The Editor,
Re. "City gets biz honour as it also receives biz criticism" (The Tri-City News, Oct. 9).
How disappointing to read the remarks of Mayor Richard Stewart and Coquitlam councillors after so many businesses addressed them at the budget 2014 town hall. The irony is that Coquitlam won the provincial Open for Business award because they promised to consult small business through a satisfaction survey.
But when businesses come out to a meeting to tell cities they must slow their out-of-control spending to provide some tax relief, apparently they don't like that message.
Only in the unreal world of local government can top administrators receive 14% raises in one-year and politicians justify it as a wise investment.
Mayor and council promised to meet with small business stakeholders that evening and Coquitlam business owners will hold them to that pledge.
Mike Klassen, BC Director, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
