Category: New Westminster

In this latest episode of For the Record host Daniel Fontaine covers a number of interesting topics including an opening editorial on the sport and recreation infrastructure deficit plaguing New Westminster. Will the opening of a new $114M aquatic and community center put a big dent in that deficit?

Fontaine also paid a visit to the BC Legislature this week and had an exclusive sit down interview with MLA Elenore Sturko. She is a high profile member of the BC United Party and is the Official Opposition Critic to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, New West MLA Jennifer Whiteside.

Sturko talks about how the NDP’s policy of forging ahead with decriminalization is being felt on the streets of New West and at Royal Columbian Hospital. She also speculates as to whether the NDP will abandon the decriminalization policy before the next provincial election in October. You will want to listen to this interview!

The podcast also includes a New West Council roundup for the April 8th meeting and additional coverage on the commemorative ceremony that took place on April 13th to honour Ben Flores. He was the first Filipino immigrant to Canada in 1861. This segment includes the beautiful words, song and drum beats from Squamish Elder Wendy Charbonneau.

This podcast is available on all major platforms including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast and Amazon.

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In this episode, special guest Councillor Paul Minhas and I explore the financial and political ramifications of a costly overrun at a waste treatment plant under construction in North Vancouver.

The original cost for this infrastructure project was pegged at $500 million, but now it’s estimated to cost upwards of $4 billion dollars. Once all the dust has settled, North Shore residents will be paying about $725 more in taxes per year for three decades to partially offset the cost overruns. Other Metro Vancouver residents could face increased annual taxes of $150 for 15 years.

Several mainstream media outlets interviewed me this week to discuss my call for a public inquiry and a forensic audit. Listen to those interviews from Global TV, City News and the Jas Johal Show on CKNW on the podcast.

I’m also calling for complete governance review of Metro Vancouver in the hope that changes could be implemented as early as 2026.

Also discussed is the issue of creating a more fun and vibrant street scene in downtown New Westminster. Why have so many street festivals and other outdoor activities simply packed up and disappeared? Can more be done to generate new life and a sense of vibrancy in our downtown core?

Coun. Minhas talks about what needs to be done to bring ‘energy’ back to the downtown. He also explains how more ‘eyes on the street’ could reduce both public disorder and crime rates while also helping to increase a sense of safety.

You’ll want to listen to this latest episode which is available on all major platforms including Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Amazon and Spotify.

NWP President and former council candidate Karima Budhwani is this week’s special guest on For the Record. She chats with me about what it took to win the recent New West school board by-election and speculates regarding whether another by-election might transpire soon – but this time at city council.

Karima helps to demystify the role of her elector organization as it pertains to the four elected members of the NWP caucus. She also discusses her passion to protect the environment as well as what might be in store for voters in the 2026 municipal election.

Meanwhile two new segments have been introduced in this episode. The first is “The Way I See It” where I provide my take on an issue that caught my attention this week. In the inaugural segment, I comment on the new BC Electricity Affordability Credit and explore who is really the biggest beneficiary of the program – it will likely surprise you.

Secondly, a new “In the Record” segment will highlight a few interesting articles and letters to the editor that were published in New Westminster’s Record newspaper online over the past week.

Our course, I end the podcast with my regular “Bell or Buzzer” segment where Karima was challenged with what I described as four of the most difficult questions posed to date!

If you like this podcast, be sure to tell your family and friends in New West and beyond!

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