Question: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Answer: I'm a lawyer and have owned and operated a small, boutique law practice in downtown Vancouver focusing predominantly on estates and trust law. ... I'm very active in the community with a number of initiatives, predominantly in the disability community, but also with other communities and charities.
Q: How long have you lived in Burnaby?
A: I am coming up to my eighth year in Burnaby.
Q: Why do you think you are uniquely qualified to represent this riding?
I think I can take that success I've accomplished, not only in my practice, but in my career, in my community and the initiatives I've undertaken over the years, and apply that skill set to getting results, and really that's why I'm here today to try to really make a difference.
Q: What would be your personal priority if elected as an MLA?
A: What I want is fine, but it's what everybody in this community wants. And clearly we want jobs, we want a good economy, we want good health care, and there are many aspects to that. What's important to the residents of Burnaby-Lougheed is what's important to me.
Q: What accomplishment in your life are you most proud of?
A: Over the last few years, trying to raise the dollar amount (for home support) that would be available to individuals with disabilities, and I undertook a collaboration with government, stakeholders, and community to work out a solution, and that solution was effectively a $19-million increase over three years, so that's a nice highlight; and for me the benefit for all this is there are people out there in the province right now who are able to live better lives.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: The one that probably stands out for me is my dad, who unfortunately passed away three years ago.
We were very, very close but he also inspired me to undertake any sort of challenges, and not be deterred in any way, and he sacrificed a lot for me.
He was a longshoreman for over 45 years in Vancouver, working hard on the docks, being able to allow me to have the freedom to have a great childhood and the beginning of what is and hopefully will be a great future.
