The Tri-City News sent out a questionnaire to all candidates in the local ridings for the 2024 B.C. election.
The following is from Hamed Najafi, BC Conservative candidate in Coquitlam-Maillardville.
Name: Hamed Najafi
Profession: Electronics engineering, technical sales and customer service
Residence: Coquitlam
Biography
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Hamed Najafi is a dedicated and community-focused individual, stepping forward with a deep dedication to the well-being of the constituents of Coquitlam-Maillardville as the next Member of the Legislative Assembly.
- Professional Career and Community Involvement
Combining exceptional management skills with a genuine passion for public service, Hamed has consistently demonstrated a deep dedication to understanding and addressing the needs of individuals and families. From his early days in electronics engineering to his roles in customer service and technical sales, he has shown an unwavering commitment to uplifting communities and improving lives.
With extensive knowledge and expertise in the real estate industry, Hamed Najafi possesses a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing communities, particularly concerning housing affordability and social well-being. He believes in fostering inclusive and supportive environments where every resident can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.
Through his people-centred approach and unwavering dedication to public service, Hamed Najafi aims to collaborate with stakeholders, listen to the concerns of constituents, and champion initiatives that prioritize the health, happiness, and prosperity of all British Columbians. He deeply cares for the people of British Columbia and is ready to bring his expertise and passion to the forefront as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
- Commitment to Coquitlam-Maillardville
Driven by a deep-seated desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of others, Hamed is committed to leveraging his skills and experience to advocate for policies that promote affordability and foster a thriving, inclusive community. He envisions British Columbia as not only an affordable place to live but also the best place to call home — a place where all residents have the opportunity to thrive and prosper.
Contact information
- Website: conservativebc.ca/hamed
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 778-885-0534
- Socials:
- Facebook: facebook.com/hamednajafi
- X: @Hamedrealestate
- Instagram: @hamednajafi_mla_candidate
- Threads: @hamednajafi_mla_candidate
- Hashtags: #MLAcandidate / #bcpoli / #bcelection2024 / #BCConservatives / #ConservativeParty / #bccanada / #VoteForChange / #ConservativePartyofBC / #BetterHealthcare / #StrongerEconomy / #BrighterFuture
Questionnaire
Recent legislation designed to get more housing built in urban areas close to transit has created tumult in some communities. How might your government further refine this approach to ensure the new housing that gets constructed also addresses local needs for affordable housing as well as homes for families and seniors?
The Conservative Party of B.C. is committed to building complete communities near transit, not just high-density dormitories.
As part of our "Get BC Building" plan, we will amend Bill 47 (Transit Oriented Areas) to ensure new communities have space for grocery stores, small businesses, and services within walking distance of homes.
What would your government do to help municipalities provide more supportive housing?
A Conservative government will conduct a forensic audit of BC Housing to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent on genuinely low-income housing, not wasted on politically connected non-profits.
We will provide professional training to non-profits receiving government funds for housing projects to ensure cost-effective and timely construction.
We also promise to establish specialized housing for individuals with complex needs, such as those with brain injuries caused by drug use, ensuring that they receive the care they require in appropriate environments.
How would your provincial government support municipalities dealing with the increase in growth and demand for infrastructure like schools, childcare, parks and recreational facilities brought on by the new provincial housing regulations?
We will create a Civic Infrastructure Renewal Fund to provide $1 billion per year to municipalities that allow viable small-scale multi-unit housing on at least two-thirds of their residential land.
How will your government help make $10-a-day childcare more widely available to more families?
Our childcare plan will expand $10-a-day childcare by ending the funding bias against independent providers and enabling them to open more affordable spaces immediately. We will prioritize access for those most in need by making $10-a-day spaces available for the kids who have the fewest alternatives.
Small businesses are struggling with onerous leases, petty crime, increasing costs. According to a recent survey almost half fear they won't be around in four years. What will you do to make it better for those businesses to have a chance to survive and new ones to start up?
The Conservative Party is committed to making B.C. the number-one jurisdiction for starting and operating a small business in Canada, recognizing small businesses as the backbone of the provincial economy.
To help B.C. businesses, we will cut the small business tax rate in half to one per cent.
We will also target cities to reduce approval times for building permits and business licenses, by publishing benchmarks and wait times to hold cities accountable.
In addition, the NDP’s excessive regulations are stifling business growth and contributing to B.C.’s record deficit. The Conservative Party of B.C. is committed to reducing the regulatory burden and unleashing the potential of B.C.’s business community. As part of this, we will reduce the provincial regulatory burden by at least 25 per cent over our first term, with a Minister responsible for Red Tape Reduction.
Local governments now have more Emergency Social Services (ESS) responsibilities for mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery for major incidents like fires and floods. Will your government provide a temporary group lodging facility at səmiq̓ʷəʔelə / Riverview Lands as part of a coordinated regional response plan for natural/human-made disasters?
While we have no official policy on this, I will advocate for the temporary group lodging facility as our riding's representative.
Coquitlam RCMP continues to get daily calls about people who have left a mental health facility or group home. The ground- and paper-work involved to account for each person missing from these centres takes hours of police time. How will your government help the detachment and the cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam with resources?
We are committed to properly funding our police forces, including the RCMP. We will do this by hiring more police officers and expanding police training capacity.
How will your government partner with the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation?
The Conservative Party of B.C. will work with the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation in through a real partnership.
Through real partnerships, respect for governance and economic development, we are dedicated to a bright future for Indigenous peoples where cultural traditions are preserved, and communities lead the way in shaping British Columbia’s economic success.
The Société francophone de Maillardville has been in Coquitlam for more than 40 years and receives provincial funding. What will you do to ensure it has a permanent home in the traditionally French-speaking community?
We have great respect for our french speaking community and want to see them thrive. While the Conservative Party does not have a commitment on this issue, I will be an advocate for the Société francophone de Maillardville within the Conservative Party caucus and provincial government.
Upgrades to the Highway 1/Brunette Avenue Interchange have been on the books for decades. What will you do to make sure this pinch-point is improved, especially for emergency responders?
The NDP’s approach has been all about bottlenecks, delays and inefficiencies. British Columbians deserve better.
After seven years of the NDP, aging infrastructure like the Highway 1/Brunette Avenue Interchange are dragging down daily life and our economy. While demand for all types of infrastructure continues to grow, the NDP has failed to fix the problems that exist today — let alone build what’s needed for tomorrow.
The Conservative Party will build the infrastructure we need to unlock the potential of this province, and we’ll do it without NDP road pricing or NDP tolls.
