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Port Coquitlam: BC Conservative candidate Keenan Adams

Get to know your district's candidates in the 2024 provincial election. Voting day is set for Saturday, Oct. 19.
Tri-City News Staff

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 Keenan Adams, BC Conservative candidate in Port Coquitlam.

Name: Keenan Adams

Age: 40 next year

Profession: Locomotive engineer at the local railyard, also on the union executive

Residence: Port Coquitlam

Biography

  • I’ve proudly called Port Coquitlam my home for the past 14 years. Three years ago, after sharing my concerns with my father about the direction our province is going in, he gave me some blunt advice: “Son, either shut up or get involved.” That conversation made me realize that if I wanted to see positive change, I needed to step up. That’s why I’ve decided to put my name on the ballot. I’m deeply invested in our community and believe we can build a brighter future — one with affordable living, safer streets, better mental health and addictions services, and a renewed sense of community spirit.  Being outside the political bubble keeps me connected to the real concerns of the community. I will bring fresh, innovative, and out-of-the-box ideas to Victoria.

Contact information

 

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 BC NDP has allowed a housing crisis to spiral out of control, leaving seniors struggling to afford rent. Programs like SAFER [Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters] are outdated and have failed to keep up with skyrocketing rents, leading to seniors paying over 60 per cent of their income on housing. The Conservative Party of B.C. will reform these systems and protect our seniors by:

  • Strengthen financial support for seniors who in need by modernizing the SAFER program. Rent and income thresholds will be updated annually to reflect current market conditions and inflation.
  • Double the Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities to $2,000, to help our elders stay in the home they love.

 

What would your government do to help municipalities provide more supportive housing?

Our plan to Get BC Building aims to introduce a new era of housing abundance and affordability for B.C. 

Conservatives start with the premise that new homes are a good thing. Few would disagree — but in reality, the bureaucratic status quo treats new housing like a problem that needs to be minimized. Under the NDP, taxes and red tape have gotten thicker, while Eby’s heavy-handed approach with local government has alienated an important ally.

It will take time to build the number of homes we need. That’s why the “Rustad Rebate” will provide immediate relief to both renters and homeowners. It’s the largest tax cut on housing costs in B.C. history.

From day one, a Conservative government will tackle the bottlenecks that delay housing and drive-up costs. We will end the era of the multi-year permit delay, and we will get B.C. building homes at both the speed and scale needed to achieve housing abundance.

 

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?

The speed of approving a home must reflect the urgency of the housing crisis. Under the NDP, it commonly takes three or more years to get a new housing project approved — that’s before a single hammer is swung. The home approval process must be redesigned to prioritize the need to get building.

The Conservative Party of B.C. will:

  • Approve homes in months, not years
    • Six months for a rezoning and development permit, and three months for a building permit. If a clear yes/no is not issued by city hall within the required timeline, the provincial government will issue the permits.
  • Require zoning to be proactive
    • We will work with cities to ensure that Zoning is changed at the same time as other land use policies, in what is sometimes referred to as “pre-zoning.” Even though Official Community Plans and Area Plans specify what types of buildings are encouraged, cities still require a unique rezoning for each building — adding years of delay that we can’t afford.
  • Trust BC professionals to do their job
    • Critical months and years are wasted by having bureaucracies second-guess the work of highly-skilled, regulated, and certified technical professionals like engineers and architects. We will enact Presumption of Compliance laws so municipal and provincial regulators must presume that B.C.’s professionals can perform and peer-review their work in accordance with the rules.

 

How will your government help make $10-a-day childcare more widely available to more families?

*The candidate did not respond to this question.

 

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 candidate did not respond to this question.

 

Our cities are growing into the surrounding wild areas; that’s creating increasing concerns about wildlife encounters and the threat of wildfires, what kind of supports would your government be able provide in those communities to protect wildlife and residents?

Wildfires are a natural occurrence on B.C.’s landscape — certain tree species have even adapted to wildfires such as the cones of Pine trees and the bark of Douglas Fir trees. The objective of managing wildfires in B.C. should be to protect communities, infrastructure, and our forests.

While B.C.’s initial attack crews can be highly effective, the number of fires can overwhelm B.C.’s resources. Too often, this comes at an unacceptable price to homes, lives, and human health. The Conservative Party of B.C. will:

  • Undertake a complete review of how wildfires are managed in B.C.
  • Work with contractors and the private sector to empower them to be able to act quickly in response to emerging wildfire issues.
  • Provide local people and communities with training and equipment.
  • Ensure local volunteers and contractors are be able to call-in to support their efforts.
  • Work with universities to support the research and implementation of new technologies and methods for firefighting.

There have been too many management incidents over the past seven years under the NDP that have been ignored. B.C. has not learned from past mistakes and we have not embraced different technologies or explored alternative fire management methods.

 

In September, Premier David Eby told the Tri-City News his NDP government is committed to rebuilding Hazel Trembath Elementary in the same location. What will you do to ensure the school is rebuilt before the 2025-26 academic year begins?

While at the moment we can’t guarantee a specific rebuild date for Hazel Trembath Elementary, I have been the only provincial candidate to actively advocate for its reconstruction and stand with the community at rallies. This school is crucial for local families, and I understand the urgency of having it rebuilt before the 2025-26 academic year. I will continue to push the provincial government to prioritize the project and hold them accountable to their commitment. My focus is ensuring that our children have safe, modern facilities as soon as possible, and I will not stop advocating until the rebuild is completed.

 

How will your government ensure Port Coquitlam gets SkyTrain?

While the party has not yet made any official promises to extend SkyTrain service to Port Coquitlam, I am committed to advocating strongly on behalf of the community. The expansion of SkyTrain is a critical infrastructure project that would significantly improve transportation access and reduce congestion. As your MLA, I will work closely with local and provincial leaders, ensuring that the voices of Port Coquitlam residents are heard and that this important project remains a priority in future transportation planning.

 

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West has called the provincial government “irresponsible” for not replacing the Coquitlam River bridge, along the Lougheed Highway. When will your government fix this aging piece of infrastructure?

The Coquitlam River Bridge along Lougheed Highway is a vital piece of infrastructure for our community, and it’s concerning that it hasn’t been replaced yet. While a timeline for this project hasn’t been set, I recognize how essential it is for safety and the efficient movement of people and goods. As your MLA, I will advocate strongly for the bridge’s replacement and work to ensure that the provincial government prioritizes this critical infrastructure project. It’s not just about Port Coquitlam — it’s about the safety and well-being of everyone who relies on this route.

 

The Mary Hill Bypass has many vehicular and cycling accidents each year. How will your government improve its safety?

Safety on the Mary Hill Bypass is a serious concern, and while we, as politicians, are not qualified to prescribe specific engineering solutions, I believe it is essential that we rely on the expertise of traffic safety and urban planning professionals. Our role is to ensure the government allocates the necessary resources and collaborates with experts to develop the most effective safety improvements for both vehicular and cycling traffic. As your MLA, I will advocate for consultations with safety professionals to address the high accident rates and push for timely action based on their recommendations.