Daniel Fontaine, B.A., ICD.D

It’s the middle of summer but that doesn’t mean we are taking a break from For the Record. I’ve invited Councillor Paul MInhas back for this special “Long Weekend Edition” that you won’t want to miss.

Some of the topics we touch upon include a kick off discussion regarding the City of New Westminster’s rebranding efforts. A new report posted online consolidates public feedback. It has been made public and the number one word to pop out of the ‘word cloud’ was ‘historic’. Go figure! But exactly how will our history be reflected in the City’s new brand identity?

What would a podcast discussion be without an update on the costly mushroom wall and Insect Hotel project which just opened up in Queen’s Park. This segment had everyone behind the microphone in stitches, for obvious reasons.

Patio times have been extended to 11 pm throughout New Westminster this summer as part of a pilot project. Have you noticed the difference? It all comes a result of a motion introduced earlier this year at council.

Outside of the Pride event in August, why has it been so quiet on Columbia this year? Why have all the festivals and events all dried up? We can’t blame the pandemic for this one, so what’s up?

Mayor Johnstone calls out one of his colleagues as being part of the ‘factless five’. So what happens when that same elected official calls out his own council colleagues as being the ‘factless five’? Will that be ruled ‘out of order’ by the very person who used the term in a public forum? We may soon find out.

It’s been almost 3 years since the ‘temporary’ homeless shelter opened up inside the former Army and Navy store on Columbia Street. Will the society that operates the shelter be required to seek an extension to the their temporary use permit – or not? Temporary use permits are supposed to be for a maximum of 3 years before they expire. This will be an interesting file to watch the coming months.

Host Daniel Fontaine also joins CKNW’s Jas Johal for a discussion regarding Chair Mike Hurley’s failed attempt to appoint a friend and major donor to his 2022 election campaign. What was he thinking? Johal and Fontaine chat about this latest goof up at the beleaguered Metro Vancouver.

Be sure to download For the Record with Daniel Fontaine on all major platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcast. A reminder to encourage your friends, family and colleagues to follow the podcast too!

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It was another interesting week when it came to civic politics in the Metro Vancouver region. On the podcast today I covered a number of fascinating topics including recent revelations stemming from documents obtained by Global TV.

It was reported that former Metro Vancouver Chair George Harvie billed Metro Vancouver taxpayers over $7,400 to stay on the exclusive gold floor at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Vancouver. Reporter Jordan Armstrong provides a jaw-dropping breakdown of the costs as well as the rationale to support the expense.

Jordan also reports on a whopping 20% pay increase for the Metro Vancouver CAO in 2024. The CAO is now making well in excess of $500K per year.

Incorporated into the podcast is an interview regarding Metro Vancouver’s recent $64000+ hosting charge at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Toronto in 2024. Listen to the Mike Smyth Show on CKNW with guest host Jody Vance as she speaks with Coun. Daniel Fontaine on this topic.

“The Way I See It” focuses on the upcoming provincial election and what to expect from municipalities, TransLink and other organizations. There will be a lot of hands out and requests for new funding from the party leaders. Will they disappoint?

Be sure to tell family, friends and colleagues if you enjoy this weekly podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast and all major platforms.

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In this summer episode of For the Record, Coun. Paul Minhas joins me and makes another appearance in studio to analyze the latest activities of New West city politicos.

What do President Joe Biden and the New West Mayor have in common? Well, some say they may both soon have close allies and supporters asking them to step down for the ‘good of the party’. That’s a topic we explore as we undertake a special look ahead to what might transpire in the 2026 civic election year. Will Community First actually have a new candidate for mayor? Or will they hunker down and hope for the best under the current leadership?

A proposal for a new Marriott hotel on Columbia Street above the historic Columbia Theater was on the docket for discussion. How tall should it be? Will it impact a possible redevelopment of the adjacent Army and Navy site? What type of community amenities will we get as a result of this latest tower proposal?

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh seems to have inspired – or perhaps heavily encouraged – his political allies in New Westminster to publicly endorse his idea of having Ottawa bureaucrats begin setting the price of our local groceries.

Yes, a motion was brought to council for debate regarding sending a letter to the Prime Minister encouraging him to start setting the price of our ‘essential’ groceries. But just exactly what is classified as ‘essential’? Furthermore, should provincial or federal politics be directly influencing civic debates in New West?

The topic of e-scooters makes it on to the podcast as we play a segment that aired on the Mike Smyth Show on CKNW this week. The switchboard lit up with callers, all of whom had some pretty strong opinions.

Sit back, pop in the earbuds and enjoy this latest podcast. Be sure to tell family and friends to listen too. You can download For the Record on Apple Podcast, Spotify and all major platforms.

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