By building the right mix of homes and businesses, my plan is to get more people living and working close to transit hubs. Not only will the increase in supply help to ease the cost burden of rentals and home ownership, but will it also cut down travel time and costs for everyday living.
Furthermore, by building close to mass transit, our city can then work to get people out of their cars and into more active transportation options. Less cars means less parking, which cuts down the construction cost of new homes; less need for gas (or EV charging); and in the long-run gets people healthier by walking and cycling more to potentially reduce health care needs.
Building close to mass transit also allows for more affordable seniors, student and accessible home options. It also allows for more opportunities to get non-market and below-market homes for our most vulnerable populations.
In regard to the environment, we need to build on our Environmental Sustainability Plan to ensure we implement the right strategies. We need to collaborate with Indigenous Peoples. We need to plant more trees. We need to continually invest in our parks, recreation, arts and culture. We need to protect our watershed. We need more green tech entrepreneurs working in our city. We need to educate all residents and businesses, both current and future, how best to keep our city green.
We also live in a very diverse and multi-cultural city. I aim to build on our cultural hubs (ie. French, Korean, Chinese, Iranian) strategy to get more festivals, small businesses and community groups all working together to make Coquitlam a destination of fun for local residents and visitors.