Penticton By-Election Candidates Views on Climate Change

Nicholas
Stulberg

Q1 Municipalities are on the front line in the battle to address climate change.
Infrastructure projects, transportation priorities, commercial & housing development guidelines, and so many other areas that directly impact local greenhouse gas emissions are products of local government actions.
It also falls on municipalities to plan, prepare for, and mitigate impacts of increasingly severe climate-related disasters.
As a Mayor & Council, our role is to bring forward, promote, and protect the systems and processes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as create a community capable of surviving in an everchanging climate.

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Q2 The City of Penticton has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. About 55% of emissions are from vehicles and 33% are from home heating. What municipal actions would you champion to help reduce these emissions?

I want to do as much as I can, as soon as I can, to decarbonize our local economy and provide residents with quick ways of reducing their own carbon footprint. I believe that it is incumbent upon the City of Penticton to work as quickly as possible to lower, and eventually eliminate, residential and corporate greenhouse gas emissions. If elected to council, I will seek to double down on the progress I made when helping update the City's corporate and community climate action plans while on the Community Sustainability Advisory Committee in 2019 and 2020.

Some actions/initiatives I would promote when on Council will be:

• Enhance and expand the Home Energy Loan Program.

• Create an electric bike rebate program.

• Continue to support the expansion of our active transportation network.

• Initiate a program for free transit for residents 60+.

• Pass the necessary policies and bylaws to fully integrate BC's Zero Carbon Step Code into our building requirements. That includes restricting the use of fossil fuels (gas) in new buildings and subdivisions for cooking and home heating.

Ankit
Sachdeva

Q1 Municipal councils are frontline leaders in tackling climate change—they shape local action where it all starts. In Penticton, I would want to drive practical, community-led solutions that cut emissions and build resilience. I’ve seen big cities use their authority to shift transportation, housing, and energy use, we can too. We can set bold policies, like incentivizing green upgrades or expanding bike lanes, while ensuring no one’s left behind as costs rise. It’s about balancing environmental goals with fairness—bridging the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.’ For me, a vibrant Penticton fights climate change by uniting us around sustainability, safety, and opportunity. As councillor, I’d make that real.

Q2 I’d champion completing our bike lanes, like Lake-to-Lake, to slash vehicle emissions. The initial plan faltered, but we’ve built enough to finish strong—making vibrant, car-light travel safe and fair for all. For home heating, I’d push subsidies for low-income households to switch to heat pumps or insulation, cutting emissions and bills. Big cities I’ve lived in saved millions this way; we can partner with BC Hydro for funding. I’d also explore a walk-on ferry across Okanagan Lake—greener commutes, boosted tourism. These steps shrink our carbon footprint while bridging economic gaps, ensuring a sustainable, vibrant Penticton by 2030.

Jason
Reynen

Q1 I believe municipal councils have an important role to play, but it needs to be grounded in common sense and practicality. Councils are responsible for making decisions that impact daily life — things like transportation planning, land use, and supporting energy efficiency. However, climate policies at the local level need to reflect the realities of blue-collar families and workers who are already managing rising costs of living. Any decisions must focus on achievable progress without adding financial pressure on those who can least afford it. Councils should aim to educate, encourage, and support change rather than impose mandates that create new burdens.

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Q2 When it comes to reducing vehicle emissions, I believe we need to focus on improving traffic flow and reducing congestion, because stop-and-go traffic not only wastes fuel but also adds frustration for working people who rely on their vehicles every day. I also support improving public transit, but it has to be convenient and reliable enough that people will actually use it. As for bike lanes, I am not in favor of expanding them in their current design or placement. I think the city needs to take a step back and reassess what’s already been built, making sure it works for both cyclists and drivers before spending more tax dollars.

For home heating emissions, I would focus on incentive programs that help homeowners — especially blue-collar families — make energy-efficient upgrades without being forced into expensive changes. Rebates for heat pumps or efficient furnaces, combined with educational outreach, can drive real progress without creating financial hardship. Forcing costly requirements on working families isn’t the answer; giving them practical, affordable options is. At the end of the day, the city’s climate efforts need to respect the financial realities of its residents and find solutions that support the community as a whole.

Juliana
Buitenhuis

Q1 We can look to Summerland as an example of how a municipality can support reducing emissions, allowing residents to completely offset their own electricity with wind and solar, after which the District will purchase any excess energy that is put back onto the grid. By creating district energy systems municipalities can keep utility rates down, as well as tap in renewable power into existing infrastructure. The City of North Vancouver draws energy from a pet cremation facility, and the City of Vancouver captures waste heat from sewage to provide heating and hot water. Reducing our reliance on fossil-fuels will require a multi-pronged approach, which needs to be led by the City of Penticton and supported by grants from other levels of government.  

But there are also simpler initiatives like green/ food waste collection, community gardens, and car free-days that reduce emissions and promote steps to address climate change at a neighbourhood-level.

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Q2 Affordability in Penticton, and the rising cost of living is challenging for many Pentictonites – so we need to ensure that any municipal actions to reduce emissions does not, in turn, incur a cost to residents.

Some actions the municipality could champion include:

-          Promote Active Transportation

-          Safe routes to school / walking school buses

-          Share and champion information on how to access grants for solar panels, and energy efficient appliances, windows and heating/cooling systems

-          Continue free bus passes for youth (and I love Nick’s idea of free transit passes for seniors)

-          Work with BC Transit to increase transit networks, including working with neighbouring municipalities to improve connections between towns in the Southern Interior and Kelowna 

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