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PORT COQUITLAM
VOTE SMART
#PoCoVotes14
Coquitlam’s traffic is PoCo’s problem, and other election issues PROFILES INSIDE
MAYORAL CANDIDATES: P2 & P4 TRUSTEE CANDIDATES: P5 COUNCIL CANDIDATES: P12-P15
A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE TRI-CITY NEWS FOR VOTERS IN PORT COQUITLAM
PHOTO: JANIS WARREN/THE TRI-CITY NEWS
• WWW.TRICITYNEWS.COM/MUNICIPALELECTION
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P2 Friday, November 7, 2014, Tri-City News
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CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR: GREG MOORE (incumbent)
Moore: Juggling city needs & finances
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t’s a rainy Tuesday evening and the line-up for the Giggle Dam winds halfway down Shaughnessy Street and around the corner. But the crowd isn’t queuing for a night of dinner theatre. Inside, guests are greeted by Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore and his wife, Erin Moore. They shake hands, hug, pat backs and trade jokes with the 190 guests who have each paid $40 to be at his re-election fundraiser. There are many familiar faces: All city councillors are present, as are a few current and past candidates. There’s also a smattering of business people and labour support as Moore has union backing from CUPE Local 498, representing PoCo civic workers, and the city firefighters’ local. But “mostly it’s just people from the community,” he said. The sold-out fundraiser is a testament to Moore’s popularity in PoCo, where the 43-year-old former city planning technician was a councillor, then became mayor and, this year, the person acclaimed to be board chair for Metro Vancouver. Last month, he touched on what he believes are successes and challenges, and talked about how he wants to see his hometown grow in the next four years if he’s re-elected. The Fremont connector to Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain is the first issue to be raised, with Moore re-iterating his preferred route for the multimillion dollar inter-municipal arterial: Devon Road. A right-of-way is available to the city, he said. Cedar Drive, by comparison, has too many homes while a route under the Fremont power lines would separate farm land into smaller parcels, Moore argued. Recent rumblings from Coquitlam city council about PoCo “moving the goal posts” for Fremont
“Over the last eight months, we’ve been working really hard, really fast, to develop what that [rec centre] plan needs to look like and how to pay for that... Now, we’re at the goal line.” Mayor Greg Moore, who is running for re-election
don’t faze Moore. “We’ve been pretty clear with Coquitlam all along,” he said. “Frankly, this road is going to benefit their residents.” But when pressed on the tax base benefits for PoCo — especially in the commercial sector — Moore responded: “Our retail is doing just fine without having Burke Mountain being developed. If it were my preference, you wouldn’t build on Burke Mountain, but it’s not. “I live in a regional system and we have to accommodate Coquitlam’s growth.” Moore is also asked about the length of time it
has taken to make a decision on the Fremont alignment. A decision has been delayed, he said, in part because the city updated its master transportation plan last year. “We took out the Fremont connector because it was too important of a linkage to not have its own study and own evaluation done,” he said. “But we know the road itself isn’t needed for 10 to 15 years so we’re trying to do it as proactively as we can to let people know what the length of the road is going to be.” The slow uptake on the new recreation complex — a capital project on the books for years — is also brought up. Last year, council budgeted $250,000
to study a possible rebuild “and, over the last eight months, we’ve been working really hard, really fast, to develop what that plan needs to look like and how to pay for that, capital and operational [costs]. Now, we’re at the goal line to move over that.” As for the municipal staff — many of whom have had to contend with larger workloads following a recent efficiency review of programs and services at city hall — Moore acknowledged there are vacancies that haven’t been filled for a year. “I think we need to look at the service levels that council has requested. Sometimes, I think our staff wants to deliver a higher service level than what we’re willing to fund — and that’s a good thing because they’re passionate about their community — but council is trying to balance the budget with the fiscal responsibilities.” Moore points to council’s decision to reduce property taxes last year as an achievement. At the same time, it hired six new firefighters after nearly 20 years of no new hires. But for the RCMP detachment PoCo shares with Coquitlam — PoCo has 66 officers for a population of 60,000 — Moore said work needs to be done in terms of boosting police presence in the community. Eventually, he would like to see PoCo have its own precinct. As for bigger tributes for hometown hero Terry Fox, Moore said he wants the new annual run route past Terry Fox secondary, over the Coast Meridian viaduct and around the Terry Fox Library to be made permanent and decorated with markings along the way. jwarren@tricitynews.com @jwarrenTC
Website: gregmoore.ca
RE-ELECT BRAD WEST For Port Coquitlam City Council November 15 “Serving as your City Councillor for the past 6 years has been a tremendous privilege. I have worked hard to listen to the concerns of our community and bring forward positive solutions that make Port Coquitlam an even better place. We have much to be proud of in our city, but there’s more work to be done. As your City Councillor, I will never stop fighting for local residents. I will always put our community first and will be guided by you - the residents of Port Coquitlam. With your support, I would be honoured to continue to be your strong voice on City Council.” • A life-long resident of Port Coquitlam and dedicated community volunteer. • An experienced advocate for local residents, served 6 years on City Council. • A record of standing up for your issues and bringing forward positive solutions. Authorized by Financial Agent - Brad West - 604-313-9185
www.bradwest.ca I brad@bradwest.ca I 604-313-9185
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Re-Elect with CONFIDENCE
PENNER Darrell
Port Coquitlam City Councillor
On Saturday November 15th, Darrell knows the community, and continues to deliver vote a strongexpects voiceand deserves. leadership that Portfor Coquitlam
Coast Meridian Overpass
5 Successful Terms on Council Environmentally Proactive Experienced and Dependable Proven Leadership With 14 years experience on City Council in Port Coquitlam and a resident for 43 years, Darrell has the knowledge to be an effective Councillor.
604.941.9823
What people say about Darrell: “Darrell has a clear understanding of environmental issues that affect this region.” Dr. Elaine Golds, Environmentalist
“Darrell has a strong knowledge of bear issues and is the type of leader that is needed in our communities.” Drake Stephens, Urban Wildlife Coordinator
Please vote for Darrell Penner “You can depend on me.”
