Daniel Fontaine, B.A., ICD.D

In my latest For the Record episode, my special political pundit panel have a look back at what they consider were some of the top stories of 2023 when it comes to municipal and school district issues.

In Part 1 of this podcast we begin to countdown the top 10 stories that we feel are noteworthy for this year for a variety of different reasons. According to my guests, there were no shortage of stories to choose from!

The panels consists of New Westminster Councillor Paul Minhas, Trustee Danielle Connelly and School Trustee candidate Kathleen Carlsen. Be sure to tune in and reflect back with our panel on 2023…the year where New West generated lots of province-wide media stories!

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

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In a wide ranging interview, media commentator and political strategist Bill Tieleman makes a special appearance on For the Record to talk about a range of civic political issues.

To kick the podcast off Tieleman opens up about his concern regarding new provincial legislation that strips away the rights of cities to oversee and plan new development within their borders.  It will also severely limit the ability of citizens to participate in public hearings as part of the development process.

“This is an affordable housing crisis, not a rezoning crisis,” says Tieleman in response to whether he supports the limitations that will soon be placed on the public hearing process. “I can wake up and find out that there is a 20 story building, or whatever size going up next to me and I have no right go to city council and object and say please vote against this and stop this proposal”

Also discussed were proposed tax hikes in city budgets, the impact to smaller urban police forces as a result of the Surrey Police Service expansion, the need to reform Metro Vancouver government and much more!

The podcast also includes an opening segment where the hosts of Rock 101 invited me to appear on air to dispel a rumour they were ‘trash talkin’ New West!  It’s a lively and entertaining episode you will want to hear for yourself!

This podcast is also available on all major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon and Google Podcasts to name but a few!

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In this podcast I sit down at Waves Coffee on Columbia Street with intrepid former journalist Ria Renouf. We talk about her genuine interest in city politics and how this might – one day – translate into a run for Mayor of the Royal City. Ria discusses the role a pizza played when it came to breaking a province-wide story about the resignation of former Community First School Trustee Dee Beattie. We also get to play Ria Rapid Round and find out which politician she’d most like to have dinner with if given the opportunity. This and much, much more!

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