***Please take our quiz before reading this Q&A.***
George Harvie is one of the candidates running for mayor in this month's civic election. Here are his responses to a questionnaire from the Optimist:
1. Housing – Delta’s housing stock, developed largely in the 1960s and 1970s, is under pressure. What are your plans to ensure there are affordable housing options and what will you do to protect the integrity of existing neighbourhoods?
Delta’s distinct neighbourhoods are the strong social fabric of our community. We absolutely need to protect the character of them -- and I am the only candidate for mayor in this race with a plan that will honour that while also adding much-needed housing options for young families, seniors, and those who need help.
By working collaboratively with local builders, I will identify opportunities for housing development in town centres, where new residents will be situated in close proximity to local shops and restaurants, helping Delta businesses to thrive. Scott Road, in particular, is an area where we can get to work right away to start making a difference. I will ensure no one gets left behind by working with agencies such as Metro Vancouver Housing, the provincial and federal governments, and local builders to ensure we fill the gaps: housing for rental, seniors looking to downsize, and young families working to enter the market. I will also ensure that homeowners who choose to provide a secondary suite to help offset housing costs can do so easily – without compromising the character of our neighbourhoods or our green space.
I will also overhaul and completely re-engineer our building permit process with the goal of dramatically reducing red tape and timelines to get projects completed faster. This will result in less cost to the purchaser or renter and will allow the city to more quickly collect property taxes, which we will invest back into Delta’s facilities, infrastructure, and vital community services.
2. Marijuana – The legalization of marijuana in Canada has created a number of issues for local government. Do you have concerns over where cannabis could be grown and where it could be sold in Delta?
To be clear, the provincial and federal governments control where it can be grown. One of my concerns is that Delta is at the receiving end of a poor decision made by the provincial government and Agricultural Land Commission, who ruled that marijuana growth on ALR land is a legal use of the property. I do not support this decision. I believe that ALR should be used solely for its intended use: food production.
On the issue of retail, from day one, my plan for a Safer Delta has included a commitment to establishing a Public Safety Committee, chaired by former Delta Fire Chief Dan Copeland and former Delta Police Sergeant Cal Traversy. This committee will work closely with the Delta Police Chief, department directors, and other community representatives to ensure that on this issue, council has good, solid recommendations for future locations of retail stores.
The biggest consideration in this, and my major concern overall, is ensuring that the federal decision to legalize marijuana doesn’t impact the health and safety of Delta’s youth. I will always fight to ensure that retail stores are not located by our schools, and that we protect our children and all residents from the harms of second-hand smoke.
Navigating these complex issues smoothly and safely will require leadership and experience – and with the federal government forcing and rushing these problems on us, I offer a stable and steady hand. I will take all necessary steps to properly implement and equip our city with an action plan that will be informed by thorough community consultation.
3. Municipal debt – A no new borrowing policy instituted almost two decades ago has eliminated Delta’s debt. Will you continue this policy or do you see the need to borrow to undertake certain capital projects?
As the only candidate for mayor in this race running on a platform to keep Delta debt-free, I will continue our pay-as-you-go program, because in my 17 years as City Manager, I’ve yet to see a situation where we’d have to borrow. By targeting a project for completion over a three-year period, we will ensure that the city has funding in place without needing to borrow.
To keep Delta debt-free, we will also need a mayor who can work across government lines to ensure that we don’t leave any federal or provincial money on the table for vital projects. In 2011, I was honoured to receive a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for my efforts as Delta’s CAO in successfully securing funding for over nine major infrastructure projects that directly benefited Delta. Since then, that number has increased to 14 projects, worth a total of approximately $42.5 million at a cost to Delta of only $14.8 million – all of which were completed on time and on budget. I offer the proven record of leadership needed to deliver on this – and it’s this experience that will allow me to stand up for Delta taxpayers from day one in office.
4. Recreation facilities – Delta has an ever-growing wish list of parks and recreation projects that is well in excess of $100 million. Do you have any projects you see as priorities and how do you intend to pay for them?
Delta’s young athletes deserve to train and play on world-class facilities. I will prioritize the expansion of our playing fields and ensure that we move forward on updating our tracks in my first year of office, with North Delta Secondary being a key priority. I will also ensure that the South Delta Secondary Track is completed as soon as possible.
