NewWest Chamber - Discussion with Mayor Cote

Visibly tired, Mayor Jonathan Cote took time out from the dizzying agenda at New Westminster City Hall to talk to members of the Chamber of Commerce via Zoom about how they are responding to the sudden onslaught of the pandemic.

“Where has the city focused it efforts? “ He explained, “In a few different areas.  Number one, just ensuring that we are able to essential services,” - water, sewer, police, fire, garbage pickup.  He said, “We've also identified four priority areas that we are reallocating resources to, as needed. The first one has to do with vulnerable populations and housing issues. The second has to do with seniors, particularly focusing on isolated seniors. The third is education enforcement, and ensuring that people understand the directions of the public health officer and that they are being followed in our community. And the final one is the local business community. Each one of these areas have their own separate working group that has been set up.”

He says that the local business working group was one of the first to be launched. “We, at the city, recognize that what is unfolding right now is going to have a tremendous impact on local businesses in our community and we needed to get things started to see how we are able to address and coordinate the response there.” The Working Group on business and the economy is made up of key associations, including the Chamber of Commerce, the local Business Improvement Associations, the Arts Council and the Massey Theatre Association.

He strongly encouraged the business and non-profit community to use their own associations to funnel information to the city about their situations. He said, “I really see businesses out there as our eyes and ears on the ground level and helping us better understand how we can better support you. If we don't get that feedback, we'll do the best we can. But the feedback will help our response.”
 
Among the city's early initiatives to help local business were the following: starting a Support Local campaign, which will expanded significantly once we get into the recovery stage; creating a deferment and flexible payment program for our local electrical utility; working with police to make sure commercial areas are well-patrolled now that many are closed down; and providing on-going updates on the City website on what resources are available to support business from the federal and provincial governments and others.

The city is also advocating with the provincial government. “Our big ask right now,” he said, “is the provincial government to actually be able to provide cities with some emergency relief funding, but also just loans to be able to get thru this difficult time.” We are advocating strongly that they have a more consistent approach to cities, in providing support. They are also looking for potential property tax deferral and flexible payment plans. 
 
He cautioned participating business leaders that the city, itself, has its own cash flow issues. Municipalities, unlike the federal and provincial governments, are not permitted to use operating deficits, he explained. Cities don't have easy access to financing to get through this period of time. Financing usually available to municipalities is strictly for infrastructure projects. “We can borrow money for building the pool but not for an operating deficit,” he says. He is hopeful the province will see the need to keep cities solvent and able to continue operating, and allowing them to support particular groups under stress.

By: Susan Millar

Program Duration:-
0h:43m