Special guest Councillor Paul Minhas joins the podcast to review the most recent New Westminster Council meeting which took place on Feb 5th. The meeting was cut short due to a disruption in the Chamber, but not before Council got to conduct some important business.

In this podcast we discuss why a simple motion to visit PoCo and learn how they can increase services while keeping their taxes low - got defeated.

The discussion also focused on the important need for local resident associations to have the funds they need to operate within our various neighbourhoods.

We also play a special "PoCo-themed" extended version of Bell or Buzzer. IMO it's the best edition of BoB so far and you'll want to listen through to the end to find out how Councillor Minhas fared. One question definitely had him stumped!

Our discussion also touches upon some upcoming events focused on childcare, organized sport and the 2nd Annual NWP Spring Fundraiser. Be sure to listen, share and encourage others to do the same.

On Saturday, Feb 3rd Kathleen Carlsen 'beat the machine' and won the School District 40 by-election. This secured her a seat on the New Westminster School Board.

In her first podcast appearance since being elected, Carlsen sits down to discuss the campaign and some of its more memorable moments. She also talks about the struggles that independent candidates have to win in New Westminster and the advantage of working in collaboration with an elector organization. Carlsen also talks about what some of her key priorities will be when she gets to the School District governance table. It's an interview you won't want to miss!

Councillor Paul Minhas discusses key items from the January 22, 2023 Council meeting. We discuss a range of reports and votes that took place on a variety of issues. A new feature "Bell or Buzzer" is launched and you'll want to hear how Coun. Minhas fared!

Some of the topics include the proposed 7.7% property tax increase, the "Dubai Debacle", recovery houses, thumbs down for a new Finance and Audit Committee, Lower 12th Street development, E-bike share, resident association budget increases and a potential Council delegation to PoCo plus much more.

While there are a lot of serious subjects discussed, we also attempt to bring a bit of levity to municipal politics in New West. Be sure to download this latest episode and share it with friends!

Surrey City Councillor Linda Annis discusses the need for a "Snow Summit" and better preparation in Metro Vancouver when it comes to dealing with snow events.

What is holding us back? Why is there such a lack of interest in hearing from the subject-matter experts? Annis provides her perspective on this issue as well as an overview of how new provincial legislation will impact Surrey's future housing developments.

This edition also includes clips from interviews host Daniel Fontaine did with CBC, Global TV and CKNW radio. Hope you enjoy this special 'Snow Summit" edition.

Coun. Paul Minhas is my special guest as we review some of the items discussed at New Westminster City Council on January 8th, 2024. There were a number of core civic topics discussed like pedestrian safety, recreational facilities, street light installations and more. We also spoke about a new costly mushroom wall being planned to replace the Queen's Park Petting Zoo which has been permanently shut down.

The Mayor's recent all expense paid trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates to attend a conference focused on reducing carbon emissions also featured prominently. To wrap up, we discuss why we stepped out of the chamber this week to allow our colleagues the opportunity to debate - on their own - a war in the Middle East.

It's an interesting episode covering lots of topics with a few auditory twists and additions throughout! Listen through to the end for an interview on CKNW's Jill Bennett Show regarding unanswered questions pertaining to the Mayor's junket to the Middle East.

For the Record sat down with first-term ABC Vancouver City Councillor Mike Klassen to talk city politics. Our discussion covered a number of interesting topic areas.

How will the October 2024 provincial election be impacted by civic issues originating in the Metro Vancouver area? What issues do we both feel will make headlines in Vancouver and New Westminster in 2024? We have a look ahead in our political crystal ball to see what might be shaping civic politics in our respective cities and the region.

If Klassen had to live in another city outside of Vancouver, where would that be and why? We also get to learn an interesting nugget or two about Mike's past life in the film industry! All this and more on Episode 8 of For the Record.

In this episode host Daniel Fontaine interviews "Philip" - he's the game show contestant who become famous after appearing on the Price is Right and overbidding on a trip to New Westminster.

Tourism New West launched a #findphilip campaign and once he was found they got to work using this as a great opportunity to promote our city. Philip is now back in Arizona and in this podcast he reflects back on his recent trip to the Royal City.

For the Record also interviews Allan De Genova, the man behind Honour House. We find out how Honour House is helping first responders and their families as well as how it all got started.

Did you know Honour House almost never came to New West? Yes, it was almost built in another Metro Vancouver city...and you'll have to listen to the interview to find out where!

You'll also want to listen to a quick council roundup where some of the highlights of the recent council meeting are discussed.

NOTE: the views expressed in For the Record with Daniel Fontaine are his own and not necessarily those of New Westminster City Council

Our political pundit panel is back to rank the top 5 issues that made news in the Royal City in 2023 when it came to our city and school board.

Special guests include New Westminster Councillor Paul Minhas, School Trustee Danielle Connelly and Trustee Candidate Kathleen Carlsen.

Property taxes, homelessness and the Dee Beattie affair all make the top 5, but where do they rank? You'll have to download the podcast to learn more.

In this episode, my special political pundit panel have a look back at what they consider were some of the top stories of 2023 when it comes to municipal and school district issues.

In Part 1 of this podcast we begin to countdown the top 10 stories that we feel are noteworthy for this year for a variety of different reasons. According to my guests, there were no shortage of stories to choose from!

The panels consists of New Westminster Councillor Paul Minhas, Trustee Danielle Connelly and School Trustee candidate Kathleen Carlsen. Be sure to tune in and reflect back with our panel on 2023...the year where New West generated lots of province-wide media stories!

Well known political commentator Bill Tieleman appears on For the Record to talk densifcation, Surrey Police Service, the need for public hearings, building city budgets and why Metro Vancouver should be modernizing its governance structure. Bill also talks about why "we might be on the road to hell'.

Tieleman has been politically active for decades and is a life-long member of the NDP. He truly has a unique perspective on politics and you'll want to download this podcast to hear what he has to say!

This podcast also includes an interview the hosts at Rock 101 did with host Daniel Fontaine regarding the Price is Right's Philip and some possible 'trash talkin' of New West! It's a funny segment that reveals who was really trash talkin whom!