Tell us about yourself:
David Macdonald has lived in the same home in Burnaby for 36 years. His home has been in the riding of New Westminster-Burnaby since the riding was “recreated” in 2013. That year David became the founding CEO of the New Westminster-Burnaby Electoral District Association of the Green Party of Canada.
Describe your political experience – or your life experience that you think would make you a good member of Parliament?
In 2014 David retired after 35 years with the Federal Public Service of Canada. Three of those years had been as a diplomat accredited to the Republic of India and the Kingdom of Nepal. The rest of the time had been spent working in program administration and litigation. Since retirement David has worked to support the Green movement in his community. He is a founding member of the Burnaby Green Party. David was the founding president of the Green Party of BC’s Burnaby-Lougheed Riding Association. He believes we never needed Green government more than we do now.
Why are you running in the 2021 federal election? What’s your Number 1 priority? (100 words) - 102
After a working life in public service running as a candidate for the Green party just makes sense. In the words of Sonia Furstenau, leader of the BC Greens, “We are having a crisis of crises.” There’s the opioid crisis, the affordable housing crisis, the crisis of student debt and the crisis of unemployment to name but a few. The crisis, the issue, which preoccupies David is the climate crisis. Just think about it though, the climate crisis has impacted: agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and health care and it is only going to get worse.
Wild fires, heat waves and other extreme weather conditions are indicative that climate change is underway. True or false? What would your party do to slow climate change, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
True. Now I’m not going to list GPC climate targets or GPC plans to fight climate change, which are easily found on the GPC website. Voters want a statement of real action to get real results. The next parliament will be a minority government. Either Liberals or Conservatives will get a plurality. In order for either to form government they will need the support of MPs from other parties. A first requirement for my support will be the cancellation of the new TMX pipeline. The second requirement will be to end subsidies to fossil fuel companies. Both will save billions.
Has the federal government done enough to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action? What action would your party take to implement all of the calls to action – and when?
Dismantling 150+ years of injustice is a daunting task and it is no wonder the Trudeau Liberals appeared to be moving at a snail’s pace. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action are an important roadmap showing the way. The Green Party of Canada would commence the work of ending systemic anti-Indigenous racism by amending all legislation, regulation and policy of the Government of Canada to comply with the requirements of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. If one wants to end a systemic problem one must repair/remodel/revitalize the system.
What steps should be taken to ensure Canada is prepared for future pandemics? Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to COVID-19?
The rebuilding of our capacity to manufacture our own vaccines is a start. It is shameful that, while Canadian scientists contributed to the research that resulted in mRNA vaccines, Canada, a G7 country, was without the capacity to make its own vaccines. We can thank a decade of Conservative government and then four years of Liberal inaction for this situation. Sadly, and in part as a symptom of the climate crisis, we can expect there will be future pandemics. We should be doubling down on the research required to develop vaccines.
What makes your party’s leader the right person to serve as prime minister?
I voted for Annamie Paul to be the leader of the Green Party of Canada. She has the qualities that make her the right person to serve as prime minister at a time of climate crisis. I urge voters to listen and watch her carefully in the coming leaders’ debates.
Do you have any hobbies?
Since retirement I’ve written a book – and I’ve been rejected by five publishers. I have studied music for five years – and I suck. I kept honey bees in the backyard – until a bear came out of Robert Burnaby Park and destroyed the hive. My Giant Schnauzer is my giant success.
Where can voters find you?
