Bringing Delta to the Table: Our First Podcast Feature
Hello friends and neighbours,
This week I had the privilege of sitting down with New Westminster city councillors Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas on their podcast For the Record. I was grateful for the opportunity to use their platform to share the challenges and successes we've experienced here in Delta as we continue our work in response to the housing crisis.
As more British Columbians watch their cities grow rapidly, concerns about public infrastructure, taxes, and overall quality of life are becoming shared challenges across our province. That’s why working collaboratively with other municipalities—and building the relationships needed to do so—is essential if we hope to find sustainable, responsible solutions to the problems we face.
I invite you all to check out the episode. My goal during this short interview was to highlight our concerns, emphasize what unites us, and encourage others who are capable and willing to step up. I hope this helps bring our voices to a larger audience and make it impossible to ignore our concerns.
You can find the podcast link(s) below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
RedCircle
Thank you for being part of this journey,
Alex
A Delta United.
If there’s one lesson that has stood out to me since beginning this journey with all of you, it’s the value of unity. The power of people coming together in good faith, with determination and optimism, to shape a better future. Throughout this experience, I’ve never felt more connected to my fellow Deltan. I see more clearly than ever what we share: the land we live on, the laws we follow, the sacrifices we make, and the victories we celebrate. That sense of shared purpose and belonging has only deepened my belief that unity is our greatest strength. This holds true for us as Deltans, as British Columbians, as Canadians, and as citizens of the world.
It’s in that spirit that I’m writing today to firmly and wholeheartedly reject any effort to divide us. To those who may be working to create division, I ask you to reflect on whether such actions truly align with your values and with the future we all hope to build. I have felt the strength that comes from unity, and I believe with conviction that a city divided against itself cannot stand.
At this pivotal moment in our history, with political and social landscapes shifting around us, we must stay strong and stay united. We must stay rooted in our love for this community and our commitment to one another. The rights of individuals, our democratic voice, and our ability to shape the spaces we live in are not just abstract ideals. They are essential, and right now, they are being challenged. We face legislation and policies that risk silencing our voices and weakening our connection to the land we call home.
Today, I stood at Centennial Beach, surrounded by people from all walks of life. As we shared the ocean breeze, the open sky, and the simple joy of being together, I was reminded of how truly special this place is. What we have must be protected. And the only way we protect it is by standing together, as one Delta.
With gratitude,
Alex
Finding Ways to Marginalize and Control Us
"We need housing, so let’s make a ton of money selling spots to live—and promise nothing but the bare minimum."
What the hell is 'affordability' anyway?
If they truly wanted affordable homes, they’d build them cheap and fast—wood frames, six stories max, breaking ground today. Not these drawn-out sales pitches designed to wear us down. Real emergencies demand action, not 15-year timelines for a single project.
Instead, their time and effort go into manufacturing our consent—selling our communities out from under us while calling it "progress." They know exactly how this works: dangle crisis language to justify rushed approvals, then vanish when the infrastructure bills come due. It’s not development—it’s extraction disguised as policy.
I stand outside my home and watch eagles soar overhead as I walk to the grocery store. Why am I told we don’t have a "walkable city"? Is this just another buzz word to sell us sidewalks through the very developments we oppose?
When we dare express concern for our future, We are labeled a NIMBY—a term invented to strip residents of credibility and transfer power to developers and the politicians who either don’t understand or don’t care about the agenda they’re pushing. They want us to believe that wanting guarantees—about schools, hospitals, green space—is unreasonable. Since when did "selfish" mean refusing to hand our town over to speculators?
But here’s the truth:
We have every right to protect our community, the people in it, and the natural habitat we’re duty-bound to preserve. We are not beholden to the real estate interests that have turned every aspect of Canadian life into a speculative game. Real partnerships between communities and developers exist—they just require actual value in exchange for change. What we’re getting is theft with a zoning permit.
