Name: Deb Walters
Age: 49
Occupation: City of Pitt Meadows councillor
Website: www.debwalters.ca
Twitter: @Debwalters2011
Facebook: facebook.com/debwalterspolitician
Q1. What have you personally achieved, or what initiative have you personally led in recent years that qualifies you to be elected as mayor of Pitt Meadows?
1. Personally, I have earned a Local Government Leadership Certificate to better serve our community as mayor. Recognizing that council works collectively to achieve our goals and taking advantage of partnerships and grants, we have celebrated many successes during my tenure, including the new artificial turf field, Harris Road Youth Action Park, and South Bonson Community Centre, as well as upgraded Spirit Square and Pitt Meadows Arenas. The new seniors centre will provide senior housing and a recreation facility.
Q2. How would you act on your top priorities as Pitt Meadows councillor?
2. For transportation, moving regional traffic through our community: we need to find an acceptable solution with minimal financial impact on our taxpayers. A functioning intersection at Lougheed Highway and Harris Road: continue to work with senior levels of government to assure this remains a priority. Continued commitment to pedestrian and cycle friendly road networks. Public Safety: assuring our citizens that we are prepared to face challenges that come our way. Natural environment: encouraging green programs and introduce a green waste pickup. Fiscal responsibility: we need to pay down debt and look at innovative ways to provide the facilities and services that our citizens demand.
Q3. What is your position on the construction of the North Lougheed Connector and what kind of development should it serve?
3. The North Lougheed Connector is essential to moving regional traffic through our community and would ease congestion on Old Dewdney Trunk Road, which would help relieve the stress put on our farmers who depend on this road to move farm equipment.
I personally would like to see a mixed use of commercial and professional/business in this development area, with park-like buffering to the adjoining residential area. I am only supportive of the connector if the costs are absorbed by the developer, not the taxpayer. We also have to draw a hard line on future encroachment into the ALR. We need to assist farmers in farming, but we also need to protect and preserve farmland.