I will do this affordably by working with a renewed Achieving for Delta school board, who has pledged to engage the city to take responsibility of playing fields, which will allow them to ensure that every provincial dollar provided to the school board is invested back into the classroom – not on facility upgrades. This collaboration will also allow for greater community access to these facilities outside of classroom hours. We will do this on time, on budget, and soon – because Delta can’t wait.
With respect to the ever-growing wish list of projects, I will be forming a new Parks and Recreation Commission Committee chaired by a non-council member who will be selected by the committee itself. I will be asking this independent appointee to go over that list and make recommendations of the priorities to council. With that list, we can then embark on our four-year financial plan to ensure that the projects are carried out in a fiscally responsible manner.
We will pay for these projects by attracting new jobs and businesses to Delta with incentives and reduced approval times – particularly in our industrial areas. The goal is to increase the tax base so there will be new people paying taxes — not the same people paying more taxes. A key part of my plan will include getting to the federal and provincial table to move forward on the construction of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project to ensure a safer and more efficient flow of people and goods in and out of Delta. This will create the certainty businesses are looking for as they decide to invest in Delta.
5. End of service benefit – Early last year Delta council unanimously approved an end of service benefit for civic politicians. Do you agree with the idea of a golden handshake and do you believe it should be backdated for 12 years?
One of the key reasons I’m running for Mayor of Delta is that I don’t agree with the golden handshake. As your City Manager, it was a policy I took great exception to – and as mayor, I’ll be taking swift action to put a stop to it.
I’ve always believed that elected officials should run for the sole purpose of making a difference in their community – not on a desire to continue collecting a cheque from the citizens of Delta. That’s why one of my first actions as Mayor of Delta will be to request that council rescind the by-law and ask the Union of BC Municipalities to introduce standards for all cities through clear regulations mandated by the provincial government, who will set salaries and benefits through extensive consultation.
Council shouldn’t be left on their own to decide this. Financial decisions such as the golden handshake that impact the hardworking taxpayer need fair and independent oversight – and as your next mayor, that is what I will deliver.
6. Lobby for bridge/crossing – The City of Delta has been an outspoken advocate for a new Fraser River crossing, specifically the 10-lane bridge approved by the former Liberal government. Would your administration continue to advocate for the bridge or do you support a different approach?
I’m proud to have led the way on the George Massey traffic issue from day one in this election. Unlike the other candidates for mayor, I have a very specific opinion on this: Delta residents deserve a safer, more efficient commute. We need to move forward with the bridge.
The project as it is proposed today is shovel-ready, with the bidding process already complete. It has been studied since 2012. Delta can’t wait for yet another period of consultation: we need to proceed -- and not just for today, but for generations to come. With the ten-lane proposed project, we’d see an eventual light rail connection that would take up two lanes. In the interim, those lanes could be used for rapid bus connections.
That said, I will always put Delta residents before politics. I am prepared to work across government lines to move this project forward. If the province comes to the table with an alternative solution, I will certainly look at it – but we need to address the future of transportation as part of this.
The bottom line is that I will fight for a bridge. It is the best option to: relieve one of the worst highway bottlenecks in Canada and save businesses and commuters millions of dollars in time lost due to congestion and travel delays. A bridge is also our best choice in protecting Delta’s Agricultural Land Reserve and will dramatically improve emergency response times and reduce vehicle collisions by 35 percent.
7. Casino – Delta council’s approval of Gateway’s casino proposal was not without controversy. With construction poised to begin soon, what do you plan to do with casino revenues and what measures do you plan to take to ensure a casino isn’t a negative impact on the community?
I am the only candidate for mayor with a plan to invest casino revenues back into Delta while leading an effort to stop money laundering should the project receive final approval by the Province.
My action plan will see revenues from B.C.’s Gaming Host Community Grant invested back into Delta in the form of vital local programs and addictions services. I’ve met with families experiencing mental health and addictions challenges in our community and have heard that many of them feel alone in getting help. That has to change – and my plan will provide assistance to Delta’s many community service organizations to better support those in desperate need.
