Back to the Basics
Courtenay is growing. The choice isn’t whether we grow—it’s whether we manage that growth well. Every major project should have a publicly understandable business case, lifecycle cost, and funding plan.
Core Infrastructure & Municipal Services
Growth must never outpace our essential systems. We need disciplined attention on the fundamentals:
- Development & Approvals: Streamline and clarify the zoning, rezoning, and permit processes.
- Transportation & Walkability: Maintain and improve roads, sidewalks, and bridges.
- Utilities & Water: Long-term stewardship of water and sewer systems, including regional collaboration on water collection/storage and a review of the Comox Dam to address summer restrictions.
- Community Spaces: Investment and upkeep for parks, recreation facilities, and municipal buildings.
- First Responders: Adequate resourcing and support for fire protection and emergency services.
Public Safety, Mental Health & Community Wellbeing
While senior governments hold health mandates, the City has direct levers it must pull responsibly. We will focus on what municipal government can influence:
- Public Spaces & Cleanliness: Enhanced street sanitation, expanded lighting, and functional public washrooms to address sanitation impacts on local commerce.
- Downtown Vitality & Security: Directly address crime and street-level pressures around the Connect Centre, improve safety along Cliffe Avenue, reduce emergency response times, and provide all-day staff parking to support downtown businesses.
- Bylaw & Policing: Modernized bylaws and close operational coordination with the RCMP, regional districts, and provincial health agencies.
- Housing & Shelter Partnerships: Leverage city-owned land, supportive/non-market housing partnerships, and shelter capacity to address addiction and mental health challenges humanely and effectively.
Responsible Growth & Responsible Taxes
Infrastructure before or alongside growth, transparent capital planning, disciplined spending, and predictable taxation.
- Predictable Approvals: Make development applications transparent and timely so quality projects don’t stall.
- Fair Share: Ensure developers contribute appropriately to the infrastructure costs generated by new development.
- Fiscal Transparency: Use council and staff time efficiently, ensure agenda packages and critical data are shared well in advance of meetings, and partner regionally to stretch tax dollars further.
- Accessibility: Ensure accessibility is integrated into civic planning, infrastructure projects, and public facilities across Courtenay.