The developer behind a huge condo project in Burquitlam contributed $12,500 to seven council members in last fall’s civic election campaign.
But Coquitlam councillors who spoke to The Tri-City News this week said the donations did not sway how they voted on the proposal, and the money amounted to a fraction of what each collected in campaign contributions.
Blue Sky Properties is planning an 873-unit condo development that would include three highrise towers and a mid-rise rental building. The high-density project, which will be located at North Road and Foster Avenue near the future Burquitlam Evergreen Line station, is expected to pass fourth and final reading next week.
“No donation ever influenced my decision and never has,” said Coun. Mae Reid, who received $1,500 from Blue Sky out of a total of $30,000 in contributions she raised for her re-election effort. “I did not meet with the developer before the public hearing. I gather my own unbiased information from my own sources. I think for myself and vote my own decisions. Always have, always will.”
She added that high-density developments go hand-in-hand with rapid transit, saying she has always told residents to “be careful what you wish for” when calling for the Evergreen Line.
Coun. Craig Hodge, who received $500 from Blue Sky out of the $35,877 total he raised for his campaign, concurred with Reid. He said he voted in favour of the condo development based on land use decisions, not because of a donation from the developer.
Coun. Terry O’Neill told The Tri-City News that he campaigned on creating housing choice. He noted that increasing housing stock leads to more affordable real estate, a belief he said he has held long before receiving $750 from Blue Sky and $750 from Bosa, Blue Sky’s parent company, out of the $24,811 he raised for his re-election campaign.
Still, several councillors acknowledged that because of the donations from the developer, an appearance of bias could exist.
Coun. Chris Wilson, who received $1,500 from the company out of a total of $36,759 raised for his campaign, said the province needs to make changes to civic election finance regulations. He said he would like to see spending and contribution caps that would help limit conflicts of interest.
“I’m very concerned about the appearance of conflict,” he said. “I really hope the province brings in municipal campaign financing [and] spending limits.”
Mayor Richard Stewart received the largest campaign contribution from Blue Sky Properties, which donated $5,000 to his re-election effort out of a total of $71,220 raised. Stewart did not respond to questions from The Tri-City News by deadline.
Two other council members also received donations from Blue Sky.
Coun. Bonita Zarrillo, who voted against the Burquitlam condo project, was given $1,000 by the company out of a total of $38,041 she raised during last fall’s election campaign. Coun. Brent Asmundson also received $1,500 from Blue Sky out of the $31,636 he raised, but was not present for the passing of third reading and therefore did not cast a vote in the decision.
Of the more than $312,000 raised by the nine candidates elected to Coquitlam city council last November, close to $169,000 (54%) came from the real estate development industry.
