Lynn Hunter

Lynn Hunter, former MP for Saanich Gulf-Islands and a community and environmental activist will run for Victoria City Council and a position on the Capital Region Board in the November civic election.

Hunter, who moved to Victoria from Saanich two years ago, says her return to public life is motivated by a desire to make Victoria an ever greater city and particularly to address issues affecting homelessness and housing affordability.

“These issues, a desire to improve our transit system and to implement the City’s greenways plan, compelled me to seek a Council seat,” said Hunter who cites extensive experience bringing together diverse groups around complex issues.

Following her parliamentary career and work for Oxfam Canada that took her to war-torn countries in Africa, Hunter was a local, national and international spokesperson on aquaculture issues for the David Suzuki Foundation, the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform and the Pacific Northwest Pure Salmon Campaign.

“With every passing year, the importance of strong communities becomes clearer to me,” says Hunter. “Victoria has distinctive neighbourhoods, each with a real sense of community pride. The community cohesion we have developed is due in part to the ability to get out of our cars and meet each other by getting from one part of the city to another on transit and by walking and cycling.”

An avid walker and cyclist, Hunter appreciates that Victoria is fairly pedestrian friendly, but believes the system of bikeways and sidewalks where families can safely travel must be enhanced.

“Victoria is the best place on earth to live, but fresh energy combined with experience are needed to build on our achievements and to tackle the problems we all see everyday throughout the city,” she added.

“I know I am not alone when I see people sleeping on our streets and in parks and think we can do better than this. The problems of homelessness are often linked to mental illness and addiction and must be treated as such. These issues, however, and a lack of affordable housing have been allowed to deteriorate for too long, affecting community cohesion and the ability of businesses to operate to their full potential.

“It is time for decisive and courageous leadership, which I am ready to provide and believe I can offer to the citizens of Victoria.”