For the Record with Daniel Fontaine & Paul Minhas

🎙️ For the Record – Election Year Conversations Continue
Metro Governance, the Pier That Never Returned & New Voices for 2026
This week’s edition of For the Record features Maryann Morrison, NWP council candidate, sitting in as guest co-host alongside Coun. Daniel Fontaine, as the podcast continues its deep dive into the issues shaping New Westminster’s 2026 civic election.
🏛️ Metro Vancouver Governance: Hope vs. Skepticism
The episode opens with a discussion on Metro Vancouver’s governance committee, which met this week to examine potential reforms to the region’s 41-member board.
Morrison expresses cautious optimism that meaningful change could still emerge, while Fontaine remains skeptical that the current structure will deliver real accountability or reform.
🌊 Pier Park: Five Years Later, Still No Plan
Attention then turns to Pier Park, which was destroyed by fire in 2020 and remains unrebuilt. The hosts discuss how a resurfaced Facebook post of the original Global News story sparked tens of thousands of views, underscoring ongoing public frustration.
For contrast, they highlight White Rock’s pier, where the mayor publicly committed to rebuilding within a year - successfully securing provincial and federal funding and reopening the pier to the public. The comparison raises questions about leadership, priorities, and follow-through in New Westminster.
🧑‍🎓 Youth Engagement: YNWP & the NW City Youth Forum
Fontaine and Morrison then discuss the newly launched Youth New Westminster Progressives (YNWP) initiative and the NW City Youth Forum, announced before a large crowd at the Inn at the Quay.
The forum aims to increase youth engagement at City Hall and encourage young voters to participate in the October 17 election, a topic both hosts agree is critical to the city’s democratic future.
🪶 Métis Representation at City Hall
The conversation also touches on a Métis cultural display at New Westminster City Hall. Both Fontaine and Morrison, who are Métis, share their appreciation for seeing Indigenous culture reflected in civic spaces - and reflect on how visibility and representation still matter in local government.
🎓 Exclusive Interviews: School Trustee Candidates
The second half of the episode features two exclusive sit-down interviews with New West Progressives school trustee candidates:
Liz Fajber joins the podcast to discuss why she’s running, her priorities for public education, and takes part in a fun rapid-fire segment.
Lucas Steele shares his vision for bringing a stronger youth voice to the school board and the broader NWP caucus if elected.
Both interviews offer listeners a chance to get to know the candidates beyond campaign literature, directly from the studio.
🎧 For the Record is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
📣 If you enjoy the podcast, please share it with friends, family, and neighbours — election-year conversations are just getting started.

🎙️ For the Record – Election Year Edition (Welcome to 2026)
Housing, Arts, Taxes & a Major Exclusive Interview
The first For the Record episode of 2026 sets the tone for an election year in New Westminster, with a packed program covering housing, affordability, culture, and the politics already shaping the campaign ahead.
🗳️ Welcome to 2026: Karima Budhwani Joins as Co-Host
The episode opens with a welcome to 2026, marking the start of a pivotal election year. Former NWP president and council candidate Karima Budhwani joins Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas as a guest co-host, offering her perspective on the issues that will dominate the months ahead.
🏠 Shelter Housing Project: 24/7 Funding & Heated Council Debate
The conversation begins with the latest debate over 24/7 funding for a shelter housing project, including a short clip from the council chamber. The discussion unpacks what was said, what wasn’t, and how housing policy could well become a key election issue.
🎭 Royal City Musical Theatre: Culture Meets Council
Listeners hear from New West resident Kat Palmer who appeared before council to speak about the RCMT's role in the community. The segment includes an excerpt from her presentation, followed by reaction and context. Massey Theatre reps welcomed to provide a counterpoint!
🏘️ Lookout Housing and Health Society: Presentation & Reaction
An excerpt from Lookout Housing Society’s five-minute council presentation is played, followed by analysis and commentary from the hosts. The hosts discuss the pivotal role former mayoral candidate and city councillor Chuck Puchmayr has played.
🙌 NWP Volunteer Appreciation & Candidate Announcements
Attention then turns to the NWP's Volunteer Appreciation event, taking place Sunday, where new trustee candidate announcements will also be made. The segment highlights the growing campaign momentum and the importance of volunteers as the election year begins in earnest.
💸 Mayor Brad West Calls Out New West Taxes on AM 730
A major regional moment is featured next, with a four-minute clip from the Mike Smyth Show, where Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West publicly shames New Westminster’s tax levels.
The discussion zooms out to the broader issue of affordability and the reality that New Westminster is dealing with a 30%+ property tax increase over one council term - a key ballot question heading into 2026.
🎙️ Exclusive Interview: Mike McDonald
The centrepiece of the episode is an exclusive, in-depth interview with Mike McDonald, recorded separately. McDonald joins the show to share his views on the city, the election year ahead, and how a provincial election might unravel the best laid plans of civic politicians.
🎧 For the Record is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
📣 If you enjoy the podcast, please share it with friends, family, and neighbours — election-year conversations matter more than ever.