Thank you for your support over the past 14 years. You can contact Darrell at 604.941.9823 or by email at penner4poco@gmail.com Authorized by Darrell Penner, Financial Agent penner4poco@gmail.com
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CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR: ERIC HIRVONEN
Hirvonen: Water meters candidate’s key platform issue I
t’s 9:45 a.m. on a Wednesday, the time Eric Hirvonen scheduled the week prior for a phone interview while he was waiting for a video shoot at The Tri-City News’ office. The call wakes him up but he allows for the discussion to proceed. Over the course of 16 minutes, Hirvonen has many things to say about Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore and how he has represented the city for the past two terms. As in The Tri-City News video, Hirvonen launches directly into an attack of water metering. He believes they’re a waste of money. Hirvonen said homeowners are already taxed enough and installing water meters on residential properties is tantamount to “a home invasion robbery cash grab” by Metro Vancouver. In the video, Hirvonen talks about a June 2011 Drinking Water Management Plan document as proof of Metro Vancouver’s intentions to install residential water meters. Mayor Moore has publicly stated there’s “no truth” to Hirvonen’s comments. And there is no indication the city of Port Coquitlam is considering installing water meters at this time. But Hirvonen, who declined requests for a reporter to accompany him while he knocked on doors campaigning, said this is the key plank in his campaign against Moore for the PoCo mayor’s chair, claiming Moore, as board chair of Metro Vancouver, is driving a push for meters by the regional authority. Mostly, Hirvonen’s platform is anti-Moore. He “is not a good mayor,” Hirvonen says. “There’s no evidence of him serving the public… I would do a much better job to represent the people than the current mayor.” Hirvonen takes aim at Moore’s endorsements from “special interest groups” such as the New Westminster and District Labour Council and CUPE Local 498, which represents PoCo civic workers. They pay for his campaign and Moore, in turn, doesn’t have to pay a cent, Hirvonen claimed. By comparison, Hirvonen says his campaign is self-funded through his registered slate, the Canada Electric Services Inc. — or Canada Elect, as he calls it on his city disclosure papers — of which he is named as director. It’s not the first time Hirvonen has put forward an electoral organization. In 2011, he ran for city council and his Canada Fire Safety Corp. slate backed William Issa for mayor. But in that run three years ago, when he placed third from bottom with 738 votes, Hirvonen reported the campaign costs carried much larger numbers: $32,494 to be exact, or some $2,000 more than Moore’s campaign total. According to the 2012 documents he filed with the city, for which there are no financial records, Hirvonen’s bills included: • $7,777 for advertising; • $8,999 for signs and flyers; • $5,888 for campaign staff; • $3,888 for rent and utilities; • $2,888 for furniture and phones; • $88 for office supplies; • $2,888 for research and polling; • and $78 for transportation.
T C E L E E R
Dean
WASHINGTON
Working for the Citizens of the City
FIRST TERM PROGRESS REPORT 2011 PRIORITY: Road Network and Rec Facilities PROGRESS: -Infrastructure made City’s Top Priority in 2013.
-Appointed Chairperson of a new Infrastructure Committee which drafted a plan to replace ageing assets utilizing existing capital funds. -Supported new Artificial Turf Field at Gates Park completed 2013. -Final planning stages for Rec Centre, Centennial Pool, Terry Fox Library upgrades.
2011 PRIORITY: Clean up the City and Make it Safer PROGRESS: -Received full commitment from top management to incorporate street, sidewalk and park litter collection as core philosophy within the city. -12 new Fire and Police staff over past three years. Port Coquitlam now ranks as one of the lowest crime rate areas in Metro Vancouver.
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2011 PRIORITY: Return to Weekly Garbage Collection
“There’s no evidence of [Moore] serving the public… I would do a much better job to represent the people than the current mayor.” Eric Hirvonen, who is running for mayor
When challenged, Hirvonen denied his campaigns are tax write-offs, saying said he runs for civic office for the good of the community. “I don’t do this for a reason other than to serve the public,” he said. Asked how he would handle the growth coming down from Burke Mountain, where Coquitlam is allowing construction of homes for 20,000 more residents, Hirvonen said he “wouldn’t even consider complying with Coquitlam’s requests anymore.” “They’ve already gotten Port Coquitlam to tally up and pay for the Coast Meridian Road and the provincial government helped with the David Avenue route. All of the development is helping Coquitlam, not Port Coquitlam.” As for the RCMP, Hirvonen said sharing a detachment with Coquitlam is “fine the way it is” and police presence is already high in PoCo because of the provincial court. jwarren@tricitynews.com @jwarrenTC
Website: ericin.tripod.com
NOTES AbOuT THiS TRi-CiTY NEWS SECTiON n Articles on the mayoral candidates are based on interviews
n City council and school trustee candidate briefs are based on
interviews and their responses to an online survey
n Text by Janis Warren (council) and Diane Strandberg (trustees) n Editing and design by Richard Dal Monte
PROGRESS: -Although an advocate for returning to weekly garbage collection, after seeing the advancements in the program through streamlining and education was convinced the current method is the most reasonable and economic way to proceed. 2011 PRIORITY: Customer Service and Fiscal Responsibility PROGRESS: -Customer Service is now one of the city’s Top 3 Priorities.
