New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote is looking for a new-and-improved relationship between cities and the federal government.
Cote said he’s very happy to see NDP incumbent Peter Julian re-elected to the House of Commons, saying he’s always represented the community very well and advocated for local issues in Ottawa.
“I know he will continue to do so,” he said. “Having him there is going to be very beneficial for New Westminster.”
Cote is hopeful the change in government will also bode well for New Westminster and cities across Canada.
“The Liberals made a number of positive commitments to cities in terms of investing in infrastructure, transit investments, putting investments into affordable housing,” he said. “To me, I think those are really positive things that I am looking forward to working with the new federal government on. Those were priorities that weren’t necessarily as big of priorities with the previous government.”
The Liberals have pledged to make “historic” investments into infrastructure. This would include funding for transit infrastructure and social infrastructure such as affordable housing, and seniors, recreational and cultural infrastructure.
Cote said he’s optimistic as the city takes on challenges locally that a new perspective from the federal government may yield some positive gains for the city and the region.
“I am optimistic, based on the platform they put out. Here in New West, we face a number of challenges, including an aging Canada Games Pool that we need to act on. Partnerships with different levels of government will be very helpful in that process,” he said. “I am also confident that our MP Peter Julian will also be able to be working in Ottawa to hold the new government to account to the promises that were made in this election. I am looking forward to a new opportunity, really, a new way of cities engaging with the federal government.”