🔟🎙️ It’s Back! The Top 10 New West Stories of 2025
The annual Top 10 “For the Record” Vodcast has arrived - and this year’s countdown is packed with some of the biggest civic and political moments New Westminster has seen all year.
Hosted by Coun. Daniel Fontaine and Coun. Paul Minhas, this special episode looks back at the stories that sparked debate, packed council chambers, dominated headlines, and shaped the conversation across the city in 2025.
👀 What made the list?
Without giving away the rankings, listeners will hear about:
Major property tax and affordability debates
High-profile bike lane and traffic controversies
How many petitions were needed for change
Neighbourhood issues that wouldn’t go away
Political moments that signaled change heading into 2026

Some stories will surprise you. Others you’ll absolutely expect. And a few may spark a “how did that rank higher than this?” conversation.
🎧 The Top 10 Vodcast is available now as both a video and audio podcast on:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube
All major platforms
💬 Watch, listen, and then tell us — what would your #1 have been?
👉 Share this post with friends, neighbours, and fellow New West watchers — the debate is half the fun.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE! For the Record – Episode 107
Two Exclusive NWP Candidate Interviews, Budget Battles & a Heated Council Moment
This week’s episode of For the Record with Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas features two exclusive interviews, a deep dive into the 2026 budget debate, and a preview of the much-anticipated Top 10 New West Political Stories vodcast.
🗳️ Exclusive Interview: Karima Budhwani

The episode opens with an in-depth, exclusive conversation between Daniel Fontaine and Karima Budhwani - former NWP president and past council candidate.
Karima discusses:
Why she has decided to run again
The issues she’s most passionate about in New Westminster
Her perspective on community leadership and the road to the 2026 civic election

It’s a thoughtful and candid discussion about values, priorities, and the future of the city.
🗳️ Exclusive Interview: Rick Folka

Next, Fontaine sits down with Rick Folka, another newly announced council candidate who also ran in the 2022 civic election.
Rick shares:
What motivated him to put his name forward again in 2026
The challenges he sees facing New Westminster
What excites him about the upcoming campaign and community engagement

💰 Budget 2026: Cutting $1.5M to Ease the Tax Burden

The conversation then turns to the 2026 budget, where Councillors Fontaine and Minhas introduce a motion to trim $1.5 million from city spending in an effort to ease what is shaping up to be a record property tax increase.
New Westminster is now on track to potentially hold the highest cumulative property tax increase in Metro Vancouver over a four-year term - exceeding 30%.
🔥 Mayor’s Council Outburst

The podcast features an excerpt from a heated moment at City Hall, where Mayor Patrick Johnstone falsely but publicly accuses Daniel Fontaine of lying about tax increases. The exchange is played in full, allowing listeners to hear exactly what was said on the council floor.
🔟 Top 10 New West Stories Vodcast Preview

To close the episode, Fontaine and Minhas preview their annual Top 10 Civic & Political Stories vodcast, recorded once a year.
Stories likely to make the list include:
The London Street bike lane controversy
Safety upgrades at 6th Avenue & 2nd Street
Nearly 30% property tax increases over four years
Costco traffic chaos in Queensborough
Liberal Jake Sawatzky defeating NDP Peter Julian in the federal election

🎧 For the Record is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
📣 If you enjoy the podcast, please share this episode with friends, family, and neighbours — community conversations matter.

