Submitted by Taylor McCarthy (George-Hollis) - Running for Council

1.    What qualifies you to be on Chief and Council?

In the past four years, I have grown substantially and have shown myself to be more serious politically, motivated and attentive to membership’s needs. From 2014-2016 I was appointed by Council to serve on the Nation’s Trust board. In that sense, I understand the pertinence of being able to read a financial statement and review our investment’s performance. I understand the importance of transparency behind who the Nation and Trust hires for its services such as in-house lawyers, auditors, and other administrative services.

2.     What does it mean to be on Chief and Council and represent the community?

To be on Chief and Council will take a lot of responsibility. A lot of the issues Council faces on a weekly basis is complicated so it is necessary to be there and physically present. Council is elected to fulfill their fiduciary duty to serve in the best interest of its constituents. With that being said, incorporating a fair democracy would mean being inclusive and involving membership, being open to membership’s engagement,

3.     What are your feelings with regards to the Governance Manual? What were its good points and bad points? Please provide examples.

I feel the Governance Manual was unilaterally written. To a major degree, I feel the document is illegitimate because it was signed and approved without any community input or referendum. Although, we should give the current Council some credit for forming these guiding principles and policies, it isn’t enough.

To begin, I would have to say that the bad outweighs the good from this manual. One, the council of the day gave themselves all of the power. There aren’t any checks and balances to hold them accountable.

My first issue is on 1.15 Agenda Development, I suggest that the agenda be available to membership on a weekly basis to ensure council’s efficiency, transparency and openness. I would have to include even the handouts should be included for membership’s reading, of course unless it is case sensitive information.

My second issue is between 1.19.a and 1.19.c and looking at the councillor attendance record over the past two years is a contradiction to the Governance Manual. If according to 1.19.c “Councillors are expected to attend all duly convened Council meetings...” but can be deemed as ‘present’ via telephone or other communication then they are not necessarily present. Which brings me to the Terms and References – Councillors (4.3) where it states the importance of an excellent attendance record, saying “In order to properly exercise their fiduciary duties Councillors must ensure that they are PREPARED for, and ATTEND: ALL council meetings; advisory committee meetings to which they are appointed...

           

I feel a solution to this would be a newly elected Band Manager and shifting all of the concentrated power from the Co-Chairs back to the Band Manager. It has been up to the Co-Chairs on the lenience and or tolerance of councillors which is self-policing. To counterbalance this issue, it should be the Band Manager who signs off on attendance, or implement a Clock in-Clock out system to hold the councillors accountable. Especially those who leave mid-meeting.

My third issue is remuneration (7.2). Council should be paid per meeting. Not regardless of their poor attendance. If a councillor is making $70,200 per year and bi-weekly with a budget for expenses but not meeting their fiduciary duty then something is WRONG.

      According to 1.25.a there are supposed to be annual council performance assessments, but I have yet to see one. In reality, even within our own human resources and management there are appraisals every year. Council should be held up to the same standards, but in this sense on an annual basis by membership.

I think the current Government Manual should be dissolved and re-analyzed upon the election of new councillors.

4.     What are your thoughts on the Draft Election Law? Good or bad points that you noticed? Please provide examples.

I feel the exact opposite about the Election Reform law than I do the Governance Manual. I was deeply saddened to hear Council had disapproved the reform.  I believe the Election Reform was drafted by the people and for the people’s involvement. Upon election I believe it is important to approve the Election Reform Laws. The reform is proactive by holding  those candidates and future councillors accountable and to their word. I feel the Election Reform will go well in hand with an inclusive and openly drafted Governance Manual.

5.     Do you know any issues that currently affect Squamish Nation? This can be internal or external issues.

As commendable  and necessary as it is to assert our inherent Aboriginal rights and title against the National Energy Board and Kinder Morgan, it is not right in the same mouthful to be so lenient towards the Woodfibre LNG or any other type of business deal when it comes to dealing with the municipalities, provincial and federal government.

The economic development is worth taking a greater look into. The IRNR&R has a diverse workload when it comes to the Nation being paid for Land use in the film industry, to archaeological permit investment fees, and the building, plumbing, lighting, etc permits it takes to develop and start a business at the ever expanding Park Royal mall.

           

To solve this, I think it would be a good idea for the council to work with FNCIDA First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act to pursue a large-scale commercial on-reserve projects run and employed by our own people.

