The Martlet

Andrew Lewis

Green candidate Andrew Lewis described his UVic experience as “a tipping point” when he received his diploma in Restoration Ecology in hopes of expanding his landscaping business.

“That course politicized me,” he said. Lewis also holds a B.Sc. in biology from Portsmouth University in England.

Lewis joined the Greens in 1999, nine years after immigrating from England.

“When you settle down and call a place home, you look around and start thinking, what can I do to make this better, safer, more fair?” says Lewis.

The answer for him was the Green Party. Lewis served from 2004 to 2006 as deputy leader of the Greens.

“It really reflects the strength of the Greens in this region,” he said, naming the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding’s reputation as the “Greenest riding in Canada.”

Lewis currently holds the record for highest number of votes cast for a Green Party candidate from his run in the 2004 federal election.

He also currently sits on the party’s unofficial Shadow Cabinet as Natural Resources Critic. He requested the position from party leader Elizabeth May because Gary Lunn, Conservative MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands since 1997 and his riding rival, is the Minister of Natural Resources.

Regarding May, Lewis describes her as the right person for the Green Party.

“She’s helping take us to the next level,” he said.

He was also concerned by the misconception that the Green Party is entirely environmentally based, and has no other platform.

“The bottom line of the [Green] Party is not environment, it’s sustainability,” he said.

Briony Penn

“Activism is great political training,” said Liberal candidate Briony Penn.

A Salt Spring Island resident for 15 years, Penn is making her claim to the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding based on her community involvement. Penn cites her involvement with The Land Conservancy (TLC), which she co-founded, as a major project. TLC is a land trust active throughout B.C.

“I don’t actually distinguish between my volunteer activities and my career ... one I get paid for, the other I don’t, but I apply the same level of rigour to both,” said Penn.

Penn was also courted by the NDP and the Greens, but says that she selected the Liberals because they were “the only party capable of forming government.”

“I wasn’t going to be as effective in Opposition,” Penn said.

Despite Stéphane Dion’s shaky English and non-pushy approach to change, “no one’s ever called the Dalai Lama a weak leader,” Penn said, comparing Dion to the famous Tibetan. She says Dion personally asked her to run as a Liberal.

Penn described Dion as “very intelligent, very collaborative and he surrounds himself with an incredible team.”

An adjunct professor at UVic, Penn holds a Ph.D in geography. She says this has influenced her view of student issues and played a big role in making her aware.

“I’ve been looking at trends and impacts to the environment in the research community for the last 25 years,” Penn said. “If we don’t get this issue into mainstream political discourse, then we don’t have a future.”

Gary Lunn

Conservatie Gary Lunn, representative for Saanich-Gulf Islands since 1997, has served as Minister of Natural Resources since the Conservatives came into power. Pre-Conservative Party, he was involved with (and elected under) both the Reform and Canadian Alliance banners.

A UVic Law alumni, Lunn also practiced law in Victoria. The biography on his campaign website also lists him as a certified journeyman carpenter, with past experience working in mining, construction and ambulance services.

As a Minister, Lunn has played a large part in the search for renewable energy for Canada over the past two years. He was involved in implementing the ecoENERGY Initiatives, designed to support cleaner energy practices.

The CBC reported in 2007 that Lunn had stated he was “very keen on” pursuing the avenue of nuclear energy to clean up oilsands production in Alberta. The news service has also reported his involvement with finding diesel fuel phase-out options for Nunavut, and in a plan to find an underground storage site for nuclear waste storage.

The Martlet, like several other community newspapers, was unable to get a comment from Lunn.

Julian West

The NDP candidate dropped out of the race after revelations about a skinny-dipping incident involving teenagers at an environmental retreat 12 years ago. However, while he is not campaigning in the election, West’s name will still appear on the Oct. 14 ballot.