Paul Olthof – for Director of CVRD Electoral Area A

About Paul Olthof

Civil Environmental Engineer. Engaged Citizen. Husband. Father.

Paul Olthof’s family moved to Duncan in 1955 and Paul graduated from Cowichan High in 1968. Having worked in the Environmental and Civil Engineering for more than 40 years, focusing on waste minimization and environmental planning, Paul is looking forward to addressing the concerns of his neighbours in the Malahat and Mill Bay Area, noteably the future availability of potable water, as well as the increase in the population of the Region and its impact on infrastructure and services.

Remember to vote this October

Advance Voting Days are Wednesday, October 5 and Tuesday, October 11 from 8 AM to 8 PM.

General Voting Day is Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 8 AM to 8 PM.

CVRD Residents and Non-Resident Voters must be registered with Elections BC to vote.

If you have not yet registered, you may register at the time of voting.

Learn more

Issues of concern in the Cowichan Valley

I am committed to listening to voters and their needs. As your director, I am invested in working on the following issues facing the CVRD. I am counting on the electors of Area A to provide me the opportunity to help bring all of us a better future.

Potable Water

The access to potable water is an inalienable right. It is also under threat by climate change and development. I will work towards insuring potable water for existing residents and working with municipal and provincial agencies to protect and expand this resource.

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing within the region is interlinked with the availability of land, and the availability of infrastructure and services (water, sewers and roads). With building construction costs increasing, reducing the cost of land is the most viable short term option. To increase rental units, allowing increased density in specific areas through zoning, such as for secondary dwellings on a property, may be explored.

Traffic, Transportation, and Safety

Increases in population throughout the area and region has led to higher volumes than the road network was designed for. The resultant higher levels of traffic has resulted in roadways that are less safe. Narrow roads with no provision for pedestrians or cyclists feed the major arterial roads, but receive minimal funding. Use of the E&N rail line as a transit route with satellite residential clusters may solve both traffic and affordable housing issues.

Parks and Recreation

The provision and maintenance of recreation facilities and parks is necessary for the health and welfare of the community. Future development should seek to expand these resources and ensure that existing facilities are not over utilized.

Government Transparency

I am committed to governing transparently. To that end, Directors' should not vote on their own pay level; pay should be linked to the average industrial pay rise within the region. Budgets should take into account economic cycles with surpluses established to cover periods where costs for budgeted maintenance and programs may suddenly rise. Above all, policy must reflect the needs of the region and all inhabitants.

Climate Change

Some estimates expect the sea level to rise two feet by 2050. This will have a major impact on Cowichan Bay and the rivers that flow into it. While this issue is a multi-governmental one, it directly impacts all communities within the Cowichan Valley, and the CVRD should take a lead in planning for this eventuality.

What Paul brings to the table

DEDICATED TO THE REGION

Paul grew up in Duncan and graduated from Cowichan High. He started a family in Shawnigan Lake, worked all over the world, and has now returned home to Vancouver Island and is building a home on the Malahat. In short, the CVRD is home.

40+ YEARS AS A CIVIL ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER

Paul worked for more than 40 years as a Civil (Environmental) Engineer with focus in solid waste management, and water and sewage infrastructure construction and maintenance. He graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Science in Bio-Resource Engineering (Environmental) in 1974, and later earned his Masters degree.

WORLDWIDE WORK EXPERIENCE

Paul has worked in seven countries as an engineer and advised governments and agencies on three continents how to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious

CIVIC & REGIONAL EXPERIENCE

Paul has held positions with the Province of British Columbia and the Greater Vancouver Regional District working on environmental concerns such as air pollution.

Connecting with Voters

Your Voice

Listening to voters ideas, concerns, and opinions is an important part of being a director. I am dedicated to hearing from voters and communicating your needs. Everyone deserves to be heard—get in touch if you have something you'd like to talk about.

Individual Rights

Having lived and working around the world, I have experienced diversity first hand. I firmly believe that all individuals have the right to their beliefs, and should be protected from discrimination and bullying.

Contact Paul

phone

‭778-229-3047‬

email

paul@paulolthof.ca