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New Westminster’s first all-candidates meeting for the 2018 election is happening next week

The civic election is still months away but the first all-candidates meeting of the season is only a week away.
Cayley Dobie
election

The civic election is still months away but the first all-candidates meeting of the season is only a week away.

Women on Wednesdays, an advocacy group whose goal is to strengthen women’s participation in the democratic process, is partnering with Women Transforming Cities to host the first all-candidates meeting of the 2018 civic election.

The event is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Plaskett Gallery at Massey Theatre, and is open to everyone and is family-friendly and accessible.

“Our goal is to give women a space to talk with candidates about what New Westminster looks like through a feminist lens,” read an email from Trudi Goels.

Candidates will be asked the following questions:

  1. How would you apply an intersectional gendered lens to the issues of housing, violence against women/safety in our community, and public engagement?
  2. Why would you/would you not support the creation of a women's advisory committee
    a) If supported, what do you think are the three top priorities?
    b) If not supported, how would you ensure women's voices are heard in an advisory capacity?
  3. Many other cities across Canada are developing women's equity strategies. Would you advocate for New Westminster to develop a strategy to outline policy that increases gender equity in the city?
    a) If yes, when would be the right time to start this, and how would you define success?
    b) If no, how would you demonstrate commitment to gender equity?

Organizers have invited all the candidates who have declared in the council and mayoral races and are still accepting RSVPs at this time.

So far, the candidates who have declared are: Nadine Nakagawa, Chinu Das, Daniel Fontaine, Paul McNamara, Bryn Ward, Mary Trentadue (incumbent) and Patrick Johnstone (incumbent). Current New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote is the only candidate running for mayor at this time.

Council, mayoral and school board candidates have until Sept. 14 to file their nomination papers. The election is on Oct. 20.

Space is limited for the Women on Wednesdays event, so people interested in attending are asked to sign up by emailing Goels at trudi@billardarchitecture.ca.