An indigenous lawyer hopes to bring some diversity to New Westminster city council.
Troy Hunter, who operates his law firm on Columbia Street, is the latest candidate to announce he’s running for city council.
“Issues of importance to me include seeing diverse representation on city council, as New Westminster has one of the highest proportions of diversity but that isn’t yet reflected on city council,” he said in a press release. “Equality is more than just a goal, it is embedded in our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and I absolutely love that, so it’s time to smash those glass ceilings and let’s get on with the 21st century.”
Employment and immigration, sustainability of jobs, affordable housing, growth and capacity, high-speed Internet access, dog parks, transportation and infrastructure are among the issues he’d like to address at city hall. He’d also like to see a regular night market in New Westminster and work on reconciliation with indigenous peoples.
“The recent unanimous decision of city council to make a sister community with the Tl’etinqox (Anaham) government is fantastic given the sad history we have here concerning the Tsihlqot’in Nation,” Hunter said. “The decision is a good step in the right direction towards reconciliation, and I would love to be a part of that, including consultations with the New Westminster First Nation.”
Born in New Westminster, Hunter is a member of the Ktunaxa First Nation from southeast British Columbia. Now living in New Westminster, he served as a school trustee for the Nicola-Similkameen district from 2008 to 2011 and opened his own law corporation in New Westminster in 2017 with his immigrant wife, Evi Fridayanti.
