Ahead of the April 28 federal election, Black Press conducted phone interviews with candidates running in the Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies riding. Each interview included questions about two general topics and one about their party. These questions were not disclosed in advance. The candidates were also given the opportunity to speak on a bonus topic of their choice.
This interview is with independent candidate Jim Wiedrick.
Canada-U.S. relations
Canada's future, Wiedrick says, should be less tied to America's economy.
He describes President Donald Trump as an unreliable partner, and is supportive of Liberal leader Mark Carney's recent trip to Europe meant to diversify Canada's trade and defence partners. Wiedrick wants to see similar outreach with Asian countries.
“We can't rely on (America) anymore, so we have to rely on ourselves, become as economically self sufficient as we can, and then find other trading partners that are more simpatico.”
To do that, Wiedrick wants Canada to remove intra-provincial trade barriers and work to keep Canadian resources in the country. He cites petroleum as an example of a resource that is extracted and then exported to the U.S., which requires Canada to import crude oil from other nations for its own uses.
Closer to the riding, Wiedrick says Canada should not be renegotiating the Columbia River Treaty until the U.S. resumes talks in good faith. An agreement in principle was reached last summer, but no progress has been made since Trump ordered a pause in March.
Energy and flood control fall under provincial jurisdiction, but as a federal MP Wiedrick would advocate for B.C. to become self-sufficient by building its own nuclear reactors. (Nuclear power is currently banned in B.C.)
“If we want to say that there is a possible silver lining to this really ugly cloud, it's that we may finally be able to galvanize Canadians in a patriotic coast-to-coast motivation to really get our own house in order.”
Cost of living
Wiedrick would start at the top in order to make life more affordable for Canadians.
That means making cuts to the civil service in order to lower the tax burden. Wiedrick says government has grown too large under the Liberals.
“Instead of micromanaging and initiating a new government program, and trying to help people here and there, decide that we need a smaller government that is more laser focused on the things that we really need government to do.”
Canada is in an affordable housing crisis, but Wiedrick says the federal government should be reluctant to take a direct hand in development.
Instead, Wiedrick prefers the government support municipal efforts to attain affordable housing by removing regulations and finding ways to streamline applications.
“In the big picture, big-time government interference in the housing market is ultimately counterproductive.”
Running as an independent
Wiedrick is an emergency room doctor at Nelson's Kootenay Lake Hospital. He was looking for ways of improving local health care when he decided that wasn't possible within the current political system.
That led to his decision in 2022 that he would run as an independent candidate.
“Political parties are ultimately corrupted. They're just looking after their own leadership. Everybody has to nod and do what the leader wants. What is a representative of democracy? That's what we are supposed to have. Well, it's the broad electorate, the broad citizenry, voting for one person to represent their views to Ottawa. I want to see if we can actually get that purity back.”
Bonus topic: health-care accessibility
Waiting, in Wiedrick's opinion, should have no place in health care.
Management of health care is a provincial responsibility, but Wiedrick wants the federal government to include language in the Canada Health Act that guarantees timely access to services.
Wiedrick advocates for investment in CT scanners as well as making sure all Canadians have access to a primary care unit. He also wants a task force delegated to redesign the health care system and incorporate more private service models.
“Let's make sure that wherever you move in this country, you could have primary care. Let's make sure that wherever you move in this country, you will have access to diagnostic imaging. Let's make sure that there isn't huge inequities among provinces.”
