Author: Daniel Fontaine

It’s the almost last new podcast of 2024 – and it’s packed once again with the the hottest topics generating headlines in New West and beyond.

Tune in to hear a number of great topics discussed including the recent announcement that Council has a approved a notional 7.6% property tax hike in 2025. What does that translate into for average homeowners and small business operators? More than you think!

Next up is a discussion about the proposed 7th Street bike lane which if approved will remove lots of street parking, switch part of the road to one-way and add in a new dedicated bike lane. A recent public meeting at the library drew a very large and active crowd of residents who for the most part were not impressed with the proposal. Is it a done deal?

What would a podcast be without another discussion on the new dedicated bike lanes on East Columbia which is causing major traffic headaches and triggering complaints from local residents – many of them seniors. Can anything be done to fix this ‘problem’ which many locals indicate was an unnecessary investment in the wrong location?

The next Councillor Cafe downtown edition has been scheduled for January 30th at the Holy Trinity Cathedral – Parish Hall – from 7-9 pm. It looks like a lot of residents concerned about the Columbia Square redevelopment project are planning on being there. So too are downtown residents concerned about public toilets being installed in front of their residences. No advance registration is required, but come early as the seating is limited and Coun. Paul Minhas is predicting a packed house!

Speaking of the Columbia Square redevelopment, that petition has over 1000 signatures on it now! What will Council do when all those names are submitted to them asking for a reconsideration of their decision to approve the massive new development at 88 10th Street?

Another petition is now over 1100 signatures! That one pertains to a request for safety upgrades at 2nd Street and 6th Ave. Parent organizer Lyndsay Cotterall appeared on the Mike Smyth Show on CKNW to discuss.

Did popular CKNW host Jody Vance just call the For the Record podcast ‘cool’ to all her listeners? Way to go Jody!

Why did the Province of BC announce a major review of EComm 911, but have been silent on the wasteful spending and mismanagement at Metro Vancouver. What’s up with that?

A motion to limit the overall number and location of vape shops got unanimous approval from Council. A special letter of support came in only hours before the debate, you might be surprised to learn where it came from!

All that and much more this week on For the Record which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast and all major platforms.

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As we countdown to the Christmas holidays, there is no shortage of civic topics to discuss in New Westminster.

This week the podcast starts off with a conversation between CKNW’s Jas Johal and Daniel Fontaine. The topic is Metro Vancouver and an opinion piece co-authored by Fontaine and city councillors Paul Minhas, Kash Heed and Brent Asmundson. It’s a pointed discussion focusing on Metro Vancouver waste, misspending and mismanagement.

Next up is a focus on the New West 2025 budget. Of particular concern was an approved 61% increase in the sewer fees for local ratepayers. There was also another attempt to lower the Climate Action Levy (aka tax) on electricity bills – but it was turned down, yet again, by the Community First majority on council

Why did a Community First councillor try to put forward a motion, only to struggle to find anyone on Council willing to support her? Then moments later her motion went down to a resounding defeat. Exactly what is behind that political move?

There were tears and fear expressed regarding what would happen to the residents living adjacent to the massive Columbia Square redevelopment project at 88 10th Street. Almost 50 owners attended a special strata meeting to hear from Fontaine and Minhas regarding ‘what next’ for this 8 tower (up to 53 stories) project.

Do you live in downtown New West and wish you had better amenities like a community center, a library or a new park? Well a motion that was approved at Council by a 4-2 vote means a new downtown is one big step closer to reality. Should increased density be the key to unlocking the funds to build these new amenities?

All this and more in a jam packed podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all other major platforms. If you like the podcast, be sure to let your family, friends and colleagues know and encourage them to follow!

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A first for the podcast this week! We have not one, but two special guests who make an appearance on For the Record.

Our first guest is Erica Wong who is once again organizing the special Queensborough Firehall Lighting Ceremony. Erica talks about her involvement with this special community event which is taking place on Saturday, November 30th. She also invites everyone to the Queensborough Christmas Market taking place on November 23rd.

Next up is life-long New West resident Dave Prevost. While he’s never been political in the past, the Columbia Square project (construction of up to 8 towers at up to 53 stories high) has got him motivated. In fact, he started an online petition which is garnering lots of community support calling for Council to have a rethink. Prevost talks about his concerns regarding building so much density without the appropriate community amenities.

During the weekly Council Roundup, the discussion leads to a number of reports and motions brought forward to the November 18th Council meeting.

A staff report on the new Crisis Response Team has co-hosts Paul and Daniel focusing on the $1M annual cost that should be paid for by senior orders of government. Once again the City of New West is stepping up while Victoria and Ottawa sit on the sidelines regarding an issue that falls within their jurisdiction.

Next up was a briefing about covering up ditches and building sidewalks in select areas of Queensborough. A Community First councillor moved a motion to spend $1M on a ‘quick treatment’ plan for a number of streets in Queensborough that will result in a significant loss of street parking. It will also result in many of the streets becoming one-way, vs. two-way streets. Why did Council approve this first then ask staff to consult with local residents afterwards?

The ‘temporary’ homeless shelter at the former Army and Navy building on Columbia has received a 5-2 approval for another 3 years. Yes, that means the ‘temporary’ homeless shelter that was only supposed to be open for only18 months will be in operation for six years. Yet the unhoused on New West streets wait desperately for the Province of BC to construct the long-awaited supportive housing units on the corner of 6th and Agnes. The doors for those units won’t open until at least January 2026!

Civic democracy is alive and well in New Westminster. That’s in part due to a 6-1 vote to retain the status quo at Council and not place any annual limits on how many motions councillors can introduce each year. Let’s hope this is the last in a string of initiatives and discussions over the past 24 months aimed at restricting the democratic right of elected officials. After the next election when the NWP form a majority, democratic reforms will be initiated to open up city hall once again.

It’s a packed podcast that you’ll want to listen through to the end. If you enjoyed it be sure to tell your friends and family to follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcast and all other major platforms.

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