Jennifer Blatherwick – 2024 Provincial NDP Candidate for Coquitlam-Maillardville

Jennifer made the jump from her current position as a School District 43 School Trustee to Provincial NDP candidate for Coquitlam-Maillardville as a result of listening to parents and realizing that almost all the challenges faced by families, including affordability, good public education, and good quality health care, are systemic and fall under Provincial jurisdiction.

Jennifer is an active volunteer supporting affordability, equity, and sharing of resources through groups including the Peoples’ Pantry, Immigrant Link Society, food recovery programs, the Homeless and Housing Task Force, TriCities Community Action Team, TriCities Pride Society, the TriCities Task Force on Childcare, and Access Youth.

Affordability and housing are the main issues and Jennifer shares thoughts on current and potential new housing strategies to best serve the community. Concerning Provincial Housing legislation, Jennifer says Coquitlam is doing a good job addressing diverse housing needs and deserves to be listened to by the Province. She says she will be a persistent, determined collaborator and ensure her voice is heard at the Provincial level.

Jennifer says educating kids and adults and industry, changing policy to reduce substance use, having treatment readily available to encourage users to get treatment, as well as recognizing the level of addictiveness and risk associated with fentanyl are all essential to addressing the toxic drug crisis.

Regarding climate change, Jennifer says the costliest choice is to do nothing. She supports listening to climate experts and Indigenous wisdom. The government needs to ensure people are in a position to both feed their families and care about the climate. In terms of Reconciliation, Jennifer supports the adoption by BC of UNDRIP (UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), education, the development of respectful relationships, and the collection of data to improve systems.

While there is a global shortage of healthcare workers - Jennifer says recruiting, retaining and training more doctors and medical staff, and increasing efficiencies through the development of ‘health hubs’ are the way forward.