-2012-2014 combined tax increase of 5.6% compared to 2009-2011 increase of 16.55%. -2014 decrease of -.24% was the only tax decrease of any Canadian city. “As a lifetime resident of Port Coquitlam, Dean has a long history of being involved in the community and business life of this city. He has been an excellent City Councillor and has my full support for re-election.” Mike Farnworth, MLA, Port Coquitlam - Burke Mountain
“Dean is a valuable leader in our community. His dedication as both a volunteer and City Councillor have been a significant asset to our community. He has the passion, drive, and ability to lead our city and bring about growth and positive change.” Kayla Steele, Executive Director, Downtown Port Coquitlam BIA
“I’ve worked closely with Dean on City Council to stand up for the issues important to our residents. He’s smart, hardworking and dedicated to making our community an even better place. With your support, together we’ll keep working to build a city all of our residents can be proud to call home.” Brad West, City Councillor, Port Coquitlam
“Having known Dean all his life I knew he would be a tremendous advocate for the taxpayers of Port Coquitlam. I look forward to him continuing his hard work on behalf of the citizens of our city.” Brian Madaski, Owner, Port Coquitlam Bowling Centre
“Dean has proven to be an innovative and dynamic leader in our community, I welcome his re-election to Poco City Council.” Bruce Richardson, Vice President, CUPE Local 561
WASHINGTON
Approved by Dean Washington for City Council Tel: 604.629.9665 Web: deanwashington.ca
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CANDIDATES FOR POCO SCHOOL TRUSTEE (2 will be elected)
Trustee candidates in their own words The following are candidates’ responses to the following questions: Incumbents only: With School District 43’s recent difficulties, which resulted in $13.4 million in cost cutting, and a forensic audit noting lack of control and monitoring resulted in a deficit in 2012/’13, why should anyone vote for you, an incumbent who was on the board when it happened? To non-incumbents only: If you are elected, what issue would you bring to the board’s attention? To all: What is your reason for running for school trustee? Also: Do you think there is enough transparency about what goes on in the school district? If not, how would you change it?
LIAM COUGHLAN
CHRIS KING
JUDY SHIRRA (incumbent)
MICHAEL THOMAS
• Entrepreneur, lives in Port Coquitlam • Expertise to offer board: knowledge of education system • Endorsements: none • Why run: “I think school boards are about stewardship and oversight, and I think in general across the province, we need to strengthen the makeup of school boards with people who understand the system and have financial expertise. We need to raise the bar as to who’s running these large organizations.” • What issue: “Coquitlam is the only district within the province that doesn’t belong to the municipal pension plan and now there is an unfunded liability of about $30 million, and it could be a problem. I think they need an exit strategy there. If you can spread that risk throughout the whole province, it’s better than one district dealing with $30 million.” • Transparency: “I think people live very busy lives and don’t know or care unless there’s a problem. That’s the reality. A lot of it [information] is available, SOFI [Statement of Financial Information] reports are there for you to read. A lot of it is managing perception… [and] public engagement.”
• Retired, lives in Coquitlam • Expertise: knowledge of education system • Endorsement: CUPE • Why run: “Education is under attack. There’s not enough talk about the phenomenal success that kids are having and the programs that teachers are doing in spite of the cuts. I believe I bring something unique to the table this board has never had… someone from the classroom whose been involved at all levels.” • What issue: “I believe the board has to make public education everybody’s business. They have to stop seeing it as their sandbox. They do need to reach out to city groups, city councils and business and have conversations and build those relationships.” • Transparency: “By not releasing the full forensic audit, if that’s how the board operates around transparency, then we have an issue.”
• Accounts manager, lives in Port Coquitlam • Expertise: knowledge of education system • Endorsement: none • The deficit: “A big part of our deficit has to do with the downloading and the cost-cutting from the provincial government. Have government pay [for] CPP, MSP, the raise the CUPE just got, and what teachers are getting. We did a few things wrong but this is not human error, this is downloading and not proper funding from Victoria.” • Why run: “It’s [for] community engagement, it’s the reason to network and help them get things. If the schools know me, I can help them source it… I’m a community asset, I may not always be a board asset because I don’t always agree with what’s going on.” • Transparency: “Our budget is not that confusing, if you put it line by line in two separate columns, everyone could understand it. We could do a better job with that. That’s just simplifying certain things, it’s just little things that need tweaking.”
• Small business owner, lives in Port Coquitlam • Expertise: financial • Endorsement: CUPE • Why run: “My kids are going to be in the system for the next 13 years. I have an opportunity make a positive impact for children in PoCo and around the district.” • What issue: “I think there’s an opportunity for cities and school boards to work more closely together… Certainly there is a need for improvements in safety around schools and my time on the [city] transportation and public works committee would be beneficial.” • Transparency: “I found it frustrating in the public meetings in the spring. They would put big numbers on the big screen and handouts with different numbers, and they would very quickly go through the numbers… They are not as transparent as they could or should be.”
Email: chriskingpei9@gmail.com
Website: thomasfrompoco.ca
Phone: 604-944-6155
Website: liamcoughlan.ca
RE-ELECT PORT
MIKE FORREST COQUITLAM CITY COUNCILLOR
I appreciate your past support and I would be proud to continue to serve our Community on our Port Coquitlam City Council. With your support I will continue to work with our City Council team to bring a fiscally responsible and balanced approach to the delivery of city facilities and services. Let’s step forward together with a renewed sense of pride and ownership in this place we call home.
On November 15th, Show the Community Pride and Energy of our Centennial Homecoming...
Ready...Set...V O T E ! !
MIKE FORREST mwcf@shaw.ca facebook/mikeforrest
604.942.6289
Authorized by Mike Forrest Financial Agent.
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Are you ready to vote Nov. 15? Make sure
Port Coquitlam residents hoping to cast a ballot in the upcoming civic election may want to make sure they qualify to vote before heading to the polls on Nov. 15. An eligible resident elector must be a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age and have lived in B.C. for at least six months and in PoCo for 30 days prior to the election. Those who are not on the voters list will need to register and can do so by bringing two pieces of
ID or proof of residency documents to their polling station on voting day. Documents include: • B.C. driver’s licence; • B.C. identification card issued by the motor vehicles branch; • owner’s certificate of insurance and vehicle licence issued by ICBC; • CareCard; • Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security request for continued assistance form;
• social insurance card; • Canadian citizenship card or • valid Canadian passport; • current property tax notice; • credit card; • utility bill. Advance polling will take place once more in Port Coquitlam before general voting day, on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the Elks Hall (2272 Leigh Sq.) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Polling stations in Port Coquitlam will be located at: • Blakeburn elementary (1040 Riverside Dr.); • Castle Park elementary (1144 Confederation Dr.); • Cedar Drive elementary (3150 Cedar Dr.); • Elks Hall (2272 Leigh Sq.); • Irvine elementary (3862 Wellington St.); • Kilmer elementary (1575 Knappen St.); • Kwayhquitlum middle (3280 Flint St.); • and Westwood elementary (3610 Hastings St.).
