Coquitlam's mayor says a promotional video for a prominent developer that features him is just part of doing business in the community.
Yesterday, Mayor Richard Stewart defended his appearance on a video for Bosa Properties' Uptown development in Burquitlam, saying his aim is to get Bosa and "other high-quality developers and builders" to invest in the city.
"I think it's one of the roles as a mayor," Stewart told The Tri-City News. "This is a company I have a lot of respect for... and my role is make sure companies are welcome and to encourage economic development in Coquitlam."
In the one-minute-35-second video, which was uploaded last week to Bosa's YouTube channel, Stewart speaks about the revitalization happening in west Coquitlam, especially with the Evergreen Line construction. He states in the video: "I'm really excited by the beginnings of the transformation of Burquitlam and the fact that Bosa Properties is playing such a key role in that transformation."
With the rapid transit line, due to open in the summer of 2016, Stewart states Coquitlam will become an urban centre in Greater Vancouver and be connected by rail to other jurisdictions.
Burquitlam is poised for renewal. "It's really time to transform this neighbourhood and I'm particularly excited that a company of the calibre of Bosa Properties - a company that's done work not only in Coquitlam but across the Lower Mainland for decades - will be right there in the transformation of what will become a truly exciting new neighbourhood."
The video ends with Bosa's logo and a website link to the Uptown plans. The following video, posted in February, has Colin Bosa talking about his company's two concrete towers (26 and 28 storeys) for the Burquitlam Plaza mall site, with units now for sale.
Stewart said he did not receive payment to be part of the video and has not received campaign contributions from the company.
Requests for comment from Bosa were not immediately returned.
Stewart, who as a government consultant in the 1990s wrote consumer protection legislation for B.C. homeowners, said he has also been included in promotional material for other developers, builders and even a shopping mall in Coquitlam.
"There's a role for everyone to play in attracting investment to the community: the mayor, the councillors, the city staff," said David Munro, Coquitlam's economic development manager. "It's part of our business-attraction efforts."
To view the Bosa Properties video featuring Mayor Stewart, go to www.youtube.com/user/bosaproperties and click on the video titled "Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart On The Revitalization Of West Coquitlam."