It’s time to face reality: We, the people, have very little left to hold onto. What we do have—a loving, fought-for community—is now the frontline. The industrial machine feeds on the apathy they’ve cultivated in us, while every facet of our lives gets sucked into markets demanding infinite growth.
Noam Chomsky said it best:
"Social action must be animated by a vision of a future society—and by explicit judgments of value about what that society should be."
What values are we upholding by accepting an OCP shoved through in four months—with no explanation beyond blaming other politicians? Their "vision" is urban centers (whatever that means) on a small peninsula next to the beach. Ours is Tsawwassen as it is: a place of natural beauty and tight-knit community. They repeat their slogans, trot out hired consultants, and appeal to authority to corrode our resolve.
And for what? To hand over the very quality of life that makes this place desirable—only to be gaslit into feeling guilty for resisting the same forces that created this mess.
I keep hearing it’s "uneconomic" to build housing that aligns with Delta’s character. I don’t buy it. If people want to live here (and they do), they’ll come—perhaps even because we refused to surrender to short-term profiteers and held the line for what actually matters.
Looking forward to us all meeting again soon. Until then, stay strong in your resolve. Do not fall for the distractions, or the illusions that this is all a "done deal."
Alex
What Other Cities Are Teaching Me About Ours
Hello Friends and Neighbours,
I hope these rain-filled spring days have offered you a bit of time to rest, regroup, and begin planning for the busy summer ahead. The weather hasn’t kept me from my usual “around town” walks, and as I make my way down 12th, along the beach, and through Southlands, I’ve noticed how the soft rain seems to bring out some of the most vivid scents—yarrow, lupine, and all the wild green things that make this place feel like home. Even the blackbirds seem to be in good spirits, turning sections of my route into a little symphony. I hope you’re all finding your own ways to enjoy the season and soak up the beauty blooming all around us.
In my last update, I committed to diving deeper into our Official Community Plan (OCP) and understanding how we got to where we are today. That journey has led me to look beyond our city borders, knowing full well that the challenges we’re facing here in Delta—outdated models of public funding, growing pains, and questions of long-term planning—aren’t unique to us. What has stood out to me, though, is the way other municipalities are choosing to respond. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are better models, more transparent conversations, and stronger commitments to the people being affected most.
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Councillor Daniel Fontaine of New Westminster. You may have seen his name in a recent Vancouver Sun article where he spoke out about his community’s crumbling infrastructure and the underfunding of essential services. Our conversation was both frustrating and hopeful—we shared a lot of the same concerns, but we also found common ground in our belief that politics should be rooted in duty, openness, and respect. It was refreshing to meet someone in office who isn’t afraid to speak candidly and act boldly. In a time when our cities, provinces, and countries are grappling with complex challenges, we simply can’t afford more politicians who are more worried about their careers than the people they serve. What we need is leadership that puts families, local businesses, and long-term sustainability first.
On that note, I’ve been following developments in Burnaby around Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs) and Development Cost Charges (DCCs)—the fees developers are supposed to pay to support public infrastructure and community amenities. In theory, these charges help fund everything from parks and libraries to sewage systems. But what’s happening now is that developers are saying they can’t meet the timelines for payment, and municipalities are warning that the financial burden could shift to taxpayers. Burnaby’s council has begun exploring reforms and shared their thoughts with other municipalities, including ours. Disappointingly, although this correspondence was tabled at our last council meeting, it wasn’t raised by a single member of our council. All I can say is that we seem far far far behind the ball on dealing with this incredibly pressing issue. We need to get our heads out of the sand, and start figuring out who's going to pay for the rapid growth we are expecting to see in the very near future, before it falls squarely on the tax payer.
There are more thoughts re: Bill 15, but I'll have more information regarding that bill in the upcoming week or so!
Until then, thank you—as always—for the inspiration, energy, and wisdom you all bring to this community. You remind me every day why I care so deeply about this work. I hope we have a chance to gather again soon. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out—sometimes Facebook messages get filtered (or get pushed down), so please feel welcome to email me directly at alex@deltavoices.ca
Wishing you all a safe, restful, and joyful long weekend. I’ll see you around town.
