It should come as no surprise that thousands of people in our community are struggling with the current cost of living. Housing, groceries, transportation, utilities and nearly every other household expense continues to put pressure on our community. At a time when families, seniors and small businesses are being asked to do more with less, I do not believe City Hall should simply assume taxpayers can absorb another increase. I will not support an increase in taxes until this economic downturn has passed.

That does not mean neglecting the services and infrastructure our community depends on. It means setting priorities. Essential services must be protected, infrastructure must be properly maintained, and we must continue planning for Chilliwack's growth. But every new expenditure should be weighed against the financial pressure already facing the people who ultimately have to pay for it.

Before asking residents for more money, Council should be asking whether a project is necessary today, whether there is a more efficient way to deliver it, whether existing resources can be better used, and whether it fits within our long-term financial plan. Good government is not measured by how much it spends; it is measured by how effectively it uses the resources taxpayers have already entrusted to it.

Having served as co-chair of Chilliwack Healthier Community for more than seven years, I have seen firsthand how important it is for our community to support vulnerable persons, prevent them from falling through the cracks, and connect them with the services that can help improve, or indeed save, their lives.

Chilliwack has put significant effort into developing services and supports for vulnerable residents, and I am proud of the work our City and community partners have done. But these challenges do not stop at municipal boundaries, and Chilliwack cannot be expected to carry a disproportionate share of the regional response.

When neighbouring communities do not provide comparable access to services, vulnerable citizens naturally (and understandably) migrate to communities where help is available. Over time, that places increasing pressure on Chilliwack’s service providers, emergency response, public spaces and taxpayers.

This is not about turning people away. It is about making sure people can access appropriate help closer to where they live and ensuring that every community in our region contributes fairly to that effort.

I will push for stronger regional cooperation, shared planning and meaningful commitments from neighbouring municipalities and the provincial government. 

A healthy neighbourhood should make everyday life easier. Wherever possible, residents should be able to safely walk or cycle to shops, parks, schools, services and gathering places without having to get in a car for every trip.

That means safe crossings, connected sidewalks and trails, shade and green space, interesting streets, and neighbourhood centres that give people reasons to walk.

As Chilliwack grows, we need to protect that long-term vision. New housing is necessary, but simply adding density does not build a complete community. Growth should follow thoughtful neighbourhood planning so that housing, roads, parks, infrastructure, transportation and amenities grow together.

Chilliwack is in an unusual where a significant amount of housing is being built by neighbouring First Nations communities, but are not counted toward Chilliwack’s provincial Housing Target Order.  Those homes contribute to the same regional housing supply and rely on many of the same roads, utilities and community services. I support continuing to press the Province to recognize those homes as part of the mandated target, reducing pressure to allow any and all multi housing projet variance at the expense of the livability of our city. This will allow Chilliwack to pursue growth through the comprehensive neighbourhood planning our community has already undertaken. Growing is inevitable, let's make sure we are growing on our own terms.

As Chilliwack continues to grow, families face the very real possibility of not getting into their catchment schools. While building schools is under the School Board purview, much can be done by way of collaboration between City Council and the School Board.

Many families are now sending their children to schools out of catchment due to over-crowded catchment schools, and each time a new development is green lit, without real consideration to public school space, we fall more and more into an overcrowding situation that has impacts on traffic, neighborhood cohesion. the well being of stundents and families, reduced participation in extracurriculars and more. 

Having been the Chair of the school board in 2022, I feel I am well equipped to start the conversation between School Board and Council, and directing our expert staff to find long term solutions.

When Chilliwack decided to build the Chilliwack Cultural Centre—and, before that, major facilities such as the Coliseum and Leisure Centre—there was understandable debate about whether these were prudent investments. The public was consulted, and community feedback helped confirm that these were facilities Chilliwack was growing into and would need. These projects were then planned years in advance, and the City maintained the financial discipline to build them without borrowing.

Major infrastructure should not be driven by the loudest voices or the appeal of the next exciting project. We need long-term infrastructure planning based on community feedback, clear priorities, and the financial discipline to see those plans through.

As the cost of living continues to rise, owning and operating a vehicle has become increasingly difficult for many people. Insurance, fuel, maintenance and the cost of purchasing a vehicle can put reliable transportation out of reach for seniors, young adults, teenagers, single-parent families and others living on limited incomes.

Transportation is not a luxury. People need reliable ways to get to work, medical appointments, grocery stores, community services and school. When those options do not exist, the people who can least afford additional barriers are often the ones who face them.

Good transportation planning creates opportunity. It allows people to work, participate in their community, access the services they need and maintain their independence. I look forward to working with TAC, BC Transit and my fellow councillors to ensure transporation is as accessible and barrier free as possible.

Public service requires people with different perspectives to work together. Disagreement is inevitable—and often healthy—but personal attacks, political gamesmanship and toxic behaviour make it harder to do the work residents elected us to do.

If elected to Council, I will work to foster a culture of professionalism, respect and civility—not only around the Council table, but throughout the organization. If problems with workplace culture exist, I believe they need to be addressed directly and early. Residents deserve a City Hall where people can disagree, challenge ideas and make difficult decisions without creating a toxic environment.