Coalition launch triggers region-wide interest on Day 1

The launch of the New Westminster Progressive Electors Coalition attracted a lot of media and community interest on its first day of operation. CKNW radio was first to cover the story during their 8 am newscast whereby they conducted an interview with Daniel Fontaine, Chair of the Coalition.

Fontaine tells CKNW “we know that all seven of the elected officials (on council) are all from the same political party and we’re hearing from every corner of the city that that’s not healthy for democracy and people are looking for an option to hear a different voice.”

Click on the link below if you want to hear the NW story.

 

The New Westminster Record also published a story online regarding the launch. It states:

A new group in town aims to bring new ideas and a balanced approach to New Westminster’s city council and school board.

The New Westminster Progressive Electors Coalition plans to field a slate of candidates for New Westminster city council and school board in the Oct. 20, 2018 municipal election. The coalition plans to launch a series of neighbourhood gatherings and policy development sessions over the coming months and expects to make an announcement about the establishment of a formal Elections B.C. registered elector organization next spring.

“I keep hearing from people in our community that they are looking for positive new ideas and want to support a diversity of opinions at city hall,” Fontaine said. “Our vision, mission and core set of principles is resonating with a broad cross-section of our community, and it’s helping to build momentum leading up to the October 2018 civic election.”

Next it was the Globe and Mail\’s Frances Bula who interviewed Fontaine regarding Bill 15 and the new rules which aim to ban all cash and in-kind contributions from unions and corporations to civic elector organizations and their candidates. Bula wanted to know what the Coalition thought of the new legislation. The article states:

At the same time, a group in New Westminster that has launched a new civic political party says the new rules could help such grassroots organizations.

The people behind the new new party, the New Westminster Progressive Electors Coalition, say their goal is to take on the union-backed councillors who have dominated that city\’s politics. The city\’s mayor and councillors aren\’t in formal parties.

\”When people sift through [the legislation] and realize what it does in communities like New Westminster and others, I think we will see the same thing in Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond,\” said Daniel Fontaine, who is among those putting together the new party.

Mr. Fontaine also said the new limits will still have a huge impact because not just cash will be limited, but also in-kind donations, which will mean that corporations or unions can\’t divert employees or members into unlimited campaign work.

Meanwhile, the new website had just under 500 page views less than 12 hours after it was launched. There were over 160 unique visitors who were checking out the content and signing up to become volunteers.

\”This was a very positive way to kick off a new political movement in our city and we want to say thank you to everyone who helped make our launch such a huge success,\” says Fontaine. \”It\’s great to see this type of community reaction and we hope to build on this momentum in the coming months.\”

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