Martin Kendell

Proud Burnaby Resident
Martin has lived in Burnaby for over 20 years, and currently resides in the Burnaby South riding with his wife of 14 years and their twin children.

10 Years Experience - Strata Council President
Martin knows first hand of the challenges that Burnaby residents face while living in the fastest growing sector of the Burnaby housing market.

10 Years Experience - Working in Municipal Government
Martin has worked for the City of Vancouver for over 10 years, and knows the challenges that are faced due to government bureaucracy and inefficiency.

Fun Stuff Involving Martin
Martin's hobbies include golf, poker and being a general know-it-all.

Martin played 216 holes of golf in a 10 hour time span to raise money for the GI Society.

Martin is a big fan of the band U2. He recently got the privilege of hosting his own show on U2X Radio.

Martin is a trivia savant who won $11,100 from a Vancouver radio station playing Awesome 80's Trivia.

On Sunday August 15th, Justin Trudeau went to Rideau Hall and asked the Governor General to dissolve the House of Commons and call a federal election for September 20th. As a result of this, I have tossed my political hat into the ring as an Independent candidate for Burnaby South.

Over the years, I have become disillusioned with the amount of corruption and lack of ethics when it comes to federal party politics, and find it depressing that the average voter can no longer cast a "protest vote" without voting for a political party. By having to do this, you actually reward the political parties by funding their next political campaign with a government subsidy worth $2.50. While this doesn't seem like a lot of money, it adds up quickly when you multiply it by millions of voters who cast their ballots across Canada.

I don't think the Liberals should be rewarded for dissolving the 43rd Parliament of Canada and calling a snap election while the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic is heating up.

I also think it is discourteous that the NDP parachuted their leader into Burnaby South in 2019 to get himself elected because we're a "safe NDP riding". The citizens in Burnaby South deserve better than an absentee MP who occasionally drops into the riding for a photo opportunity and to campaign for the NDP-friendly political parties.

I have collected over one hundred nominating signatures from constituents in Burnaby South, and I have been officially nominated to run as an Independent candidate for this riding.

I, Martin Edward Kendell, hereby pledge to do the following for the residents of Burnaby South:

My attendance record in the House of Commons will be among the top 10 percent of MPs in Ottawa.

My federal expense account will be among the lowest 10 percent of MPs in the House of Commons.

I will strive to communicate openly with the residents of Burnaby South, and pledge that I will be forthcoming and honest during my time in office. I will be accountable for the decisions I make.

I will not vote YES for any pay raises for the Prime Minister, his or her Cabinet or any Member of Parliament during my first term in office.

I will wear a purple t-shirt saying "VOTE FOR MARTIN" until Election Day on September 20th
If you see me out and about while wearing the purple shirt, please feel free to say hi and talk about any issues that concern you.

(Please check out the the full platform at: https://martinkendell.ca/my-platform)

Real Solutions for Canada's Housing Market
People who own more than three properties will be taxed at a reasonable rate to help fund housing initiatives for low income Canadians, and new programs need to be implemented to help first time buyers to get into the housing market to build equity for their families. A five year moratorium on Canadian real estate purchases by foreign buyers would allow an opportunity for the overheated Canadian real estate sector to cool off, and give government agencies and the private sector an opportunity to increase supply to create a healthier balance for all Canadians. However, in order for all this to occur, municipal zoning regulations need to be amended to allow flexibility for gentle densification to increase housing supply in communities across Canada.

Action on Climate Change Initiatives
The time to act when it came to climate change and global warming was ten years ago. Due to inaction by previous Liberal and Conservative governments, we are now at the point where global warming is causing unprecedented melting of polar ice and tundra, and Canadians are literally getting baked alive in extreme heat events from coast to coast. We need to transition to green energy solutions immediately and decrease our dependence on fossil fuel based industries as soon as possible.

Affordable Child Care Options for Canadian Families
Justin Trudeau is a big fan of the $10 A Day child care program, but he seems to prefer promising taxpayer money for this program over getting immediate and concrete results. It is time to stop talking about this program, and time to get to work towards launching an effective child care program running from coast to coast to coast by September 2023. For families who decide to have one parent stay at home to take care of their children, there will be a federal tax credit to help with the financial burden of having only one income to support the household.

Commitment to Electoral Reform
I endorse a multi-member proportional representation model that will give Canadians the opportunity to rank their preferential local candidates rather than choose just one option.

Greater Accountability of Federal Government Spending
Canada's national debt as of August 2021 is 1.1 trillion dollars, and is growing at the rate of 424 million dollars a day. Justin Trudeau's budget for the 2020/21 is projected to have a 354 billion dollar deficit, and the Liberal government has no plans to attempt to balance the budget for at least 50 years. As a Canadian with young children, it is unacceptable to burden the next generations with a crippling amount of debt and have no plan or will to balance the budget anytime in the near future.

Support Lower Internet, Cable and Cell Phone Bills
Justin Trudeau and the Liberal government promised to do something about the highest cell phone rates in the world, and was unable to relieve the burden of excessively high cell phone bills for the average Canadian. Meanwhile, the Big 3 telecommunications companies are making record profits and have no interest in providing competitive cell phone plans, internet access and cable bills that give Canadians a proper and collusion-free choice. The CRTC needs to act in the best interests of Canadians and bring cell phone plans and internet/cable bills in line with countries like the United States and Australia.

Reduce the Number of Senate Seats by 50 Percent
The Senate is a necessary part of the Canada's bicameral parliamentary system, but has turned into a patronage program to reward friends and donors of the ruling party. The number of Senate seats should be reduced by 50 percent, and the gold plated pension package should be discontinued to remove Senators who are not interested in acting in the best interests of the Canadian taxpayer.