For the Record with Daniel Fontaine & Paul Minhas

Have you voted yet? If you live in New Westminster, the federal advance polls have now opened and the lineups were huge on Day 1. What does a very high voter turnout mean for the incumbent? What about the challengers? It's time to delve into the federal election with a focused discussion on some responses provided at an all-candidates debate in Queensborough this week. All of the candidates we...

In this week's FTR podcast, it starts off with a discussion regarding Jay Joy's presentation to New West Council. He asks if the 3.5% Climate Action Levy can be removed from the utility bills of New West residents and business owners. Coun. Nakagawa says no way. While Mayor Johnstone tells Joy he was 'misinformed'. So who was right? A familiar face showed up to the special Queensbo...

It was another hectic week of civic politics in New Westminster. There were no shortage of issues to discuss on this week's podcast! You'll want to hear our big announcement about the May 22nd event. The podcast starts off with a discussion regarding what constitutes effective consultation in New Westminster. Should a number of hot button issues including the public toilet at the InterUrba...

It was a packed city hall chamber when a number of New West residents came out to speak about how they are not being properly consulted with and communicated to regarding various projects. Have a listen to excerpts from their presentations where they plead with Council to change the way city hall consults with residents and business owners. Presentations by residents Mike Timoffee, Brandi Rogocky,...

It's been another wild and wacky week in civic politics in New Westminster - and the podcast captures it all! The discussion starts off with the on again, off again debate regarding the rewilding pilot project on the 5th St boulevard in the lovely Queen's Park neighbourhood. A few months ago the green manicured boulevard was ripped up as part of the City's biodiversity strategy. A numb...

It's a special edition of For the Record focusing on the state of schools, or should we say the lack of schools in the Royal City. Whether it's a push to build the long-awaited Simcoe Elementary downtown , a new middle school or a high school in Queensborough, parents and students are fed up with a lack of action on the part of Victoria. The recent BC budget didn't help matters when it...

In another packed episode of For the Record, a number of important civic topics get discussed. Starting off the podcast is a discussion on the topic of a new lobbyist registry in New Westminster and Metro Vancouver. A motion recently got passed asking the Lower Mainland Local Government Association to support a request to establish a lobbyist registry for Metro Vancouver and other mid to large-siz...

The FTR team heads over to Victoria for a special edition in our province's capital city. We have exclusive interviews with New Westminster (Queensborough) MLA Steve Cooner and Tony Luck, Municipal Affairs Critic. Luck introduces Fontaine and Minhas in the BC Legislature before asking a couple of tough questions to the NDP Municipal Affairs Minister. Tune in to hear the thunderous desk thumpin...

FTR is heading over to the BC Legislature to attend Question Period and chat with a number of MLAs and staff. We'll have some exclusive interviews, analysis and commentary on how our provincial politicians are impacting the lives, commerce and vitality of New Westminster. The Legislature is finally back in session and this should be a fascinating podcast! It will be available on Saturday, Marc...

Special guest co-host Karima Budhwani is in the studio to chat about a number of fascinating topics making news in New Westminster this week. Right off the top, the discussion focuses on the potential of a new high school in Queensborough. A motion coming to Council calls for greater advocacy regarding a School District 40 request of the Ministry of Education for funding to construct a new high sc...

She's a former city council candidate and the dynamic president of the most popular civic elector organization in New Westminster! FTR welcomes the NWP's Karima Budhwani to the studio this week as she'll be co-hosting in place of Coun. Paul Minhas. It will make for a great podcast and there's even a bit of controversy brewing! Tune in to find out why!

Right off the top the topic of a new illicit drug inhalation center in downtown New Westminster is discussed. Now that Council voted 5 (Johnstone, Campbell, Henderson, Nakagawa and McEvoy) to 2 (Minhas and Fontaine) to give green light to this controversial new service, how long will it take to open - and what will the impact be to the surrounding downtown neighbourhood? It's hard to believe a...

In Episode 66 of For the Record, the opening discussion focuses on a recent economic forum that took place at the Anvil Center. While organizers are applauded for their efforts, a local entrepreneur (who wants to remain anonymous) speaks out about why downtown New West lost out on becoming the regional headquarters for his international business! 45 well paying jobs will be staying in Port Moody a...

In another packed podcast, FTR delves into the issues making news in New Westminster and beyond this week! The podcast starts off talking about a "Rewilding" and "Naturalizing" project taking place on 5th and 2nd Street boulevards. The grass is starting to get ripped up, the holly trees are being cut down - so let the rewilding begin ! The project has a number of local residents up...

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...

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...

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...

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 Minha...

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...

As part of our 'Best of the Best in 2024' we share with you an interview we conducted with Alison Silgardo, CEO for the Senior Services Society headquartered in downtown New Westminster. Alison shares with us some stories regarding what issues seniors are dealing with in New Westminster and beyond. She talks about some recent success stories in helping to get seniors housing and what more...

He's one of the highest profile Mayors in the Province and he made an appearance on For the Record earlier this year. As part of our 'Best of the Best in 2024' series we bring you a replay of our sit-down interview with Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West. We talk about mental health, crime and property taxes and much more. Mayor West doesn't pull any punches and let's you know what...

We continue with our 'Best of the Best' series by bringing back an interview we did earlier this year with Gail North. She is a long-time resident of the Queen's Park neighbourhood, a strong heritage preservation advocate and an active supporter of the annual Heritage Home Tour. Gail talks about her own personal journey taking an older home that was in need of restoration and returning...

In our latest installment of "Best of the Best in 2024' we revisit an exclusive interview we did with Jennifer Mackie, owner of the Kelly O'Bryan's pub on Columbia St. in downtown New Westminster. Jennifer opens up regarding how her business has been impacted by crime and public disorder in the downtown. We talk parking rates and what drew her into the service sector in the first p...

In our special 'Best of the Best in 2024' series we are rebroadcasting some of our most popular podcast interviews of the year. This episode features an exclusive interview with Kayvan Rahmati, CEO for the popular Waves Coffee which is headquartered in New Westminster. He sits down with co-host Paul Minhas for a wide-ranging discussion on a number of interesting topics including how Waves...

As part of our 'Best of the Best in 2024' series we are replaying a number of our most popular interviews. We got to sit down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with MLA Elenore Sturko during our visit to the BC legislature earlier this year. MLA Sturko pulls no punches as she takes direct aim at Premier Eby and his NDP government's failed decriminalization experiment in BC. She tal...