Election Action Plan - Tuesday March 31st
Many people know about the role of the province and the Residential Tenancy Branch in regulating the rights and responsibilities of renters like you and your landlord. Everything from your right to quiet enjoyment and the rules surrounding legal evictions are covered by these laws.
What you might not know is that New Westminster's local by-laws and policies actually have just as much influence over the conditions and maintenance of your building. The city's Business Regulations by-law requires your landlord to do everything from...
- Ensuring your apartment is pest free
- Maintaining a room temperature of at least 22 C throughout winter
- Keeping your bathroom free of mold
- Guaranteeing at least one laundry machine in every building
And also determines the fines they pay when they break the rules.
Not only that, policies like the city's Tenant Assistance Plan determine what rights you have if your building is ever torn down for redevelopment. Whether you only get a few grand and a boot out the door or the right to a replacement apartment at equal rent is decided by the city councillors and mayor who sit in city hall.
And on October 17th this year, an election will determine who those people are.
If you want to ensure renters are well served by that council, it’s time to get involved in shaping what our future looks like.
On Tuesday March 31st at 6:30pm at the New West Public Library auditorium (basement) we are holding our first meeting to discuss the New West Tenants Union's official election engagement plan for this year. We will discuss...
- The formation of a new member-led research team to fact-check candidates
- Organizing buildings to ensure as many renters vote in the next election as possible
- Mobilizing to city council to send a message about the power of renters in the city
- Hosting an event for councillors to be evaluated by renters like you
- And more…
If you've ever felt powerless or overwhelmed by all the politics and world events beyond your control, this is a place where your local actions can actually make a difference. Change starts with you.
Renters make up just under 50% of the population. In our last election (2022), the difference in votes between mayors was only 1500 people. It doesn't take much to make a difference.
If you're a renter looking to make that difference, however small, we want to work with you.
We'll see you Tuesday March 31st at 6:30pm at the New West Public Library auditorium (basement).