The New West Record gave candidates in all three of New Westminster’s ridings an opportunity to introduce themselves and answer a series of issues-related questions. Two of the three candidates in New Westminster-Coquitlam submitted responses to our questionnaire.
Meet Maureen Curran: BC Greens candidate in New Westminster-Coquitlam
Current occupation:
Teacher
Short biography:
After doing a MSc in nuclear physics at UVic I became a science teacher in Coquitlam and eventually moved here to New West to raise my two sons. I have volunteered extensively in our community, and coordinate citizens groups working with their municipalities to build a safer, healthier future.
What is your housing situation? (homeowner, renter, owner of rental property/properties, etc.)
I am a homeowner, but only own my personal residence.
Do you live in the New Westminster-Coquitlam riding?
I’ve been a resident of New West since 2006 and have loved being a part of a community that has such deep roots and strong community connection.
What would make you a good MLA?
When people are struggling, I like to help; I refuse to allow a fixable problem to go unchallenged. I work hard, am tenacious, caring and a good listener. My background in science is a strength I can bring to governing: I love collaborating and problem solving.
Where can voters reach you?
[email protected] @mcurranbcgreens (twitter/X @MCurranBCGreens )
FB Facebook Maureen Curran, BC Greens for New Westminster-Coquitlam | 2024 BC election - VoteMate
The Record provided New Westminster-Coquitlam candidates with questions about a variety of issues, including housing, public safety, and climate change. Here are some of Curran’s responses:
How would your provincial government support municipalities in dealing with the increase in growth and demand for infrastructure like schools, childcare, parks and recreational facilities brought on by the new provincial housing regulations and a growing population?
Housing targets without fulsome supports is a travesty. Municipalities need to be given the tools to provide services to the people who will live in those homes.
These housing targets must come with coordinated resources that are tailored to each community. In the present market it’s unreasonable to expect cities to shoulder the whole burden of finding and paying for new school sites; the Ministry of Education has to be equally responsible and fully committed to meeting the needs of students and families.
Green spaces cannot be sacrificed; they’ve been shown to have a huge impact on our mental and physical health. Along with recreational facilities, parks need to be protected, and we need to ensure cities can provide facilities that help us stay healthy and active.
Similarly, we need local health care planning that prepares for projected growth. The Green Party has a goal of creating Community Health Clinics that would provide more streamlined care and make it possible for health care providers to focus on what they do best – spending their time working directly with patients. This is one example of how a smarter use of resources can make them go further, without making costs go up. Instead of increasing bureaucracy, we plan to make health care systems more efficient and patient focused. There are lots of win -win options out there, we just need to be willing to think outside the old boxes and build newer systems that can meet present and future needs.
Do you believe that climate change is a threat? If so, what are some specific actions that you would support to address it?
Climate change is indeed a threat and is already costing us more than we can afford. Just this year we saw the devastating effect it had on our stone fruit crops, and over the past five years we have seen massive local losses due to fires, smoke, flood and heat domes. Globally, markets and insurance providers are struggling due to more extreme weather, including hurricanes. This will only get worse, and any responsible government has to face facts and plan to both mitigate damage and adapt to the changes that are already unfolding.
Across Canada, climate change could cost our healthcare system billions of dollars and reduce economic activity by tens of billions of dollars over the coming decades. Working together is the only way to be prepared for what is to come and make sure our children and grandchildren have the kind of safe and healthy world they deserve.
The good news is that many scientists and businesses are already doing the good work to address many of the challenges coming. Globally, clean energy programs were 10% of economic growth; I want to see BC riding that curve, not left behind. My work with Climate Safe Cities and my strong science background mean that I am fully aware of what is at stake and what solutions will suit us best. I plan to use all my knowledge to redirect BC’s funding away from the projects that are causing the problem and into those that build our resilience and security.
Many school districts, including New Westminster, are facing a capacity crisis when it comes to schools. New schools are often full or near capacity by the time they open. Will you change policy to fund school capital projects based on projected population growth? Why or why not?
This is an outdated policy that should have been addressed ages ago. Yes, we need to make sure planning is long term and that reasonable growth projections are allowed to be factored into building. The province cannot set targets for growth in housing without making sure the children have adequate school buildings. And I will also add here that a decent school is one with not just the right number of rooms, but one appropriately staffed with a minimum ratio of educators (including education assistants) and support workers like custodians, who are essential in maintaining a clean and safe learning space. Funding for education needs to meet students’ needs so we can see every child reaching their full potential.
What can the provincial government do to address the doctor shortage, which has resulted in emergency room closures in BC communities and created challenges for residents in New Westminster-Coquitlam searching for a family physician?
The present government has expanded the healthcare budget from $20 billion in 2020 to $33 billion in 2024. Yet, despite this increased spending, British Columbians continue to face longer wait times, a lack of access to walk-in clinics, near-vacant UPCCs, frequent emergency room closures, and a fragmented medical record system that puts patient safety at risk.
The BC Greens want to bring Community Health Centres to every municipality across the province, so that British Columbians will have access to doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, and specialists like dietitians and physiotherapists within their community. This model streamlines complicated referrals, ensuring timely, comprehensive care all in one place, and it makes it possible to easily transfer records and maintain patient care even when we move to a different part of the province.
This program will not suit all health care practitioners, but it will be an option for those that like a team based approach that allows them to focus on providing quality, primary patient care.
We also need to keep working with schools and professional associations so we can make sure our supply of new health care professionals is keeping up with demand, including getting those trained overseas through local practicums and necessary updates of their qualifications so they can pursue a career in their new home.
What, if anything, would your government do to improve oversight of municipal governments and ensure they adhere to standards for ethical behavior?
I think reviewing and working with the proposal from the BC Ombudsperson is an excellent start. Given that multiple municipalities have been erratic in enforcing or applying their codes of conduct, it is clear that the province should step in to help provide a framework and process to ensure a minimum standard of ethical oversight. New Brunswick has recently created something similar, so we should use that as an example and opportunity to observe its efficacy so we can refine it to make it work well here.
**Editor's note: The Record is publishing responses from the two candidates who responded to our questionnaire before our deadline – BC Greens candidate Maureen Curran and BC NDP candidate Jennifer Whiteside. Conservative Party candidate Ndellie Massey did not respond to emails from the Record.
Check back for more coverage on the candidates’ responses to questions on various issues, including housing, business, and public safety.