PORT COQUITLAM CITY COUNCIL
★
BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW About Me Being born and raised here in Port Coquitlam, I have seen our town become a big city. I have gone through our school system from Mary Hill Elementary to Citadel and finally graduating from Riverside Secondary. I have also participated in many of the programs including swimming and Port Coquitlam Minor Soccer League. I understand what an organization needs to succeed and want to help our kids get the best programs possible. After living here my entire life, I have decided to expand my family in Port Coquitlam. I am currently moving to the Mary Hill area and hope my kids will enjoy this city as much as I have. Having two young children I want to make sure they have a place where they can enjoy the trails and recreation facilities just as we did when we were young. I have years of past volunteer experience with Bright Nights at Stanley Park, The Burn Fund and the Surrey Crime Prevention Society. I want to bring all my experiences to council so I can help our city move in the right direction.
Leadership I can be the strong leadership that Port Coquitlam needs. I have a strong voice that can be heard within council and a strong will to make our community a home for everyone. I will be focused on public safety, transportation and ensuring our city grows, not just for businesses, but for residents as well. There are many changes coming to the Tri-Cities and we need to be prepared. I am hard working, dedicated and focus oriented. I have a strong desire to succeed and want to make sure everything stays on track and budget for years to come. Our city needs a change and I am that change for the better.
On November 15, 2014 vote Amrit Gill Help me build a better future for everyone!
604.889.0304
Amrit.gill39@gmail.com | www.amritgill.ca | @amritgill2014 Approved by financial agent Amrit Gill amrit.gill39@gmail.com
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Videos at tricitynews.com
You can hear and see candidates in the Nov. 15 council and school board elections as Tri-Cities Community TV and The Tri-City News partnered to create candidate videos to help local voters. You can find the videos at tricitynews.com/municipalelection (click on Election Candidates).
WHAT KINd Of SCHOOL bOARd dO yOU WANT? I want a Board that is relevant and fiscally responsible. I want a Board that is the defender of Public Education and the guardian of programs, resources and services that ensure the academic, social and emotional development of all students.
VOTE CHRIS KING
PORT COQUITLAM SCHOOL TRUSTEE
STOP THE NEW INCINERATOR. There’s a proposal to spend over $500 million of your tax dollars on a new garbage incinerator.
STOP BURNING YOUR TAX DOLLARS. Technology has advanced and now there’s a better, greener choice. NextUse proposes to build a material recovery facility that will ‘break open the bag’ and recycle more of what’s inside. With their money, not yours.
SAY NO TO BURNING MORE GARBAGE + RECYCLABLES.
There’s an easy way for you to stop burning your money and burning more of your garbage and recyclables. Go to yourchoice.nextuse.ca and take one minute to say no to an expensive new garbage incinerator.
MAKE YOUR CHOICE AT:
YOURCHOICE.NEXTUSE.CA
CANDIDATES FOR POCO COUNCIL
13 going for 6 spots on PoCo city council Thirteen people — including all six incumbents — are running in the election for Port Coquitlam city councillor. The Tri-City News interviewed each in the early stages of their campaigns leading up to the Nov. 15 vote. Their mini profiles run on pages P12 to P15.
Advocating for Port Coquitlam
with Strong Leadership and Effective Communication My husband Ray and I have lived and raised our four children: Katrina, Monica, Jackie and Bill in Port Coquitlam for the past 22 years. We are a family committed to giving back to the community.
ELECT Nancy McCurrach
• www.nancey4portcoquitlam.ca • Facebook: Elect Nancy McCurrach for Port Coquitlam City Council • Twitter: @Nancy@McCurrach • nancy.mccurach@gmail.com
“Having personally worked along side Nancy on the Smart Growth Committee and through discussions about business and the importance of a strong community, I would not hesitate to recommend Nancy as a good choice for leadership in our Community” Lih-Ming Tam
Authorized by NextUse Recycling Ltd., registered sponsor under LECFA, nextuse.ca
#PoCoVotes14
Authorized by Financial Agent Ray McCurrach ray.mccurrach@gmail.com
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CANDIDATES FOR POCO COUNCIL (6 will be elected) SHERRY CARROLL
ERHAN DEMIRKAYA
LAURA DUPONT
When former city councillor Sherry Carroll thought about why she wanted to run for a civic seat again, she drew up a page-long list of reasons. Carroll, who in 2011 lost the council seat she had held for one term to Dean Washington by 145 votes, split her action plan in two: what was outside of the city’s purview and what the municipality could accomplish directly. A member of the city of Coquitlam’s Riverview Lands Advisory Committee, Carroll earmarked the upcoming “restoration” of the mental health care property as, once approved, having a significant impact on PoCo. Next on her list was the Evergreen Line to Coquitlam, due to open in 2016. That rapid transit alignment, she fears, may be a negative for PoCo in terms of connectivity. “In my experience, every time something major happens to the transit structure in the Tri-City area, we lose,” she said. “I remember very clearly when we moved here 22 years ago, we