Another issue is an equality gap between those who live on the North Shore and Squamish. I would have to say there have to be better municipal service agreements in place to ensure that members in the Squamish Valley have adequate services, such as water, sewage/septic tanks, roads and street lights. As well, in North Vancouver better waste management services; it was brought to my attention that the Condos on the Mission reserve doesn’t have a pick-up for recyclables so they throw everything in the garbage.  

6.     Do you believe there is enough being done for our Elders and Youth?

No. I believe there can be greater opportunities for the youth through recreation, education and capacity building. Within the past four years, there have been seats allocated for youth to be appointed to the trust, and or the election reform committee but I feel it should be a given since our youth have such great ideas to bring forward and they are eager to be involved. As well, I believe that the youth and young adults in Squamish should be given the same opportunities as on the North Shore. I remember going up to the Valley and questioning, where is the track and field or lacrosse box or soccer field? I think before we plan on doing any renovating on the North Shore, we should give back to our people in Squamish.

As for the Elders, I hope to see an Elder’s advisory committee if there isn’t one already. Especially with a mandate that involves peer youth mentorship. It would be nice to go back to our olden days where the youth listen to the elders. I think it can be a joint effort between our Teen Centre’s and the Elder’s gathering centre. I think this bridging relationship will create a brighter community.

As well, I have been living on the Capilano Reserve for the past year and a half. We don’t necessarily have an area for children to play safely other than at the Chief Joe Mathias Centre. Although its not safe to play on the road, we can’t jeopardize the lives of our children for driving on our own land. With that being said, the wooden “Slow Down Children at Play” signs are a barrier especially in two way traffic.  

7.     How could you help the community trust Chief and Council again?

Going back to the Governance Manual, there should be a lengthy section on community engagement. One that is teamed with our Communications department where the agenda and minutes of the council’s weekly meeting is shared on our website. The membership is tired of being kept in the dark. Why can’t our council meetings be live streamed not only for people who live nearby and are affected by the council’s decisions every day, but those who live off-reserve near and far. 

8.     What is your community involvement?

I have lived in North Vancouver for the past five years now. Prior to living here, I was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington.

Ever since I moved here, I have been attending our gathering nights at the longhouse on a weekly basis when its open. Although I don’t wear the paint, I do greatly value the sacred teachings that are shared and I always look for ways to implement them in my life.

I have also taken the initiative to learn our language. I am pleased that the Nation’s workplace is allowing weekly lessons and encouraging employees to speak and share what they’ve learned.

As well, my weekend hobby is to drive up to Squamish and explore our territory. I have hiked a lot with relatives and friends learning the place names and mythologies that are associated to those places, and learning the terrain and natural resources that grow in the area. This all makes the land worth fighting for as an environmental activist. I use my love for the land and the experiences to share my opposition towards the Kinder Morgan Pipeline expansion and Woodfibre LNG.

For the past two years I have been on an extraordinary weight-loss journey. With that being said, I would like to say I have become a Youth mentor for physical health. Through Gabe Pryce-Jones daily medicine ball class at the Chief Joe Mathias Centre I have been able to co-instruct his class and promote an active lifestyle through rigorous training. Through social media, sharing my journey with our people has inspired a number of our youth. My only goal in sharing what I do is to inspire others half as much as I am inspired. I follow a lot of nutritionists, fitness trainers, and bodybuilders who all have unique teachings and motives. It all comes down to being happy and healthy in your own skin. I hope to follow up on that with promoting a health balance in life. I’ve trained people in our community to spread awareness of preventable diseases as well such as diabetes and obesity, removal of gall-bladder due to gallstones, arthritis, heart disease and forms of cancer.

9.     What are you hoping to accomplish once elected?

·         A Policy in Place for Livable Wage for Squamish Nation Members Working for the Squamish Nation

·         Immediately renewing a motion to review and pass the Election Reform.

·         Dissolve the Governance Manual and Re-Approve it when membership has agreed upon it and had more input.

·         Thinking of the Phase 5 division on Capilano, and the new housing being built up Waiwaikum that the housing list is presented.

·         Readdressing the Land Code for future developments  

·         Forming a Youth Council in lines with the current council.

10.   Do you agree with your possible $80,000 annual salary?

No. With that being said, I would be more than willing to put that money back into a pool of funds that can go towards: shortening the housing list, a livable wage for Squamish Nation employees, opportunities to build capacity for youth and technology and trips that include ALL elders.