Age/occupation: 44, financial advisor
As a Burquitlam resident for the last five years, Ben Craig has had a front-row seat to the changes that are coming with the construction of the Evergreen Line. The neighbourhood, which was previously made up of mostly single-family homes and a few apartment buildings, and served by a number of strip malls, is slated to become a major transit hub in Coquitlam, with condo towers and a brand new SkyTrain station.
More residents are on the way and Craig believes the city is not doing enough to ensure that amenities will be provided in the area. "We all know the high density is coming. Everyone knows it," he said. "We have to plan for it accordingly."
A new library, a recreation centre and, possibly, a fire hall should be built in the area, he said, noting he would also like to see commercial buildings added to the mix. But attracting business to the community is harder than simply building more office space, he acknowledges.
Craig believes the disparity between business and residential property tax - according to the Fraser Institute, businesses pay 4.5 times more taxes than residents - needs to be closed.
How would he accomplish the savings? Craig said he would start by looking at staff salaries, which he believes are out of line with those in neighbouring cities.
He recognizes that city expenses, like labour costs, continue to rise and that property tax increases are necessary to sustain current service levels. But Craig said he would like the number to stay in line with inflation and population growth.