had six crosstown routes. We are now down to two: [the] 160 and 159 [buses]… We have to have a say in that.” Another external hit on PoCo will be the massive growth on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam. “All that lovely, new infrastructure — i.e., drains — is going to go into PoCo’s old infrastructure downhill,” the geophysicist said. “This is not good. What you get is backup. It will break and rupture.” Carroll said she has no preference on the Fremont connector route to Burke as the details will be negotiated between the two cities’ staffs. “I want to wait to see the studies and hear what the people really want.” As for PoCo-specific issues, Carroll said she likes how city council approved a short-term tax hike to pay for the Coast Meridian Overpass. Something similar could also be done for a new recreation complex, she suggested, although balancing property tax increases with infrastructure needs can be tricky. Email: electsherrycarroll@gmail.com
First-time candidate Erhan Demirkaya gives two reasons he’s running for a civic seat in Port Coquitlam: his son and daughter. The 11-year resident said he is concerned about security at local schools and believes, as an elected official, he could better encourage SD43 and PACs to beef up safety measures on school properties. (City council has no jurisdiction over how schools are run; that falls to the board of education.) Demirkaya said he also believes downtown PoCo business owners need protection, too. Security cameras like the ones placed in London, England, would do a great deal to prevent crime, he said. Business owners could pay for a pilot program, after consulting with the RCMP, and if it’s successful, he said, more cameras could be added. “If criminals see the camera, they’re not going to do the stuff they’re doing now because it will be on the camera and they will get caught.” When asked whether police presence should be boosted, Demirkaya was hesitant. He wants to review the city budget to see if more Mounties should be hired. Demirkaya, who is not on any city committees and said he attends council meetings sporadically, also said he’s in favour of having new and better sports fields, and improvements in public transportation (which is governed by TransLink). Asked about his preferred route for the Fremont connector north of Prairie Avenue, the mechanical engineer with a master’s degree chose Devon Road as he said it would affect fewer homeowners. Demirkaya wants to be a councillor because “I love getting involved in the community I live in. I want a better and safer environment and I believe if I’m an elected official, we can do more.” Email: erhan@shaw.ca
As one of three citizen advisors on the city’s transportation solutions and public works committee, Laura Dupont says she is in touch with commuter issues in Port Coquitlam. “If we don’t put some serious thought into planning well and making sure we have better transit options, we are going to have gridlock,” the labourendorsed candidate said. “We’ve got such a great community but we’ve got too many cars on the road and it’s only going to get worse.” Pressed on more specific solutions, Dupont said she would fight for direct and frequent bus service from central locations in PoCo to Coquitlam Town Centre when the Evergreen Line opens in 2016. She said she would also like to see better connectivity for cyclists and have a Fremont connector steer away from Cedar Drive. When it comes to growth in the Dominion Triangle, Dupont said she would like to see more diversity that includes small local business. “I don’t want an all-or-nothing area,” she said, adding, “The city needs to help small- and medium-sized business, too, but I don’t have a magic bullet as to how we are going to do that.” Port Coquitlam, she said, already has a low business tax rate, which makes it competitive against other Metro Vancouver municipalities, “and I don’t think the city can go much lower.” Dupont says she likes how the city has initiated a program to celebrate local companies and wants it to do more to encourage shoppers to buy local. A Buy Local campaign — similar to the one launched this fall by several businesses in Port Moody — would drum up interest, she said. And having a specific clause in the city’s purchasing policy to promote PoCo businesses first “would be brilliant,” Dupont said. As for the arts, Dupont said PoCo is lacking a venue to host major events, adding, “Leigh Square is good but it’s not big enough.” Website: lauradupont.ca
RE-ELECT
Glenn Pollock for Port Coquitlam City Council
28 Years of Community Involvement • Reliable • Accountable • Experienced
Twitter: @PoCoGlenn • Phone: 604-771-4415 Authorized by Linda Finch Financial Agent - lindafinch@hotmail.com
-Strong -Balanced -Experienced
Putting Students First!
PoCo kids need a strong advocate. As a SD43 parent and a long time PoCo resident, I’m motivated to run for the right reasons. I want a brighter future for Port Coquitlam’s students. Our kids deserve a fair and balanced School Board that reelects the needs and priorities of today’s families. As the founder of a computer service company, I have the business background and technical knowhow to lead our schools in the 21st century. Years of budget cuts to maintenance and student supports has left many of our schools crumbling and our students are falling through the cracks. Our kids deserve safe, well-funded, well-supported schools. They need a strong voice from our community. Stand up for public education and vote Thomas.
