Housing, homelessness, property taxes for small businesses and politicians’ salaries were among the topics raised at the annual Tri-City Mayors Barbecue.
The event, hosted by the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce at the Gordon Ramsay Burger restaurant in Coquitlam on Thursday, Sept. 26, drew more than 100 community and business leaders wanting to hear what the mayors of Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra said (Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West did not attend due to a scheduling conflict and was substituted by Coun. Paige Petriw).
Fresh from the Union of BC Municipalities convention and at the start of the provincial election, the mayors voiced their frustration with Victoria and how its program and service downloading has affected civic work and financial plans.
In fact, nearly every answer from Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart centred on the lack of consultation and movement by his provincial counterparts on issues like infrastructure to handle the mandated growth and the funding needed to build more homes and roads like the long-awaited Fremont Connector route.
“We have so many infrastructure needs,” he said, signalling the future schools and transit for the region that’s expected to hit 500,000 residents in 20 years.
Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti talked about the province’s housing target for her city and the challenges with Victoria placing “arbitrary circles on a map” for where to densify. City officials are best suited to choose where to grow, she said.
Still, Lahti was the only mayor to talk about the possibility for more supportive housing in the Tri-Cities: Port Moody is eyeing the redevelopment of a federal site at 45 Mary St., formerly occupied by Canada Post, for supportive homes.
Stewart said Coquitlam has asked the province to pick properties for the city to rezone for supportive housing; however, he said, Victoria also has to supply the much-needed wrap-around health services for the clients, which he said hasn’t happened at the Tri-Cities’ only homeless shelter at 3030 Gordon Ave.
Leslie Courchesne, CEO of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, who moderated the mayors panel, said she spoke with business owners around 3030 Gordon Ave. last week and saw the encampment. She drew applause after saying the Chamber would be supporting the businesses that want help for those clients.
Asked about the homelessness comments made by two Port Coquitlam councillors at a public meeting this month, Coun. Petriw said what was said before the Coquitlam RCMP superintendent “was not compassionate,” but PoCo residents and visitors need a downtown where they can feel safe. Petriw also called local media reporting of the councillors’ remarks sensationalistic.
As for property taxes, Stewart blamed the province for not adjusting the BC Assessment rates that see commercial owners paying up to five times more than residential landowners.
“We end up with business subsidizing residential [...] It's not fair,” he said while urging the crowd to contact provincial candidates on their platforms.
Asked what issues the provincial contenders need to focus on for the Oct. 19 vote — and provincial topics that come before municipalities often — the mayors cited healthcare, education, public transit, mental health and addiction services.
The mayors also responded to a question about their compensation. Again, Stewart pointed the finger at the province for failing to set a civic remuneration rate based on population. “We shouldn’t be voting on our own raise,” he said.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
