Mayoral candidate George Harvie plans to shake up the South Delta-centric council meetings if he makes it into the big seat this October.
At a campaign event in North Delta Tuesday (May 29), Harvie announced that, if elected, he would have an equal number of regular council meetings in North and South Delta.
In 2018, only about 15 per cent of council meetings are scheduled to take place in North Delta. Those that do are held at the Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre.
Harvie’s planned meetings would use the anticipated performing arts centre in North Delta, currently under construction.
“It was always my vision to have that used for regular council meetings,” Harvie told the North Delta Reporter. “My dream was always to have every other council meeting in North Delta.”
The council meetings are an attempt to address the “disconnect” between North and South Delta residents.
“It’s all about fairness and showing respect,” Harvie said. “There’s over 60 per cent of our population in North Delta now, and this is one way we can show we’re bringing government to them, getting them involved and getting them engaged.”
In addition, Harvie said that he would work to bring the maintenance of community-used school fields under city control. Currently, that maintenance is undertaken by the school board. He also mentioned the North Delta Secondary track, saying it is in “dismal shape” and needs to be fixed.
Harvie’s Achieving for Delta slate includes South Delta council candidates Param Grewal, Alicia Guichon and Dylan Kruger, but also North Deltans Dan Copeland (former fire chief) and Cal Traversy (former Delta police officer).
The municipal election will take place on Oct. 20, 2018.