NEW WEST PROGRESSIVES UNLEASH “POOCH PLATFORM” TO SUPPORT OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS AND THEIR OWNERS

ANYTHING IS ‘PAW-SIBLE’ WHEN YOU HAVE A DOG! NEW WESTMINSTER WILL STRIVE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS “POOCH-FRIENDLY” CITY

New Westminster (September 1, 2022): Anything is ‘paw-sible’ when you have a dog! Mayoral candidate Ken Armstrong and city council candidate Jiayi Li-McCarthy announce today that if elected, the New West Progressives (NWP) will expand the number of off-leash dog parks in New Westminster by 20% over the next 5 years, making New Westminster known for being a “Pooch-Friendly” city.

“New Westminster residents love their dogs!” Li-McCarthy enthusiastically says. “Dog owners, with the help of their four-legged friends, can play an important role in creating a safer and more vibrant community.” As the city densifies, it is increasingly challenging for dogs to comfortably co-exist in our urban environment. “The focus of City Hall should be on exploring all innovative ideas to improve our city for ALL residents.” 

NWP will seek out the feasibility of bringing a “Pooch Pallooza Day”, like those successfully hosted in other cities, to New Westminster which would celebrate dogs and their owners. This could become a region-wide festival and help to establish our city as the leading “pooch-friendly” city in Metro Vancouver.  

NWP will establish a voluntary “Certi-Pooch Program” that would allow for well-mannered dogs to more easily enter local businesses and be welcomed guests of establishments.  Li-McCarthy continues, “Our dog-lovers go everywhere with their dogs, businesses will benefit from the additional foot and paw traffic, while our streets will be safer too!” 

Consistent with NWP’s steadfast belief in engagement and consultation, we will establish a new Mayor’s Dog Owner Working Group to help guide the city’s work in support of our canines. One initiative is to convert more fire hydrants to become water fountains that hydrate dogs as well – starting in neighbourhoods that are tree deficient.

Based on some dog-gone amazing research online, it appears the New West Progressives is also the only civic elector organization in BC to announce a ‘Pooch Platform”. 

NWP mayoral and council candidates continues to share many of their policy ideas aimed to address the concerns and ideas they have heard from New Westminster residents and businesses, leading up to the unveiling of the NWP’s 2022 campaign platform next month. Follow all campaign announcements at nwprogressives.ca/platform.