I will also lead the charge in keeping dirty money not only out of Delta, but out of all B.C. casinos. I will present for council approval a motion requesting the Attorney General to work with the Union of B.C. Municipalities to implement a system for cashless casinos, which would virtually end money laundering. There’s simply no place for that here in Delta or in our province — and I will always fight to ensure the utmost safety of our community.
Lastly, it’s important for your next mayor to ensure that with any development at the intersection of HWY 99 and 17A, there is a plan in place to address congestion. We can’t afford to add any more traffic coming in and out of Delta with the existing tunnel nightmare. We need to get the bridge built, and I’m the only candidate with the proven experience of delivering on major infrastructure projects to get it done.
8. Property taxes – Two recent studies have Delta near the top of Lower Mainland municipalities in terms of local government spending on a per capita basis. Do you believe Delta property owners are overtaxed or do you think they get good value for their tax dollars?
The City of Delta is clearly doing something right: rated 53 out of 415 cities, we are considered one of the top Canadian cities to live in by MoneySense. Receiving incredible value for their tax dollars, Delta taxpayers face the lowest tax increases in the Lower Mainland while enjoying some of the country’s finest facilities, programs, and public safety services.
Under my 17-year tenure as your City Manager, Delta has realized one of the lowest crime rates in the country. Our crime index is less than half the rate in neighbouring Surrey, and significantly lower than the Metro Vancouver average. For that reason, we should never apologize for having the highest per capita rate for fire and police. We have the largest city geographically in Metro Vancouver, and we need to fund our public safety services accordingly. It’s what gives us the ability to build more fire halls and an additional office for the Delta Police.
We have more capital expenditures because without borrowing, we have money to invest in our infrastructure. We’re replacing aging asbestos concrete pipes and broken blacktop, rejuvenating communities with our Neighbourhood Roads Improvement program, and adding or upgrading recreational facilities. We need to continue doing that while also respecting the taxpayer.
9. Enviro-Smart -- The stench from the composting facility in East Ladner continues to infuriate neighbours. Do you feel the air quality permit issued by Metro Vancouver will sufficiently address the situation and do you believe such an operation should be located on farmland?
This is an important issue that has impacted East Ladner residents for far too long -- and while other candidates play nasty politics, I am the only mayoral candidate in this race to come forward with a plan to fix this problem by saying enough is enough: we need to get the enclosure done NOW.
I have been, and continue to be, resolute in my position that we need to completely overhaul Metro Vancouver’s air quality regulations -- because I can’t support a large company turning Delta into a major dumpsite without regard for our wellbeing. That’s why I’ve filed an official appeal to the Environmental Appeal Board. I take great exception to the fact that the permit does not go far enough in putting a stop to the objectionable odours, and I am seeking state-of-the-art equipment and scientifically proven testing at the plant boundary to eliminate this issue once and for all.
There is $25,000,000 from Green for Life on the table right now to do this with the best technology available to remove odours. But without council’s direction to staff, and with Metro Vancouver continuing to protract the permit application, I have serious concerns that this funding could disappear.
As Mayor, I will move immediately to have Delta staff work with GFL's new owners to implement a solution that will give the residents of East Ladner back their right to enjoy their community without offensive odours while also exploring all legal options to determine if we can restrict the shipment of odour-causing waste. The residents of East Ladner deserve no less.
10. Farmland speculation -- More than 1,200 citizens have signed a petition stating their opposition to the possibility that a piece of farmland in central Tsawwassen could become home to a greenhouse or even residential development. What steps can be taken to ensure land speculation doesn’t negatively impact residents?
I’ve door knocked on every home in that community, and my commitment to them has been that the first thing I will do as mayor will be to instruct staff to prepare an application by the city to include this land in the Agricultural Land Reserve to immediately end the issue of speculation. Insofar as greenhouses, I will work with the Province on giving Delta the authority to put in a by-law to ensure this piece of property is saved for soil-based agriculture.
On a larger scale, I’d push to have this property rolled into our Southlands community, which would bring it under Delta’s public ownership and control. Delta has done extremely well in rejuvenating the Southlands area for farming, and it’s a model that we know works.
