Good Governance & Public Trust
One of the significant challenges we face today - alongside affordability, climate change, growth and neighbourhood planning - is trust.
Residents deserve good leadership, effective governance, forward thinking and solutions - not blaming and finger-pointing.
I am always looking for ways to strengthen public trust and confidence in local government. I don’t make decisions based on what might get me re-elected. I make decisions based on what I believe is in the best interests of the 170,000+ people who call Coquitlam home - today and into the future.
That means making thoughtful, data-driven decisions grounded in reality, not ideology. It means taking a common-sense, context-sensitive approach and listening to understand all perspectives - not just those of the loudest or most organized voices.
Many of the decisions we make today are long-term investments. Coquitlam has planning frameworks that look ahead 30 years and beyond for recreation, culture, libraries and civic facilities. These plans help us anticipate what our growing community will need and make informed decisions rather than simply reacting to what is in front of us today.
Good public policy also means thinking carefully about unintended consequences. When policies are created or changed, I want to understand the impacts, look at the evidence and consider the long-term implications. I believe thoughtful, informed decision-making - rather than short-sighted or reactionary decisions - helps build public confidence.
My promise is to continue being approachable, responsive and willing to listen to understand. I hope to bring continuity and stability to the next City Council and to continue serving Coquitlam residents with integrity, transparency and a commitment to strengthening public trust.
A Functional City Council
I am proud to have been part of a functional, respectful and responsive City Council this past term.
We have had disagreements. We have engaged in debate. We have asked difficult questions. But we have done so respectfully and constructively at the Council table, without allowing disagreement to become division and dysfunction.
That matters.
A functional Council can spend its time focused on the issues that matter to residents rather than dealing with internal conflict and misconduct. It also helps build strong external relationships, which are essential when working with other orders of government and community partners to accomplish goals of mutual importance.
This term brought an extraordinary amount of change and uncertainty for local governments. Provincial legislation fundamentally changed the way cities plan neighbourhoods, accommodate growth and fund the amenities that growing communities need. Council and staff have had to pivot quickly, respond to changes we did not anticipate and work to understand impacts that are still unfolding.
Throughout that uncertainty, our responsibility has been to protect the interests of Coquitlam residents as much as possible while continuing to plan responsibly for the future.
I am also pleased that Council has remained focused on our municipal mandate. There are many important issues in the world, but residents elect us to look after the City of Coquitlam. That means concentrating our time, resources and tax dollars on the responsibilities within our jurisdiction.
And it means thinking beyond one election cycle. We should not defer necessary work simply to save money today if doing so leaves a much larger bill for future residents.
For me, good governance comes down to something fairly simple: listen carefully, do the homework, consider the long-term consequences, work respectfully with others and keep the people of Coquitlam at the centre of the decisions we make.