Jalal Elarid
Are you associated with or running as part of a slate? If so, which one?
No
Do you live in the municipality where you are running, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to that community?
Yes, I have lived in James Bay, Victoria for fourteen years from 2008-2022 lived in Fernwood from 1987-1994, and Lived in Saanich from 1994-2008
What is your occupation, and for how long?
Engineer 32 years.
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
What got me to decide to run for council? Well, after years of seeing and commenting to family and friends on the declining quality of life in Victoria, even before the pandemic, and the rise in the cost of living in Victoria, along with the well-known personal agendas on the Current council, I decided to walk the talk and run, for the council that is… Many smart and intelligent people in Victoria just sit on the sidelines or scroll their screens and watch Victoria go downhill. They have lots to say and yet I want to actually do!!.
What are your top three issues?
To end homelessness, this is a community wide issue and must be dealt with as such, it is not the local city problem alone it is a national problem and require the provincial and federal government involvement and intervention.
Our climate requires the improvement of traffic flow in the downtown core which includes installing advanced left turn signals at every major traffic intersection and synchronizing lights. I would like to suspend further bike lane construction until more consultation with the public.
Support the engagement of public opinion on developments, I will advocate for thoughtfully planned affordable housing for families and individuals in a safe community.
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
My Vision and hopes to see all these municipalities in the greater victoria regin come together and vote for amalgumation, it is the best way of moving forward, what is good for Saanich ,Oak Bay and Esquimalt etc. is good for victoria which is politicaly and geographicly land locked and it time to break this grid lock.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
There no reason why the local government together with the CRD with the help of the provincial and federal governments do not own housing and deliver it the people in need, the federal government send millions of dollars of aid to other nation, it’s time for the federal government to help Canadian 1st.
