Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West joins TCCTV host Patrick McCarthy. West is a lifelong Port Coquitlam citizen and is raising his two sons here. Leading the community through a global pandemic was not on his ‘to do’ list, but he feels the City reacted decisively and took necessary steps to keep people safe. The City helped businesses by allowing use of outdoor spaces and paying for City crews to help them. These spaces are now permanent. Property tax and utility fee deadlines were extended, and residents were given drive-by parades, with City crews and big dump-trucks.

Park and trail use grew exponentially during COVID and West says he helped residents discover new parks, such as Blakeburn Lagoons. He is investing in spray parks, outdoor pools, and playgrounds. The City has shown leadership by allowing alcohol in public parks and the community has shown him they can be trusted to behave responsibly. He says we don’t need to study things for years to make decisions. He says as Port Coquitlam is not building anymore single-family homes, parks have become peoples’ backyards.

Beyond his duties as Mayor, West felt it was important to bring non-Municipal issues such as money laundering to light because other politicians weren’t talking about it. He credits himself with getting action taken on this issue.

West says affordable housing is challenging and frustrating. The City is using every tool to get housing produced within reach of average-incomed people. He claims more success in the last four years, than the last four decades. The City has 500 units of affordable housing in various stages of development. He blames the affordability crisis on detachment of housing prices from income, which is not Port Coquitlam’s fault. He says Provincial and Federal governments must take responsibility. The City is doing their part in increasing supply. He says Federal Government raised immigration levels to record levels without consulting Municipal government, causing housing challenges.

The Port Coquitlam Recreation Centre, the largest capital project in the City’s history, was completed on time and on budget. People coming from other places are ‘wowed’ by the facility. West says people love the underground parkade. City land was sold for market rent or strata and commercial spaces to help pay for the $41 million facility.

West says the City and Kwikwetlem First Nations were flummoxed for a long time but have now reached a servicing agreement. He says one of the most important acts of reconciliation the City can take is allowing First Nations to develop their own lands and bring services to them.

West says being Mayor of Port Coquitlam is an indescribable honour.