Alex
Spring Update
Hello friends and neighbours,
As news about the Tsawwassen Town Centre brightens our spirits and the sun warms our little town, it’s starting to feel like spring in every sense of the word. In these quieter moments—when we’re not shoulder to shoulder on sidewalks, in community halls, or council chambers—it’s easy to feel disconnected. So I wanted to reach out with a quick update on what I’ve been up to, and share a few reflections on our community, our leadership, and where we go from here.
A couple of weeks ago, I attended the City Council meeting at the North Delta Centre for the Arts. It followed Councillor Boisvert’s letter to the Delta Optimist, and the atmosphere in the room was tense. Frustration flared between councillors, and frankly, it was disheartening. What should have been a forum for thoughtful leadership felt more like a political grudge match—complete with jabs, accusations of backroom dealings, and personal digs. I left feeling concerned. Public service should never be about political ladder-climbing—it should be about the people who live here.
I also had the chance to attend both All Candidates Debates, hosted by the Delta Chamber of Commerce and the Delta Residents Association. A big thanks to both organizations for making space for us to ask questions and engage directly. It’s clear that all the candidates—despite their differences—have put real thought into Delta’s future. Issues like the dike system, health care access, and the tunnel were front and center. I’m confident that whoever wins will bring a strong voice to Ottawa on our behalf. And if you haven’t yet—please make sure to vote this Monday.
Lastly, I want to share a conversation I had recently with two community members about the Town Centre development—not just the proposal itself, but the process that brought us here. We talked about the OCP, how it was pushed through last year with limited transparency and even less public trust. It reminded me of how hard we fought to delay it, and how quickly it was pushed forward regardless.
So moving forward, one of my main areas of focus is on the OCP itself—how it’s written, how it’s approved, and how we can make it better. Because if we don’t fix the process, we’ll be back here again—signs in hand, scrambling to respond to the next surprise proposal. There are other areas zoned just like the Town Centre across Tsawwassen, North Delta, and Ladner. We’ve got momentum, and now’s the time to use it.
On a hopeful note, I recently spoke with Professor Erick Villagomez from UBC’s School of Architecture (You may recognize his name from the Globe and Mail article that was shared a couple weeks ago). He’s done fascinating work on European models of densification—Barcelona in particular—that show it’s possible to build density without sacrificing character.
There are better ways forward, and I’m excited to explore them with all of you.
Onward,
Alex
The Turn of the Tide
Hello friends and neighbours,
Do you feel it? That first, vital drop of hope—the weight of a tipping point finally reached. Because of your resilience, your refusal to accept "good enough," and your unwavering belief that we can do better, the walls of City Hall echo with the voices of Deltans.
This is your victory.
Today's Optimist reports that City Councillor Daniel Boisvert has publicly withdrawn support for the town square development after reviewing community feedback—with indications that Councillor Dylan Kruger may follow. Let me be clear: This happened because of you. You signed petitions. You rallied. You fought for what was right, even when it was uncomfortable. You inspired others to find their voices. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you.
Now, the road ahead remains long and uncertain, we have a lot of work to do. But let today prove something: When ordinary people stand together—when we demand our voices be heard—even the most entrenched powers must listen.
This was never just about saying "no." It was about proving that Delta's future must be built by Deltans, for Deltans. That we deserve a seat at the table. As our movement echoes across our province and nation, we're reminded that our future rests in our own hands. This is our moment to rise to the occasion—to put in the hard work and build the better tomorrow we know is possible.
With elected officials beginning to acknowledge this development isn't right for our community, we now have our opportunity to define what is. This is our chance to collaborate, to inspire other communities, and to make Delta a shining example of what's possible when we come together to build with care and passion.
So stand tall today, chin help up a little higher, not just with pride, but in renewed resolve. The tide is turning.
Alex