Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas are City Councillors in New Westminster. They regularly explore a range of topics of interest to urbanistas! They bring guests i...
Episode 64: Lunar New Year!, Bon Voyages, Budget Bylaw, Brodie Bombs, Metro Mess
Happy Lunar New Year! This week on the podcast FTR features special guest Jiayi Li who brings New Year greetings on behalf of the NWP to all New West residents.First up is a discussion regarding the West End and Massey Victory Heights resident association meetings. Resident associations play a critical role in the community and a couple of them had special meetings this week to discuss a range of neighbourhood topics.The 23% property tax hike (2023-2025) keeps inching closer as the Budget By-law is about to be voted on at New West City Council on January 27th. It's forecast that this term of Council could result in a 30% tax hike - a record for the Royal City. Mayor Johnstone's trip to Dubai in 2023 has triggered a review of the City's policies when it comes to international travel. A staff report is making some significant recommendations regarding the manner in which overseas trips are approved and reported to the public.Metro Vancouver's ongoing PR disaster continued unabated this week with revelations that spending on per diems and meeting fees is ballooning 'out of control'. Listen to several interviews and media reports on this topic which are bound to increase your blood pressure!Coun. Paul Minhas will have his "Canucks on Columbia" motion debated at the next Council meeting. But will our cherished Canucks be seeing some post-season play this year? Only time will tell.Minhas is also bringing forward a motion to install special Remembrance Day sidewalks in New West. It's likely to get the support of Council and be implemented later this year.Upcoming events include the Jan 30th Councillor Cafe at the Holy Trinity Cathedral at 514 Carnarvon St from 7-9 pm. No RSVP is required. Don't forget the Burger and Beer @ Begbie's event on Feb 6th. Tickets are $30 and it's almost sold out.If you enjoy For the Record with Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas be sure to tell your family and friends to follow us too! This podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major platforms.
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Episode 63: Massive Mayor's Compensation, Exclusive Interview with Jag Sall, Michael Geller Talks Density
What a packed podcast! It includes a special exclusive interview with Jag Sall who sits on the executive of the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar in Queensborough. Listen to how the Gurdwara is connected to the broader community. Coun. Daniel Fontaine announces he plans on taking Punjabi lessons this year!There is also a segment featuring Michael Geller, retired architect and developer, who talks about how density needs to be accompanied with investments in new public amenities. Geller will be the guest speaker at the Jan 30th Councillor Cafe taking place at the Holy Trinity Church at 514 Carnarvon St. from 7-9 pm. Geller reveals a couple of interesting connections to New Westminster.The podcast also features a number of media interviews featuring Coun. Daniel Fontaine speaking about massive pay packages for Metro Vancouver mayors. Did you know the Mayor of Burnaby raked in almost $400K in pay and benefits in 2023? Listen to a series of reports and commentary featured on CKNW and Global TV.If you enjoy the FTR, be sure to encourage family and friends to follow the podcast! It is available on all major platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Episode 62: Exclusive interview with Jordan Kofsky, NW mayoral candidacies, 23% tax increases, Go Canucks Go
In the first episode of 2025, hosts Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas wish everyone a happy new year! They also dive right into things with an opening interview with New West mortgage broker Jordan Kofsky. Will interest rates climb or fall? Should you choose a closed or open mortgage? How is supply and demand impacting the local market? Tune in for this engaging discussion regarding the local real estate scene and how it's being financed.Next up Paul Minhas puts Daniel Fontaine on the spot and asks him whether or not he's considering throwing his hat in the ring in 2026 to become New Westminster's next mayor. Is Fontaine really considering it?Monday, January 13th is the first Council meeting of the year and it features a debate on whether the City of New Westminster should raise property taxes by 23% in the first 3 years of this term. Also up for discussion is a motion brought forward by Minhas asking staff to prepare for outdoor and indoor street activities in time for the NHL playoffs this spring.To wrap things up the discussion turns to the big Councillor Cafe being planned for Thursday, January 30th featuring guest speaker Michael Geller. The event is open to the public and no RSVP is required. It's taking place at the Holy Trinity Church on Carnarvon St. from 7-9 pm.Next week FTR features an exclusive interview with Queensborough resident Jag Sall who is a senior executive for the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar. We talk about how the Gurdwara is an integral part of the community and how it is doing some amazing outreach activities.If you enjoy this podcast, be sure to encourage friends and family to follow us. The podcast is available on all major platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Top 10 Civic Political Stories of 2024 in New Westminster. Count them down with us!
What story made number one? Was it the Mayor's Code of Conduct violation for accepting a free gift of a trip to Dubai including business class tickets and a luxury stay at the Waldorf Astoria? Or was it the decision by Council to rationalize spending thousands of tax dollars on a new mushroom wall and insect hotel in Queen's Park?Join For the Record co-hosts Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas as they countdown the top 10 newsmakers in New West in 2024. Which civic political stories made the cut and why?This new and final podcast of 2024 is packed with interesting analysis and commentary on some of stories that made headlines - for all the wrong reasons.This podcast is available on all major platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. A special vodcast of this Top 10 edition is also available on the NWP (New West Progressives) Facebook page and www.danielfontaine.ca. If you enjoy FTR, be sure to let your family and friends know!
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Best of the Best: In the final of our series we interview Trustee Kathleen Carlsen
In our final 'Best of the Best in 2024' episodes, we replay an interview we did right after the February by-election whereby the NWP's Kathleen Carlsen defeated the Community First candidate. Kathleen was up against 'the machine' but never gave up! She came close to winning in the general election in 2022 and had the opportunity to put her name back on the ballot in 2024. This time she came out on top. We talk to Kathleen about what it took to win and what she was looking forward to doing now that she would be sitting on the School Board. It's a great interview that you're not going to want to miss. In our next and FINAL podcast of 2024, we delve into the Top 10 civic issues of 2024. Be sure to tune in!If you enjoy listening to For the Record, be sure to let your friends, family and colleagues know. The podcast is available on all major platforms including Apple Podcast and Spotify.
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Sobre For the Record with Daniel Fontaine & Paul Minhas
Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas are City Councillors in New Westminster. They regularly explore a range of topics of interest to urbanistas! They bring guests in studio from all sides of the political spectrum and aren't afraid to take on some of the most challenging issues facing our cities. Crumbling infrastructure, taxes, homelessness, traffic, urban sprawl - you name it - you'll hear about it on For the Record with Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas.
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