ThomasFromPoCo.ca www.facebook.com/ThomasForTrustee Authorized by Michael Thomas, Financial Agent, FA@ThomasFromPoCo.ca
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Tri-City News Friday, November 7, 2014, P13
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CANDIDATES FOR POCO COUNCIL (6 will be elected) MIKE FORREST (incumbent)
Incumbent Mike Forrest chairs the city’s smart growth committee and makes this clear about the growth on Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain: “We have no control.” The 14-year councillor also makes a point about how the neighbouring municipality didn’t help PoCo when it came to funding the Coast Meridian Overpass and it likely won’t be paying for the Fremont connector, either. So far, he is the sole candidate to support a Fremont route on the east side of the power lines, north of Prairie Avenue, as he says it will have less residential impact and will tie in with the Fremont on the Coquitlam side. But what will ultimately happen will be up to the public during next year’s consultation and with the next city council, Forrest said. In the meantime, he would like to see Burns Road — “an absolutely horrific piece of work at this point in time” — upgraded to improve traffic flow from Lougheed Highway to Prairie Avenue; Cedar Drive also needs a rework soon, he said. Forrest said he has also been a business champion this term, heading up the mayor’s task force on business opportunities and lobbying Tri-City councils to create an inter-municipal mobile business licence for the region. He wants to see the city making it easier for PoCo businesses to gain purchasing contracts with the municipality. And he’s an advocate for densifying the downtown core, saying, “We need to have enough people to make it worthwhile for [small business people] to be there.” The Downtown PoCo Business Improvement Association has done a good job but more partnership is needed with the city to attract business, he said. As for opening up the waterfront to residential and commercial interests, the mariner believes the area under the Pitt River bridge “is a classic place for waterfront development for public access and a float-home community.” Email: mwcf@shaw.ca
AMRITPAL GILL
A Riverside secondary graduate, Amritpal Gill is full of enthusiasm about running for political office in his hometown. He wanted to run for a city council seat earlier but having two young children has kept the West Vancouver firefighter extra busy. His kids are what’s driving his campaign agenda. “I have an investment in Port Coquitlam,” he said. “I want it to be a good place where you can raise your family. I don’t want to see it grow in to a big city and lose our community values.” A 31-year southside resident, he’s an active user of Port Coquitlam’s parks and recreation programs with his children — be it at the Hyde Creek or PoCo rec centres, or the Terry Fox Library. And he is calling for expansion of all three facilities to accommodate future families, saying, “We need to cater to them.” Gill, who is currently building a house in PoCo, believes the city’s infrastructure needs to be looked at and public transit has to be improved to get cars off the roads. When the Evergreen Line opens in two years, Gill wants to see a direct bus route from PoCo to the rapid transit system. If elected, he promised to ensure the new rec centre is built “on budget and on time” and a tourism plan is put in place to attract visitors and shoppers to the area. He sees the Dominion Triangle shaping into a kind of Morgan Crossing development in south Surrey, with seasonal festivals and celebrations. As for the downtown retailers, “I’ll always have a look out for the little guys, too. The key question is how do we attract business and how do they grow? There should be incentives for small businesses to stay like with taxes or more affordable office space.” Website: amritgill.ca
Vote for
Erhan DEMIRKAYA
RIYAZ LAKHANI
IT specialist Riyaz Lakhani believes Port Coquitlam could have done better in its recent deal with Telus. The deal to bring high-speed fibre optic technology to the city is positive overall, Lakhani said, but PoCo city hall should have asked for more in return for allowing the communications company to dig up roads. “To be honest, it’s great that Telus is coming in,” the 10-year PoCo resident said, “but it would have been nice to see WiFi over the whole city. There could have been better negotiation. They could have done a lot more.” Lakhani also holds strong views on tax increases, public transit, online crime and the Fremont connector. On the latter, he chooses Devon Road as his preference north of Prairie Avenue because “I think it has the least effect on residents.” The city of Coquitlam should also be footing the bill for part of it as Burke Mountain homeowners will be the primary commuters on the road. “Coquitlam is going to be benefitting from [Fremont] because of the easy access to the Mary Hill bypass. The prices of their homes are going to go up with this ease of access that we’re providing them.” As for the bus system, Lakhani rates it as poor. His son takes public transit to get to and from school and “it’s not very quick. We need to do a lot more about that.” The first-time candidate said he would like to fix the discrepancy between residential and institutional building. Recent permit values for homes in PoCo are millions of dollars more than for civic facilities and “we are now playing catch up.” As a councillor, Lakhani said he would also like to see the RCMP spend more time tackling online predators and scam artists who are preying on vulnerable residents, saying he knows of a local senior who was taken for hundreds of dollars. Website: riyazlakhani.ca
In Port Coquitlam
foR PoRt CoquItlAM CItY CounCIl stRong voICE AnD stRong vIsIon
• Wrestling Coach in Tri-Cities • Volunteered Coach at Minnekhade Middle School last three years • Volunteer Coach TCYBA Basketball Leaque • Community Activist • Local Businessman • Proven Leadership • Reliable and Dependable • Believe in safety on our streets It will be a great honour to serve the residents of Port Coquitlam as a city council.
604.313.2709
or e-mail: erhan@shaw.ca
www.facebook.com/ErhanDemirkayaForCouncil Authorized by Financial Agent Erhan Demirkaya erhan@shaw.ca
Re-Elect Michael Wright for Councillor
www.michaelwright.ca Authorized by Michael Wright Financial Agent 604-942-8897
TC VOTESMART: POCO
P14 Friday, November 7, 2014, Tri-City News
www.tricitynews.com
#PoCoVotes14
CANDIDATES FOR POCO COUNCIL (6 will be elected) WAYNE MARKLUND
Wayne Marklund’s first run for political office was last year in the provincial riding of Burnaby North. He was listed as an independent on the ballot because the party in which he was a director-at-large, the BC Conservatives, filed its paperwork too late with Elections BC. In that run, Marklund gained just 2.3% of the vote, losing to BC Liberal Richard T. Lee. Because the Burnaby businessman enjoyed campaigning, he submitted his nomination documents to PoCo city hall to run for a civic seat. “I’m not doing it for the money,” he said. “I’m doing for the citizens of Port Coquitlam.” His eight years as a PoCo resident have been an eye opener, he said, and he’s heard plenty of complaints about the RCMP. “There’s a lot of crime and the response time is slow,” Marklund said, noting theft from homes and vehicles top his list. “I believe the RCMP should be dealing with bigger issues than just issue tickets to jaywalkers or people on cell phones. They should be dealing with drug dealers and gangs.” Marklund is in favour of dismissing the Mounties to create a municipal police force, which he believes would be cheaper in the long run. He wants to share protection services with Port Moody “and eventually Coquitlam could come on board and form an alliance” in the Tri-Cities. Marklund, who said he watches most city council meetings rather than attend them in person, also doesn’t believe Port Coquitlam should be “subsidizing” Coquitlam by building a Fremont connector. Coquitlam will benefit with additional property taxes, he said, “and you don’t see that money coming in to improve our roads.” At the time of the interview, Marklund was unclear about the three options for Fremont north of Prairie but called for more environmental study before the arterial route is built. Website: waynemarklund.ca
