Supports
- More housing of all kinds, with , secondary suites, ADUs, tiny homes and co-living; treating developers 'like partners' while the District keeps the final say [source]
- Faster, more cost-effective permitting - long waits for builders add to the price of new housing [source]
- The Squamish housing society's work on housing for the local workforce [source]
Show 5 more
- Regional transit to West Vancouver and Whistler, 15-minute local service downtown-Garibaldi Estates, and pushing the province and Ottawa to fund it [source]
- Bike lanes, safer pedestrian infrastructure and better transit - argued as also reducing congestion for those who must drive [source]
- Housing plus health care for unhoused people downtown ('a roof over their head and health care') [source]
- Woodfibre LNG permit - voted against denial (2024), moved the 2025 two-year approval, and voted against the shore-power condition added to it [source]
- discussion, and grants, reserves, community fundraising and private partnerships to pay for Brennan Park [source]
Against
- Property tax increases projected for the next five years, which he says are too high [source]
- Campaign over-promising - 'It takes four people to get anything done' [source]
- Cautious about expanding outside the - acknowledges the opportunity but says it would be very costly for the municipality [source]
Where John stands
Tap any topic to read more.
Growth & developmentManaged mix
Pro-supply and comfortable with Squamish's shift to denser housing forms, driven in his words by finance and land scarcity; is 'a key goal'. He acknowledges room to expand outside the but says it would be very costly. Has backed most but balks at height where shadowing is severe. (In a 2022 advocacy-group survey he was listed as supportive of Cheema Lands, North Crumpit and Garibaldi at Squamish.) No statement specifically about buildings above six storeys was found: he has supported five- and six-storey downtown projects while opposing a large height in Valleycliffe on shadowing grounds, so his score on the taller-buildings statement is an inference from that pattern. [source]
“Single-family dwellings were the dominant housing form for decades and it's a housing form that has become the housing form of the elite in Squamish.”
Well documented
Housing affordabilityMore supply, faster permits, diverse forms, plus the housing society
Frames affordability as demand exceeding supply. Wants developers treated as partners, cost-effective permitting with monitored wait times, and more ADUs, suites and tiny homes; supports the housing society creating workforce housing. [source]
“We need more of it, and we need to find ways to provide more housing at pricing that is accessible to young people, seniors and those living with fixed and low incomes.”
Well documented
Homelessness & supportive housingHousing and health care first; also wants complaints resolved
Calls helping unhoused people downtown with mental-health struggles the biggest challenge of the next four years. Voted for the Government Road supportive-housing lease. In a 2025 blog post he described frustration at the lack of action on the camp behind and personally working to get one camper into housing. [source]
“The help they need is a roof over their head and health care.”
Well documented
Policing & community safetyHasn’t said
We could not find anything John has said publicly about this.
Taxes & spendingVoted for the 2026 budget but says projected increases are too high; wants
Supported the 2026-2035 financial plan (12.8% 2026 increase) while warning it would push some residents out of Squamish. For 2026 he says the five-year projected increases are too high and wants the next council to discuss ; for Brennan Park he points to grants, reserves, community fundraising and private partnerships. [source]
“ is something that I want this next council to have a conversation on.”
Well documented
Environment & Woodfibre LNGPro-permit on Woodfibre LNG; environment protected through and transit
In a 2022 candidate survey run by My Sea to Sky (an advocacy group opposed to the project) he answered that he was 'supportive' of Woodfibre LNG, the FortisBC pipeline, the workcamp and the , writing that 'Canadian energy is ethically produced' and that Canada should 'share its energy wealth.' On council he voted for the WLNG floatel permit in April 2024 (one of three in a 3-4 defeat), saying 'Denying this permit is not going to stop the project that's currently under construction'; moved the July 2025 two-year approval and voted against Coun. Stoner's successful shore-power amendment to it; and voted for the FortisBC workers' lodge permit. Counter-signal: he voted in favour of joining Sue Big Oil at the Oct 24, 2023 committee vote. His platform calls the environment one of Squamish's best assets, protected by smart planning and . [source]
Well documented
Transportation & transitStrong regional-transit advocate; active transportation; parking is a management problem
Wants regular corridor bus service from Mount Currie to West Vancouver and 15-minute local service, funded with provincial and federal help. Supports bike lanes and pedestrian safety, moved the 30 km/h downtown limit, and argues (citing Shoup and Grabar) that downtown has a parking-management problem and needs usage data. [source]
“A transit service from Mount Currie to West Vancouver was needed years ago.”
Well documented
Jobs & local economyLimited 2026 detail; partnership with Squamish Nation and builders
His 2026 platform has no dedicated economy plank. He highlights District-Squamish Nation agreements as enabling future infrastructure (water and sewer, waste, recreation, housing). His site hosts 2022 posts on industrial land and tourism, not reviewed in detail here. [source]
Limited evidence
John’s own priority list
- Community First - parks, recreation, trails, library, seniors' space, family events
- Housing affordability and more diverse housing forms (tiny homes, ADUs, suites, co-living)
- Regional transit from Mount Currie/Whistler to West Vancouver
- Environment - growth planned around maximum environmental preservation, first
- Starting the update as soon as possible
- Team work: show up, listen, put the community first
About John
Born and raised in Squamish; his parents and sister live in town and his children were raised there. Two-term councillor (2018-2026). Occupation outside council not stated on his 2026 campaign material reviewed here.
Where John leans on money, growth and LNG
Worked out from John’s public statements and votes — not a label they chose. See everyone side by side.
Sources we used (18)
- John French campaign site - Platform
- John French campaign site - Meet John
- John French blog - Park It (Aug 2026)
- John French blog - One Person, One Home (2025)
- John French blog - Baby You Can Drive Your Car (2024)
- Squamish Chief - 'I'm going to do the work': John French runs for third term
- Squamish Reporter - Local elections 2026: Will Squamish councillors run again?
- Squamish Chief - 'Tough budget': council adopts first decade-long financial plan
- Squamish Chief - Squamish council defeats WLNG floatel TUP for now
- Squamish Chief - Council approves two-year permit for Woodfibre LNG floatels
- Squamish Chief - Council rejects FortisBC workers' lodge TUP
- Squamish Chief - Council votes to add the District to Sue Big Oil campaign
- Squamish Chief - Council to revisit Valleycliffe proposal amid height concerns
- Squamish Chief - Council endorses lease for supportive housing on Government Road
- Squamish Chief - Key flashpoints emerge at Squamish budget forum
- Squamish Chief - Sea to Sky RCMP update to Squamish council
- My Sea to Sky - 2022 election candidate survey (advocacy group)
- District of Squamish minutes, Dec 17 2024 (30 km/h motion moved by French)
Hear it from John directly
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