Respecting New West Taxpayers – NWP plan to deliver better value and restore accountability at City Hall

New Westminster, B.C. (August 17, 2026) — The New Westminster Progressives have released their latest platform, Respecting New West Taxpayers – a plan to lower costs, deliver better value for taxpayer dollars, and bring more accountability to City Hall.

New Westminster residents have faced a record 30 per cent property tax increase over the past four years. Families, seniors and local businesses are being asked to pay more, while City Hall has lost sight of its most important job: delivering excellent core municipal services while respecting taxpayers’ ability to pay. The NWP plan would bring property taxes back under control by keeping annual average increases at or below the posted rate of inflation over the next council term, while focusing on local services we all rely on every day.

“People are paying more, while growing less confident their tax dollars are being managed carefully,” says Daniel Fontaine, NWP mayoral candidate and current New Westminster councillor. “An NWP council will bring property taxes back under control, focus City Hall on core services and make every dollar work harder for residents.”

“This is not about cutting frontline City staff,” adds Rick Folka, NWP council candidate. “It is about making better decisions so the people who deliver core city services have the resources and support they need to do their important work for residents.”

The NWP believes responsible financial management is not about spending less for the sake of spending less. It is about spending smarter. Every dollar saved through better management and diverted from wasteful spending is a dollar that does not have to come from taxpayers.

The platform also commits to eliminating the 3.5 per cent electricity climate tax within the first 30 days, and reducing consulting spending by 20 per cent. It includes a core services review within six months, better capital project reporting, reforms to Metro Vancouver accountability, and targeted affordability measures for residents and local businesses.

The plan:

1. Bring property taxes back under control. Residents deserve a City Hall that lives within its means. We will:
   • Commit to bringing annual average property tax increases at or below the posted rate of inflation over the term of the next council.
   • Require any proposed tax increase above inflation to be publicly justified before Council approval.
   • Freeze all elected officials’ and senior management salaries until annual operating budget increases remain at or below inflation for two consecutive budget years.
   • Continue reviewing City fees and charges to eliminate unnecessary costs to residents and local businesses.

2. Lead by example. Fiscal responsibility begins at the top. We will:
   • Support the NWP Mayor’s decision to decline any possible future stipends paid to the Chair of the New Westminster Police Board.
   • Request that any remuneration paid to the Mayor by regional bodies, including Metro Vancouver, be returned directly to the City of New Westminster to help reduce the local tax burden—or, where possible, decline those payments altogether to reduce costs for both local and regional taxpayers.
   • Ensure that all City taxpayer-funded delegations to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Union of BC Municipalities, Lower Mainland Local Government Association are coordinated and approved on an annual basis by the Mayor. The goal is to reduce costs by limiting the number of attendees at each event per year – while maintaining a presence from New Westminster.

3. Conduct a core services review. City Hall should focus on doing the basics exceptionally well. We will:
   • Launch a comprehensive Core Services Review within six months of taking office.
   • Identify programs and services that should be maintained, improved, streamlined or discontinued.
   • Conduct the review with a commitment that savings will be achieved primarily through attrition, retirements, process improvements, technology and the redeployment of existing staff – not through widespread layoffs.
   • Limit the creation of new positions over the next 4 years to areas supporting core municipal services such as public safety, engineering, infrastructure, parks and recreation, and development approvals.
   • Redeploy existing staff, where appropriate, into higher-priority core service areas while concurrently reducing the current level of contracting out services to external consultants.
   • Publicly report, on an annual basis, recommendations, savings achieved and service improvements.

4. Strengthen financial oversight. Residents deserve greater transparency and accountability. We will:
   • Establish a new Finance Accountability & Budget Committee
   • Regularly seek independent financial, accounting, business and governance expertise as part of the annual operating budget development process.
   • Review major expenditures, capital projects, procurement practices and long-term financial risks.
   • Publish regular financial reports in plain language.

5. Reduce consultant spending and contracting out. Taxpayer dollars should build internal expertise whenever possible. We will:
   • Reduce consultant spending by at least 20% within two years.
   • Require stronger justification before external consultants are retained.
   • Invest in developing in-house expertise where it can be demonstrated it is more cost-effective.
   • Publish annual consultant spending by department.

6. Build a more efficient city hall. Better service doesn’t always require higher taxes. We will:
   • Expand digital services, online applications and real-time service tracking.
   • Pilot artificial intelligence and automation technologies where they improve customer service and reduce administrative costs.
   • Require every department to identify annual efficiency improvements through innovation, technology and better business practices.
   • Publish a Ten-Year Financial Sustainability Report outlining future infrastructure needs, reserve levels, debt obligations and long-term financial risks.

7. Manage capital projects responsibly. Residents deserve confidence that major projects are affordable and well managed. We will:
   • Improve public reporting on capital project budgets, timelines and costs.
   • Require detailed business cases before major capital projects proceed and where possible make those available to the public.
   • Prioritize infrastructure investments that support core municipal services and neighbourhoods with rapid population growth.
   • As part of the capital planning process for 2030-2034, place significant projects before voters in 2030 for approval where appropriate.
   • Increase our success rate in securing partnership funding from senior orders of government for key infrastructure projects and programs.

8. Stand up for taxpayers at Metro Vancouver. Regional decisions have a direct impact on household budgets. We will:
   • Commit to keeping Metro Vancouver utility increases as reasonable as possible.
   • Advocate for stronger financial oversight and transparency at Metro Vancouver.
   • Continue supporting reforms that improve accountability and governance across regional government.
   • Ensure New Westminster taxpayers receive fair value for every regional dollar spent.

9. Protect affordability. Every financial decision should consider its impact on residents. We will:
   • Eliminate the 3.5% electricity climate tax within our first 30 days.
   • Continue reviewing City fees and charges to remove unnecessary financial barriers.
   • Introduce a lower-cost three-year business licence option.
   • Eliminate patio licence fees to support local businesses, encourage economic growth and street vibrancy.
   • Redirect new parking revenue from public facilities (charged to non-residents) toward affordability measures aimed at keeping parks and recreation services more accessible to low-income residents, youth and seniors.

Enough overspending. Let’s restore respect for your tax dollars.

The NWP is running a team of 13 candidates for New Westminster city council and school board in the upcoming municipal election. The NWP’s platform is informed by ongoing conversations with residents through New West City Matters, the party’s community listening initiative.

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