In the 1980s and early 1990s, federally funded affordable housing fell from tens of thousands of units annually to almost none. Over the following decades it became a major driver of the crisis we face today.

The redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital is long overdue. The business and health care case for redeveloping Burnaby Hospital now is clear. This is the priority health care project in the province. This is the right thing to do.

Childcare is one of the biggest affordability challenges facing families and single parents in Burnaby and across BC. High fees and long waitlists make it harder for parents to work, go to school, or fully participate in community life.

This month, Burnaby marks a major milestone in the most significant period of civic investment in our city’s history. Four cornerstone projects in our capital construction program have now surpassed 50% completion—part of what is not only the largest capital construction program Burnaby has ever undertaken, but one of the largest municipal investments in community facilities anywhere in Canada.

Municipalities like Burnaby receive roughly nine per cent of the total taxes collected in our city–yet we are being asked to do more and more, with less and less support from other orders of government. Amid global economic uncertainty, slowing provincial growth, and high costs putting pressure on public finances, the provincial government’s Budget 2026 outlines a $13.3 billion deficit–one of the largest deficits British Columbians have faced–with significant impacts on Burnaby.

From everyone at City Hall, we wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous Lunar New Year. This celebration is shared across Burnaby by a broad Asian diaspora–from thousands of residents with roots in Hong Kong and Taiwan to our sizeable Korean and Vietnamese communities, and the more than one third of residents who identify as Chinese.

As a Burnaby resident, about two per cent of your property tax goes to Metro Vancouver’s regional district services, as well as roughly $65 a month for water, sewer and solid waste which are collected through utility charges.

Local news has long been how residents understand what’s happening in Burnaby. That is from decisions at City Hall, to what’s going on in local schools, upcoming community events, the local sports and arts scene, and how public policy affects daily life in our city.

It’s important to us in the City of Burnaby that we buy Canadian, but just as important that we support our residents and local businesses to do the same. Right now, cities across Canada are facing real economic uncertainty.

The target response time for firefighters to arrive on the scene of an emergency is just over six minutes. Everything we can do to support our firefighters meeting that standard in Burnaby is crucial.