NANCY MccURRAcH
Nancy McCurrach has done a lot of knocking on doors since deciding to run for civic office. As of the third week of October, the CUPE-backed candidate had spoken to residents or placed promotional brochures at 3,800 homes and 20 businesses. She said she has heard an earful of concerns, ranging from the Fremont connector and transportation to policing and green space protection. Property tax rates are also a hotbutton issue on the campaign trail and, if elected, she vows to keep them low. McCurrach is one of three citizen advisors on the city’s smart growth committee and has spoken against using Cedar Drive as a Fremont route because of the number of children walking to and from Cedar Drive elementary school. On traffic, McCurrach said the city needs to lobby for more services from TransLink “and be more involved in their discussions” for future routes. She also believes municipalities should have a role to play when it comes to the upcoming provincial referendum on transit funding. McCurrach said she supports community policing and wants to see more on-street visibility by RCMP officers. She’s also pressing for a living wage policy in PoCo, such as the one implemented in New Westminster. In 2011, the Royal City became the first municipality in Canada to enact a bylaw that raises the minimum wage paid to city workers, for companies that receive city contracts and for firms that receive economic development money from the city (the figure for 2014 for the Lower Mainland is $20.10, assuming no benefits are provided by the employer). Asked if this would be a detriment to attracting business to PoCo, McCurrach responded: “It’s a big issue but if we tackle it one city at a time, I believe our community will be stronger.” Website: nancy4portcoquitlam.ca
ON NOVEMBER 15, ELECT
LAURA DUPONT
FOR PORT COQUITLAM COUNCIL
DARRELL PENNER (incumbent)
Transportation is the biggest issue facing the Tri-Cities and, as chair of Port Coquitlam’s transportation solutions and public works committee, Coun. Darrell Penner has come under some scrutiny. Earlier this year, his committee put the Fremont connector discussions into high gear, proposing three options south of Prairie Avenue to connection with Lougheed Highway via Burns Road, and three options north of Prairie to link with Burke Mountain in Coquitlam. Penner, a city councillor since 2000 who came in second place in the 2011 election, said he wants to keep an open mind about the process as the city calls for public feedback in January. The Cedar Drive plan would have the least impact to DeBoville Slough, he notes, and the Devon Road concept “makes sense because we already own the road right-of-way… The one under the power lines makes the least sense.” On public transit, Penner said PoCo council has struggled with TransLink’s recent “optimization” program — “which is to say, cutting services” — and more lobbying needs to be done. Still, some things have improved recently, as with an extra bus up to David Avenue on Burke Mountain. Penner is also in favour of creating a wider trail system for cyclists. Asked about sharing RCMP services with Coquitlam, Penner believes it’s time for a change. “The model has not worked well,” he said, noting the city could base its own detachment on the south side. As for supporting business, Penner feels the Dominion Triangle is a different model from the downtown core: shoppers go to Fremont Village as a big box destination while the Shaughnessy Street zone is full of small shops that area residents can walk to. “There are very few places where you can get your rod, jump in the elevator, go downstairs and walk up the road to go fishing.” Email: penner4poco@gmail.com
RIYAZ
EL EC T
LAKHANI
Port Coquitlam City Councillor because i CARE ELECT ENDORSED BY
Port Coquitlam Fire Fighters AND
A Leader in Our Community www.lauradupont.ca
Fin Donnelly, NDP
@LDupont4Poco
Community Accessible Responsible Economy *Authorized by Ryaz Lakhani* - elections@lakhanifamily.ca
TC VOTESMART: POCO
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Tri-City News Friday, November 7, 2014, P15
#PoCoVotes14
CANDIDATES FOR POCO COUNCIL (6 will be elected) A constituency assistant for Port Coquitlam NDP MLA Mike Farnworth, Coun. Glenn Pollock hears about a lot of concerns in the community — so much so that councillors Dean Washington and Brad West often kid Pollock about being the go-to man for complaints. Still, “I get back to people,” Pollock said. “They may not get the answer they want to hear but anybody who calls me, I’ll meet with them about anything.” Since being elected in 2008, the union-backed councillor has heard plenty about garbage collection and the Fremont connector. There are still a few issues to be worked out with solid-waste and recycling pickup, which is now handled internally in PoCo, but Fremont remains a big one. Pollock likes the Cedar Drive option “although I’m open to what the residents tell us,” he said, adding, “I don’t foresee the traffic volumes from Burke.” Many Burke commuters will take Coast Meridian Road or a new Lincoln Avenue link over the Coquitlam River to get to the Evergreen Line in Coquitlam Town Centre, Pollock suggested. And unlike some other PoCo candidates, Pollock doesn’t believe Coquitlam should cough up funds for Fremont as it will serve a regional purpose when built. His main goal is to get surety for the area residents about where Fremont will land. Pollock also doesn’t think PoCo needs to hire more Mounties to improve the city’s traditionally poor cop-to-population ratio, although he said, “You can never have enough. It’s a balance of how much you want to pay in property taxes versus what you need.” As for the next four years on council, the lacrosse coach and member of the Tri-Cities’ collaborative health table envisions PoCo will “look great. We going to work on the trail system, the rec centre, another synthetic field and we’re going to have a great active place to live in.” Email: glenn_pollock@shaw.ca
MICHAEL WRIGHT (incumbent)
Dean Washington won the last spot on city council in the last election and is “fairly confident” he can retain his seat this month. On the doorstep, the publisher is getting kudos for council’s efforts to keep property taxes low, he said, and the first-term councillor believes he has brought a new perspective to city hall. “I’ve asked a lot of questions. I didn’t wait for things to happen.” But more needs to happen. A former vice-chair of the downtown Business Improvement Association, Washington said he wants better lines of communication between the PoCo BIA and city hall. Downtown business issues are usually relayed through city staff and are “not a priority,” he suggested. Downtown retailers are competing against big box outlets in Dominion Triangle and a city strategy is needed to rejuvenate the area around Shaughnessy Street. Washington said he would like to market the core to certain businesses and create a common plan for investors. He’s not in favour of the current retail below/residential above concept as shops often sit empty. There’s also the conundrum of affordability when older buildings are replaced. At the city committee level, Washington chairs community safety and is the vice-chair of healthy community, which incorporates the arts and culture. He freely admits the arts are not his area of expertise but he has pressed for a plan for Leigh Square Community Arts Village. “Not a lot is happening there,” he said. On the policing front, Washington is against recruiting more Mounties at this time. “The crime rate is not going up and more growth doesn’t necessarily mean you have to keep hiring.” As for the Fremont connector, Washington is mum. “I feel whatever the route it is, it’s not going to be built for a long time,” he said, adding Cedar Drive and Burns Road require immediate attention. Website: deanwashington.ca
