Age/occupation: 45, college instructor
During Shobha Nair's time as a college instructor, she said she has become familiar with the struggle students go through to establish themselves after they have completed their post-secondary education. Young people have difficulty finding a job and affording a home, she said, often while dealing with massive student loan payments.
"That is why I am running," she said. "I see students struggling with debt. They think they can never own a home."
So what can one person on a city council of nine do to tackle these issues?
Nair, who is running with the five-person Protect Coquitlam slate, believes the city needs to fast-track its affordable housing strategy and said she will advocate for more housing choice in the community.
Too many mega homes have been built at the expense of smaller houses, she said, while more townhouses and condos are needed to add to the city's housing stock.
While Nair is in favour of more density in some areas, she would not say which neighbourhoods she believes need more housing. She said that once she is elected, she will have a better understanding of which areas need more residential development.
Nair also believes community consultation is key and that the city needs to do a better job of explaining its plans to residents.
"If people's voices are being heard, then there won't be any issues," she said. "If [the city] is really good at [public consultation], then there won't be any complaints."
