My Official Municipal Platform
Better Solutions for Burnaby's Housing Market
The cost of real estate has risen to the point that the average BC resident can't afford to purchase real estate without making substantial sacrifices. One reason is a dependence on building materials that cost substantially more due to inflation and supply chain interruptions. Burnaby would lead the way in building construction using cutting edge construction methods such as 3D printing, and using revolutionary materials such as concrete containing recycled plastics.
I will create a Burnaby Strata Co-operative Service (catchy acronym TBA) that will encourage mentorship opportunities between established and new Strata complexes, and will offer opportunities to improve direct communication with this growing housing sector.
I will update the current building permit conditions so it includes regularly removing litter in the neighbouring community around the building development's perimeter.
A Greener Burnaby
Burnaby needs to invest in a robust, efficient and safer network of mobility (bike) lanes that have no infrastructure gaps by 2030.
The City of Burnaby should investigate upgrading and expanding the facilities at Swangard Stadium to include a natural grass field, additional seating, sound dampening and other features to create a world class sporting facility and entertainment district around Boundary Road and Kingsway.
Burnaby needs to lead the way in creating opportunities and programs that reduces and/or eliminates plastic based packaging in favour of biodegradable paper, hemp and mycelium-based alternatives. Burnaby should lead the way in creating products and industries using recycled plastics, including cutting edge materials that could be used to build housing quickly and more economically.
We must protect our old growth tree canopy in this community and must prioritize managing it responsibly instead of significantly depleting it under the rule of Mike Hurley and the Council majority Burnaby Citizens Association.
A Cleaner (and Quieter) Burnaby
Burnaby is one of the Crown Jewels of British Columbia and deserves to be the Cleanest Community in British Columbia.
I will lead a revamped community cleanliness campaign at the municipal level that encourages and rewards involvement in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Burnaby will invest in technology to make litter clean up more efficient and equipment that will make litter clean up faster and easier.
Burnaby City Council will review the light bylaws of this municipality and take steps to reduce excessive light pollution. We will tailor reasonable regulations to minimize excessive lighting that impedes the sleep patterns and health of Burnaby residents.
I will also enable front-line Burnaby staff to act as a Bylaw Officer on behalf of the municipality to increase overall coverage and availability for bylaw related issues to 24 hours a day.
A Safer Burnaby
I support a speed limit of 30 km/h on all non-arterial residential streets, along with other speed reduction infrastructure.
All Burnaby streets should have an accessible sidewalk for pedestrian safety, and should aim to complete this network by 2032.
Burnaby should audit our current law enforcement capabilities and ensure that resources are not being wasted on bylaw related complaints.
Burnaby must take immediate action in curtailing homelessness while offering programs and incentives to get people's lives back on track free from the scourge of fentanyl, opioids and other hard drugs.
A More Accountable Burnaby
I would support creating a Freedom of Information portal that would provide the greatest of transparency between Burnaby City Hall and its taxpayers.
I would champion legislation that would give Burnaby's voters the power to censure and expel badly behaving politicians at the federal, provincial and municipal level and in their respective municipalities.
I will introduce legislation that would make it mandatory for Burnaby create a lobbying registry and compile a bi-yearly report regarding elected officials' pay and expenses.
Burnaby voters deserve the option of a referendum in 2030 asking if they would prefer a ranked ballot and/or ward representation to make sure Burnaby's many residents are adequately and diversely represented at the City Council level.