billing for publicly insured, medically necessary services.

In Alberta, the conservative government is creating a two-tier healthcare system, with private-pay options that pull resources from the public system. We cannot let the same thing happen here.

Why should residents vote for you?

I have a long history of serving our community through volunteer work and public service. As someone raising a family in Coquitlam, I understand the challenges families face. My advocacy has always focused on making our community more liveable for everyone. That includes fighting for expansions to Dr. Charles Best Secondary and Scott Creek Middle, better youth mental health services, and a new Urgent and Primary Care Centre in Coquitlam.