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Meet Erika Schinzel, Green council candidate

Get to know your candidates by reading their answers to our questionnaire
Erika Schinzel
Erika Schinzel

The Burnaby NOW asked every candidate running for office in the Oct. 20 civic election to fill out a questionnaire. We hope this helps you make an informed decision at the ballot box. 

Candidates were given strict word limits and a deadline to submit their answers. Those who missed the deadline will not have their questionnaires posted and answers exceeding word limits will be cut off.

More candidate questionnaires can be found here and more of our election coverage can be found here.

Name: Erika Schinzel

Current occupation: Administrator

Tell us about yourself.

A Metrotown-Maywood renter of 6.5 years turned stop demoviction activist turned demovicted tenant, now candidate for council, Erika has experienced housing-related displacement stress first hand. A job in Burnaby but unable to find decent replacement housing under $1,200 for a 1 BR, she has moved to Coquitlam and now pays 28% more than before displacement (43% of her net income). Erika continues to advocate for Burnaby renters threatened by the current rezoning plan and likely demoviction. She is eager to inspire and develop affordable, sociable housing solutions for lower income people, and to integrating seniors.

What are the top three issues in Burnaby rightrand what would you do to fix them?

Housing: Absolutely crucial. Burnaby needs to be a city for ALL people. Instead of discriminating the working lower middle class and low income seniors, we must have a variety of housing choices so that singles (students, adults, seniors) and families of all income levels can thrive.

Seniors: Their integration in society and everyday life is paramount to their well-being. We need to create more and better ways to reach seniors, to connect them with others, and to provide information about available services. A professional seniors relations office and phone hotline is one idea.

Getting around: Roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, TransLink access need to be made safer and more people-friendly. Seniors and slow walking citizens in mind, Erika would develop ways to organically slow down speeders, create more 30 km zones and more neighbourhood centres where people can meet and connect.

If you have run for office before, what have you learned? If you have not, why are you running now? 

Erika listened to the stories of many renters – people from different countries, singles, families with small children, and seniors on small pensions. Learning about them amplified the urgency of change. The current incumbents have shown no interest to create alternative housing first but pushed forward with development permits that lead to demolishing older rental buildings in good living condition and displacing several thousand constituents. Erika wants to help building a better Burnaby for all.

What is one achievement and one failure of Burnaby council in the last four years?

Only one thing comes to mind: The horrible Metrotown rezoning plan in progress, demoviction of already 3,000+ people, several thousand more being threatened, and opening the flood gates to drastic rent increases due to inflated property evaluation. In Erika’s opinion, this has overshadowed the political landscape in Burnaby. The City failed to act on the changing housing market and did not respond with supplies to an increasing demand of desperately needed rental stock at affordable rents. A vacancy rate of nearly zero led to an insane rent hike. Without a safe place to call home, everything is in jeopardy!

What would make you a good councillor/mayor?

Erika will lend a voice to renters facing uncertainty and engage in averting displacement and developing affordable housing alternatives. Passionate about creating win-win solutions, she will draw from her expansive life and diverse professional experience and serve the people of Burnaby with empathy, sincerity and compassion, especially on pressing housing...[word limit exceeded]

What movie is most relevant to your life and why?

Erin Brockowich (2000).

This inspiring, biographical movie shows that one courageous, passionate person (in this case an environmentalist) can make a huge difference for the benefit of many people.

How can voters reach you?

emschinzel@gmail.com