TC
The key plank in Coun. Michael Wright’s campaign is something he has promoted for years: the arts. But when it comes gaining support from others on council, Wright said he hits a brick wall. Arts and culture are always the first on the cutting block when it comes to funding and, at this point, Port Coquitlam council is eager to find efficiencies at city hall and keep taxes low, he said. As a result, arts leadership at the city level “is lacking.” The loss of the city’s arts and culture co-ordinator to another municipality was a big blow to PoCo, he said, noting that more than a year on, her position remains vacant — a matter Wright isn’t too pleased about. As well, the summer entertainment wasn’t a big draw this year, although Lions Park was under construction. The chair of the city’s healthy community committee, which is responsible for the arts, among other things, Wright said that until arts groups become more organized and have a stronger voice, “it’s just going to be an uphill battle on council.” A city councillor for most of the last 33 years, Wright said he has seen plenty of change in PoCo and is eager to help shape the city for the next four years. On the topic of the Fremont connector, Wright said there will be disruption to residents. “I guess Devon would be my favourite,” he said of the three options north of Prairie Avenue, adding, “We’ve got a lot of public consultation coming up. I’m obligated to listen to what the public has to say.” Wright, who is also vice-chair of the city’s community safety committee, believes now is not the time to hire more Mounties. “If the crime rate was going up at a rapid rate, sure, but crime is coming down.” Website: michaelwright.ca
DEAN WASHINGTON (incumbent)
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GLENN POLLOCK (incumbent)
ERRORS & OMISSIONS
Attention candidates: Any errors of fact in the profiles in this section will be corrected in the Wednesday, Nov. 12 edition of The Tri-City News. Errors must be brought to our attention no later than 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 10 by emailing the editor at newsroom@tricitynews.com.
BRAD WEST (incumbent)
Riverside secondary graduate Brad West topped the polls in the last civic election but he’s humble when asked if he can repeat the accomplishment. “I’m working as hard as I can, knocking on as many doors as possible and trying to get the best result that I can,” the 29-year-old union-backed candidate said. The issue of affordable living is West’s main topic. Many people he grew up with have been forced to leave PoCo because of the high cost of homes, not able to stretch their incomes to stay, he said. As a city councillor, West is committed to finding efficiencies at city hall to keep property tax bills low. “We just can’t keep going back to taxpayers and asking for more and more and more. There’s not a bottomless pit of money.” But asked what impact the recent efficiency review for city hall has had, West admits there have been challenges. Some positions haven’t been filled while capital projects are on a priority list. “It’s all about balancing needs with available funds,” he said. “That means you can’t do everything… At the municipality, we should be focusing on the core services that people expect for their property tax dollars.” As for creating jobs, West said he’s proud light industrial business has come to the Dominion Triangle and he’s eager to create a vibrant downtown for business to grow. Over the next four years, West wants to see the downtown core further densify and beautify, “making sure it becomes a focal point of the community.” West has no preference for the Fremont connector route. “I’m still really troubled by the issue of PoCo residents having to pick up the tab for a connection that I think primarily serves people outside of the municipality… Our community does not need to be subservient to Coquitlam.” Website: bradwest.ca
Re-elect Sherry CARROLL Port Coquitlam City Council needs to have a balance. Sherry brings that balance to the table.
professional
community service
Registered member of BC’s Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists
President of Coquitlam River Watershed Society & ArtsConnect Regional Arts Council Co-Chair of PoCo’s BC Spirit Committee Committed Arts, Culture, Heritage & Environment Advocate
Past Business Manager, Canadian Association of Petroleum Geologists
credible
at local & provincial government levels
19 years experience dealing with matters of municipal importance at the committee & council level Served on Aggregate Task Force, Business & Economic Development, Transportation, Environmental Protection & More.
understands business concerns 15 years ‘hands-on’ Retail Experience
Sherry CARROLL
Speak up! You can comment on any story you read at www.tricitynews.com
Port Coquitlam Council
Calm, collected & collaborative electsherrycarroll@gmail.com
✔ VOTE November 15th
P16 Friday, November 7, 2014, Tri-City News
www.tricitynews.com
Port Coquitlam is home to me since elementary school and I have travelled while learning life’s lessons. I have been indebted to major financial institutions and survived. Life has expense and I’ve paid my share.Through all I’ve become someone that cares about my compatriots. I can wish no harm to any creature. When I see a need I try to fill. I established a fire protection company, CANADA FIRE SAFETY CORPORATION, to provide a valuable service that protects lives and subsequently CANADA ELECTRIC SERVICES INC.. These experiences help me to recognize what is currently happening in the ongoing expansion of turning what is a natural life source, water, from being free to use to being a commodity with expense involved in its’ every use. Why, because sources outside our community put a high value on the water and corporate greed is willing and happy to supply the outside source and justify charging residential consumers based on market demand. I see the “Drinking water management plan June 2011” as movement to turn the public water supply into a commodity in every aspect of its use including residential. As, this plan clearly states that objective on page 13. A council that can be entrusted to put residents first is critical at this election. The council at present has already shown themselves to be corporate friends and provide no benefit to residents, let’s not lose the benefit of H2O. A city Council can stop Eric Hirvonen the residential water meters from becoming reality or help Metro Vancouver achieve that revenue source. I bring this plan to everyone’s notice and state that as Mayor I will not allow the residential water meters in Port Coquitlam and will work to have the plan revised to not have residential water metering within the plan! Authorized by Financial Agent Eric Hirvonen r.eric@live.ca