Darin Nielsen
Phone: 604-671-4580
Email: darinn@telus.net
Website: darinnielsen.ca
Facebook: Elect Darin Nielsen for Port Coquitlam City Council
Age: 53
Occupation: self-employed
PoCo resident for: 35 years
Campaign funding: self-funded
Previous community service: citizen advisor to city council for three terms; PoCo Minor Baseball and PoCo Minor Hockey executive; BPAC executive; baseball, hockey and soccer coach; Operation Red Nose; KidSport; Share food bank.
If elected, what steps would you take to improve housing affordability in PoCo?
Support development of new market forms of affordable housing, both for rent and purchase. Inclusionary zoning to require a minimum of 20% of new units in a development be affordable and family-friendly. Adopt policy that the price for affordable housing units only rise by the Consumer Price Index — not the property market.
What do you hope to accomplish as a city councillor?
Make PoCo the safest city in B.C. Redevelop downtown with a dynamic historic train theme. Improve the Mary Hill Bypass and Lougheed Highway congestion. Enhance youth recreation amenities. Ensure PoCo remains a livable, sustainable community by adopting an effective affordable living strategy. Increase tree canopy coverage.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing PoCo?
Community safety. Enforce speed limits. Install pedestrian-activated crosswalk signs with flashing lights. More sidewalks and lighting. Repaint lines on road more often for visibility.
Would you change the mayor and council’s pay and why?
The provincial government should set the pay based on population, and determine if a mayor is full-time or part-time: $100,000 for part-time mayor? No!
