I want Coquitlam to have more lively, well-designed destinations that remain active beyond traditional business hours, with dining, cultural activities, entertainment and community gathering spaces. This can improve quality of life, support local businesses and help keep more local spending within our city.

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Residents should not automatically face higher property taxes whenever the City faces new costs. I support reviewing City processes, measuring performance, reducing avoidable spending and using technology where it can improve productivity. Coquitlam should also strengthen its commercial base and responsibly expand non-tax revenue sources so residential property taxes are not expected to carry an ever-growing share of the burden.

Coquitlam should be a welcoming and inclusive city where newcomers have a real opportunity to participate fully in community life. Successful inclusion, however, is a two-way process: our community should help newcomers understand local institutions, services, civic responsibilities and the values that underpin Canadian society, while newcomers should be encouraged to actively engage with and embrace those shared principles.

Those principles include respect for the rule of law, equality, individual rights and freedoms, democratic participation, mutual respect, peaceful dialogue and equal treatment of people regardless of their background. Newcomers should be supported in building connections beyond their own cultural communities and in becoming active participants in the broader Canadian community.

Canada’s strength comes from diversity within a shared civic framework. We can celebrate the cultures and traditions people bring with them while also encouraging everyone to leave behind divisions, intolerance and conflicts from elsewhere and build a common future together here in Coquitlam.

Before asking residents to pay more, the City should continuously review how money is being spent and whether programs are delivering measurable value. I support process improvement, technology where it produces real savings, stronger performance measurement, and responsible diversification of non-tax revenues while protecting essential services.

Good governance means more than making decisions—it means knowing whether those decisions actually work. I support greater use of data, measurable outcomes, subject-matter experts and transparent performance reporting in City decision-making. Major policies and projects should have clear objectives, realistic costs and results that residents can evaluate.

Mental health crises should not be addressed by a single system acting alone. Coquitlam should strengthen coordination among police, fire and emergency services, Fraser Health, mental health professionals and community organizations so the right response reaches the right person at the right time. The goal should be earlier intervention, appropriate care, better outcomes and safer communities.

Addiction is a complex health and community-safety challenge. While treatment and health-care delivery are primarily provincial responsibilities, the City can advocate strongly for adequate local services and work with partners to improve connections between outreach, treatment, recovery, housing and community supports. Our approach should be evidence-based, focused on recovery and measurable outcomes, while recognizing the impact addiction has on families, neighbourhoods and public spaces.

Not every public-safety situation requires the same response. Mental-health crises, addiction, homelessness, nuisance complaints and youth-related issues often require coordination among police, health professionals, outreach teams, bylaw officers and community organizations. A better coordinated system can improve outcomes, reduce repeat calls and allow police officers to focus more of their time on serious crime and immediate threats to public safety.

Use data, technology and process improvement to help police work more efficiently, reduce avoidable administrative workload, improve response and resource allocation, and ensure public-safety funding delivers measurable value for residents.

Transit investments should follow real demand and population growth. I will advocate for better bus service, stronger first-and-last-mile connections and data-informed transit planning that reduces congestion and gives residents practical alternatives to driving.

Coquitlam Worldwalk is my vision for a vibrant, walkable destination where residents can dine, gather, enjoy cultural activities and entertainment, and support local businesses throughout the year. The concept could include restaurants, cafés, small-business spaces, cultural programming and a major indoor community venue.

Before committing significant public funds, I would require a professional feasibility study, business case, traffic and infrastructure analysis, and exploration of private-sector and partnership opportunities. The goal is to create a destination that improves quality of life, supports local jobs and businesses, attracts visitors and broadens Coquitlam’s economic base.