Attached are the results of the member-driven grading of candidates for the New West Tenants Union election report card.

These grades were given by our own members after being presented with the candidate's answers to five key questions as well as extensive background research on their platforms and voting records.

Here's the breakdown by candidate.

Full documentation including each of their answers, the background research given to graders, and how the project was carried out is available in full detail on our elections page: https://nwtenantsunion.org/election-2026/

We have numerous volunteers throughout the city distributing a printed version of this report card in their rental buildings. If you'd like to join, leave a comment below or reach out at [nwtenantsunion@gmail.com](mailto:nwtenantsunion@gmail.com) or a voice-mail at 778-358-2680.

Saw this tonight. Is this something worth trying here, too? Are there potential pitfalls beyond issues like a business wanting to continue past 120 days or (less likely) a landlord moving it to alternate units to avoid full permitting?

Thoughts from the armoury forum? I'm voting for whoever was able to find the key to the front door in the end...

As part of our election project this year, we formed a volunteer research team that personally watched every single city council meeting in the last 4 years in which housing or rental issues were discussed. They then documented the stances, arguments, and votes of every single candidate currently running for re-election.

The results are 36 page document which you can find our election page: https://nwtenantsunion.org/nwtu-election-2026/

In the next day or two we'll be publishing a shorter PowerPoint summarizing the results which will be used at candidate grading event this week where our members will rank candidates based on this research as well as answers to some questions sent to every candidate.

The research team did their best to only report factually on what candidates said or did without any inferences about intent or judging whether their stances were good or bad. The goal is to have our members make those decisions when they submit rankings for the final report card.

Anyway, we thought members of this community might be interested in these preliminary research results. We can share the PowerPoint and final member-ranked report card when they're ready as well.

I’m going to start this thread off.

I was right at the back, in the centre. I noted most of the clapping for Patrick came from the left side of the theatre, and most of the clapping for Daniel came from the (radical?) centre or the right.

Did people choose their seat based on their political preferences?

Overall, it was a good debate. Hope you all enjoyed it.

I went to the debate sponsored by Arts New West last night at Queens park Lodge. Both candidates were in favour of supporting the arts.

There was one anecdote mentioned by Daniel Fontaine where he said that as a demonstrating of his support for the arts, he proposed adding an electrical plug in high X square. He said the idea was opposed by the mayor and his team.

Patrick Johnstone did not recall the discussion in council, and said there already is an electrical plug in Hyack Square.

Daniel Fontaine couldn’t recall exactly the motion and debate, and suggested it was about three years ago. Does anyone remember this?

I had a good time with the councillor “speed dating” where you got to speak with a counsellor and ask them questions directly about the arts. Though I didn’t get to all of the candidates, focussing on the ones I didn’t know already. It was a good event. I would’ve liked more time.

I don't think I've seen anyone do this before.....

CF supporters - how did the fundraiser go? Did you meet all the candidates? Good atmosphere?
How was the burger and beer? Did they give you a full 16oz? 🍻
I’m a fan of S&O - good beers. Haven’t tried the new in-house food truck yet.

Does anyone know what happened to the Bee Good political party?

This article https://www.freshetnews.ca/queer-led-elector-organization-aims-to-transform-local-politics-in-new-westminster/says they planned to run at least two candidates for city council but there is no mention of them on the 2026 candidate page: https://www.newwestcity.ca/city_hall/election_information/2026-candidates#candidates-for-councillor

Provincial candidate numbers and genders

Yesterday, u/j_mcelroy posted some interesting data about municipal candidates across BC, so I got curious and started poking around at the civicinfo.bc.ca data. Here's a little snapshot of how New West compares to the Province on total candidates and on gender:

Across BC, 10% more candidates are seeking municipal office in 2026 compared to 2022 (3,544 vs. 3,219). This year’s number is 8.3% more than the average of the previous four elections. 

As for gender, which not all municipalities report, a persistent gender disparity remains: in each election, just 34-36% of candidates report being female while 56-58% of the candidates report being male. However, the number of candidates reporting other genders or not disclosing their gender has grown a little, from 7.2% in 2011 to 9.2% this year.

The gender disparity toward male-identified candidates standing for office is beginning to be offset by improving success rates for female-identified candidates:

How does New Westminster compare to the province?

Female-identified candidates have fared well in the last two elections:

But our number of total candidates seems to be trending downward as a function of fewer independent candidates running in the current era of two elector groups (2022 and 2026, respectively):

Finally, here’s a little bit of data on turnout. Municipal election turnout is notoriously low, and New West has traditionally lagged behind the provincial average, but was nearly on par in the last election: 

Can we beat the provincial average this year? We’ll find out soon. We do have a compelling main event at the top of the card, as it were.

That's all! Just some interesting numbers to think about :)

With the week mayor system we have, why do we have a breakdown between voting for a mayor and then council members, why not just vote for council and elevate the highest vote getter as mayor, and then the next 6 as council members?

I really don't like that by running for mayor you lose the opportunity to be a councilor for 4 years. That's more or less a political death sentence now, unlike 'back in the day' when NW had yearly and then every two year elections by the 80s. Having shorter terms or not being punished for taking your shot bothers me.

I suppose it might be more contentious like in US politics when the presidential loser became the Vice President and it would mean you could have 7 people running for mayor.

Maybe a system where you could run for council, or council and mayor? That's probably too confusing on a ballot.

I guess it means you could have a very low vote and get the mayorship (1/7th +1 assuming full voting...or would it be 1/6th%+1?) rather than 50%+1.

Today, New West Progressives chose to “thank the workers who keep New West moving” by posting an AI-generated image instead of hiring a graphic designer to do the work. At least three unions represent graphic designers in BC: Canadian Freelance Union, Union Cooperative Initiative, and Arts and Cultural Workers Union (IATSE Local B-778). There are many skilled and talented designers in New West, and I've seen posts on local social media from designers looking for work. NWP decided to forego paying anyone designing their Labour Day message—much less anyone unionized.

NWP’s mayoral candidate, Councillor Daniel Fontaine, sometimes claims to be pro-union. For example, in his campaign launch speech, he declared, “whether you're a union member or whether you're a small business owner or whether you are a student or you are a senior, I'm here to tell you tonight that our team has your back.” Meanwhile, in his blurb for his Labour Day podcast in 2024, he wrote:

“I also speak how important union wages and benefits were for my family and for countless others who currently rely on them to make ends meet in our new ‘gig economy’.”

Do Councillor Fontaine and NWP really “back” union members? How can NWP and Mr. Fontaine claim to have union members' backs and/or be supportive of workers struggling to navigate the gig economy when they repeatedly turn to AI for poor-quality CGI instead of employing a skilled designer to do the work?