🎄 NEW EPISODE! For the Record
Police Budget Drama, Parking Battles, Flashlights at City Hall & a 30% Tax Increase?
This week’s For the Record features a festive pre-Christmas theme - but the topics are anything but quiet.
🚔 1. Police Budget Passes 5–1: A Closer Look
The episode opens with a detailed breakdown of the 2025 NW Police Department budget vote. The budget passed 5–1, but had Councillors Fontaine and Minhas voted no, the result would have been a 3–3 tie - meaning the police budget would have failed, as Councillor Ruby Campbell was not present.
The podcast shares:
🎙️ Coun. Nakagawa’s remarks, after she voted against the budget
🎙️ Mayor Johnstone’s comments claiming he has always supported police budgets
👮 The Chief of Police’s concerns about a decade of underfunding
With policing as the largest line item in the city budget, the discussion raises important questions about priorities and public safety.
🚗 2. “Zach Is Back”: Parking Chaos on 13th Street
Listeners hear a compelling five-minute presentation from Danielle and Zach, landlords who renovated their apartment building at 13th Street and 7th Avenue.
They request more time to meet the city’s compliance deadlines and highlight the severe impact of losing up to 50% of on-street parking, which would directly affect their tenants.
Both councillors note that Fontaine, Minhas, Campbell, and the Mayor visited the building to see conditions firsthand. The saga continues - and the podcast is following closely.
🔦 3. Queen’s Park Consultation… Bring a Flashlight?
What do a flashlight, winter coat, and umbrella have in common?
According to Gail North, President of the Queen’s Park Residents’ Association - they might have been needed at a recent city consultation event.
Held outdoors on the porch of Irving House between 3–5 PM, the session grew darker by the minute as the sun set at 4:19 PM. Space was limited, some residents stood outside, and the setup left many puzzled.
Fontaine has requested clarity from staff on whether porch consultations are considered “standard practice.”
💸 4. Operating Budget = 5.6% Tax Increase (and Nearly 30% in Four Years)
The city’s operating budget now comes in at:
4.6% base increase, plus
1% capital levy
Total: 5.6% increase for 2025, bringing New Westminster to nearly 30% in cumulative tax increases over four years - likely the highest in Metro Vancouver during this term of council.
The discussion highlights affordability concerns for residents, seniors, families, and businesses.
🕰️ 5. Déjà Vu: Century House Hours Return… Again
Coun. Ruby Campbell is now proposing the reopening of Century House on Sundays - raising questions about:
Who cut Sunday hours originally?
Why have they not been restored until now?
How does this relate to Fontaine’s earlier motion calling for a similar review back in 2023?
As the councillors note: It’s déjà vu all over again.
❄️ 6. ACORN Presents on Air Conditioner Access
ACORN advocates for a program enabling low-income residents to install air conditioners.
Fontaine reminds listeners that he previously proposed a $500 AC grant through the Electrical Utility - a low-barrier idea that was rejected after referral.
🎄 7. Around Town: Community Spirit on Full Display
This week’s “around town” segment features highlights from:
The Sapperton Pensioners Hall Christmas Party
The West End Residents Association meeting
A business association gathering in Sapperton
The Hyack Annual Christmas Event
The launch of the new Freshet Newspaper, now printing citywide
🔟 8. Top 10 New West Stories Preview & Holiday Break
The popular “Top 10 New West Stories” vodcast is coming soon, and listeners are invited to help shape the list.
The podcast will take a short Christmas break after December 19, returning in early January.
🎧 For the Record is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
📢 If you enjoy the show, please share this episode with neighbours, friends, and family. Community engagement matters more than ever.