From where I stand

It's obviously important for me to get my stance on the issues facing Delta into the public's hands so that people can form their opinion on my and, ideally, like what they hear and then vote for me on November 19th.

But before I delve too deep into the more tangible topics effecting our community, I want to say a few things about what my philosophy as part of a governing body in Delta would look like.  From looking at how the current administration has been running things, and from the accounts I have heard from other people trying to deal with council, I would like to be able to move city hall towards being a much more responsive and open place.  I would limit the amount of in-camera meetings, and make as many decisions and hearings in public.  It is important that people can see their government working.  I think it is ridiculous to be refusing corporation owned and operated buildings to people wanting to hold political/town hall meetings.  It is just as important for the public to be able to get information out of city hall, be it directly from the mayor or councilors or from their assistants and other office workers.  I do not intend to hide behind closed doors and ignored phone calls.

Now, on to the real meat and potatoes.

When looking down Scott road in North Delta, there is no missing the disparity between the Delta and Surrey side of the road.  This part of town has to be among the top priorities for the new council when it is formed.  If our local economy is to keep moving forward, we need to attract quality business, and also encourage our own residents as entrepreneurs to invest in their own future.  Council has to take a leading role in getting Delta to match our neighbouring city.  Infrastructure improvements, zoning adjustments, business and/or improvement grants, or tax scheme changes are just some of the tools we could use.  We need to get this area performing up to it's potential.

Then there is the issue of the Southlands in Tsawwassen.  But I think that rather than comment directly on this single specific issue, as important and heated an issue as it is, I will lump it in with a couple other issues around Delta that I have similar opinions on for similar reasons.  The SFPR, specifically the areas around Burns Bog and through the agricultural area in Ladner and Tsawwassen and Deltaport expansion.  Moving forward, and keeping our city as clean and sustainable as possible, means not giving up our agricultural land, or our environmentally sensitive areas, to commercial enterprise.  These are lands that have been used for generations to put food on not just Delta plates, but also into grocery stores around the lower mainland and beyond.  Developing these lands means more traffic, more noise, more light pollution at night and more air pollution.

Now, that's not to say that I am a zero-growth stalwart, but the growth needs to be done smartly and for the right reasons.  There is some other great potential for some of these lands as well.  I would love to see Delta attract some post secondary education into our city, and maybe one of those locations would be appropriate.  As a councilor, I would aim to increase our city's park area.  If this could be done in a way that may also generate some revenue such as campgrounds, I think that could be a great way to get more utility out of our green spaces, or the lands that are under controversy right now.