Delta is open for business.
That was the message delivered by Mayor Lois Jackson at her annual Mayor’s Economic Breakfast held at Tsawwassen Springs this morning. A receptive audience of around 200 including business people, politicians and representatives from a variety of groups attended the event to hear about Delta’s economic incentives and how the community is ideally situated for investment.
They heard an enthusiastic speech from Jackson as well as several guest speakers who reiterated her message about Delta’s positive climate for business.
“We are not standing idle, nor are we standing on our laurels. We are in motion, we are growing. We are evolving and we are committed. We are looking for new innovation and new ideas for doing business with you,” Jackson said.
Jackson cited several projects including North Delta’s Delta Rise condo project and economic incentives to encourage environmental remediation and commercial/industrial development of former landfill sites. Other areas targeted for incentives include the Downtown Ladner Waterfront, Scott Road corridor and 72nd Avenue corridor. Delta is also embarking on a business sustainability strategy and has established a special mayor’s standing committee to see it through.
Jackson also talked about Delta’s own “pay as you go” fiscal policy that will result in the municipality being debt-free in a couple of years.
The mayor also said Delta faces challenges, which is why it’s important to be pro-active. Delta is participating in Port Metro Vancouver’s Terminal 2 process as well as the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project, she noted.
Liberal MP Carla Qualtrough, who made a number of public appearances in Delta over the past week, also addressed the audience, saying “Delta hits above its weight class” when it comes to its contribution to the Canadian economy and role in being a gateway for international trade. She said Delta should “get a fair share” of infrastructure funding that will be made available by her new government.
Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton Scott Hamilton was the next speaker, congratulating Jackson on her economic initiatives, adding his government is about to deliver another balanced budget.
Dayhu Group of Companies president Paul Tilbury talked at length about the attributes of his massive Boundary Bay Industrial Park warehouse distribution space built next to the Boundary Bay Airport. He also the mentioned positives Delta has to offer including a municipal government that’s accommodating. He said Delta is open for business and “there is a get it done, not at any cost, but get it done approach.”
Shato Holdings president Ron Toigo, owner of Tsawwassen Springs, told the audience Delta had become “a no growth community” when Jackson had taken the helm as mayor in 1999, but she assembled a good team including CAO George Harvie to develop “win-win” development policies. He noted he knows first-hand what the Southlands development application and public hearing was like for Century Group president Sean Hodgins, who was also in attendance, adding Delta gave their development applications a fair chance and is open to new ideas.
Noting a new bridge is more than just about cars, as it’s also about transit and cycling, George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project director Geoff Freer spoke briefly about the provincial bridge project, saying the majority of people during consultations conveyed they didn’t want another tunnel.
Harvie was the final speaker before a few questions were taken from the audience. He said the Southlands development vision was ahead of its time, but that vision has become something people want now. He said council’s final approval is expected mid-2016 and then initial site works can commence.
Harvie also talked about the new bridge, noting “it’s not supported by the mayors north of the Fraser River because they want the money for themselves.” He added “any kind of seismic problem” could ruin the current tunnel, something that would be devastating for commuters for five to seven years until a replacement crossing was built.
