Q1. What have you done in the past three years to make you a good Member of Parliament?
A: “I guess the most notable thing is that I have been the MP. Of all the candidates, I’m the only one who has that on my resume. When I took the job in 2004, I set myself some standards. The first one was to work hard, the second was to think carefully about the issues, and thirdly, to treat everybody with respect.” Kamp said his office has helped thousands of people in the past seven years and has good relationships with provincial and local politicians. “I’ve done those things in addition to other duties assigned by the prime minister. “So I think that puts me in a good place to continue serving the people of Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge-Mission as an MP.”
Q2. What is the most pressing issue this election and how would you address it?
A: “I think the most pressing choice is about leadership and who can provide a stable national government, which, of course, requires a good, strong economy, with a low-tax plan for jobs and growth. I think the stability is what’s important.” He said other parties are presenting a high-tax agenda that could stall the economy. “We need to be sure we exit this economic downtown … and return to a robust economy with a balanced budget.”
Q3. Who are your top three inspirational heroes or leaders?
A: “I’d say my top would be my father. We grew up in Maple Ridge and he was a very unassuming, modest man and he raised us to see the value of treating other people well.” Reform party founder Preston Manning was his No. 2 choice. “I think he brought to the Canadian political scene some new and interesting and even inspiring ideas. I think he did a lot to form my political and philosophical outlook. “Everyone knows that I’m a practising Christian and a follower of Jesus, and he was one of the world’s greatest leaders. So that would be on my list, as well.”
Q4: How will you improve transportation in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows?
A: “We’ve already done some things to do that. Our government has extended the gas tax to municipalities,” and legislated it to ensure that it will be there forever. “There’s been other funding that will get things for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows like the Evergreen line.” He said because transportation is under provincial legislation it’s important to have good relations with local and provincial governments so he can advocate for what people want. He said he’s been working to ensure other politicians know his top two priorities are twinning the Lougheed Highway to Mission and increasing frequency of the West Coast Express. See Conservative, p4 Conservative from p3 QQ5: Education, the economy or social welfare – what takes priority for you and how would you deal with it? A: “We’ll, they’re obviously all very important and they’re all related and connected. Without a strong economy, you’re not going to have the resources to put into education or welfare. So I do think a full-employment strategy ... is the best thing for all those things. On the other hand, a strong economy is driven by a well-trained and well-educated work force, so I think it’s important that there are investments in that, as well.”