Tuesday August 25th: Vote on What We Fight For this Election

Hey Everyone,

As you've heard from us before, on October 17th the City of New Westminster is holding an election that will decide our next Mayor and Council. Those who win will decide what the city's priorities are for the next four years.

You probably also know that between the city's Standards of Maintenance by-laws and their new Tenant Assistance Policy, the city decides everything from how cool or warm landlords need to keep your apartment, what they're legally required to fix, how big a fine they get for ignoring those fixes, and what protections you have if a developer wants to tear down your apartment.

Some of these rights exist because of renters like you standing together these last four years. If you want to see those wins protected and expanded regardless of which party wins, it's time to join up.

Throughout the year, we've been working with you to form a list of questions to ask all candidates this year to see which will commit to. On Tuesday August 25th at 6:30pm in the basement of the New Westminster Public Library, we'll all be voting on which questions go forward.

Any renters in the city are welcome to join and vote. By voting, you'll also be asked to commit to making them happen by attending a City Council meeting in September as a show of strength for the union and so politicians know that real votes are stake. We'll also ask if you're able to distribute the final report card in your building or communities.

You don't need to wait for the right politicians to come along and get elected. In the last election, only 150 votes determined the difference between the losing and winning city councilor. You have a lot of power. Let's use it together.

Public Meeting - Tuesday August 25th @ 6:30pm

In the basement of the New Westminster Public Library

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

1. Community Agreement
2. Debate and Vote: Which questions will we ask candidates commitments on ahead of the upcoming city election (see questions below)
3. Plan for September City Hall Action
   1. Power Map
   2. Day of Plan

Question List

Here are the questions that were created by our member-driven research team based on their surveys and research. There are ten questions and our goal is to vote to get them down to our top five.

There will also be opportunities in the meeting to propose additions, changes or clever ways to combine questions with the caveat that we need to ensure all our demands are practical, winnable, and ones we're willing to fight for over the next 4 years.

1. Cooling By-Law Expansion: As of 2026, landlords must now keep one room in apartments cool from 8pm - 8am. Will you support expanding this window to 6pm - 9am?
2. Apartment Subdivision: Will you support quick actions and penalties to landlords caught subdividing apartments?
3. City Staff: Will you support hiring more staff at City Hall to deal with tenancy issues?
4. Pest Control: Will you support making it easier for tenants to get enforcement from city hall around pest issues in rentals?
5. Education: Would you support the city running education courses to educate tenants on their rights in New Westminster?
6. End Above Guideline Rent Increases: Will you advocate at the UBCM for the province to repeal the ARI-C rule that allows landlords to pass the cost of building upgrades onto their tenants?
7. Renovictions: Would you support/continue to support policies preventing tenants from being displaced due to renovictions, bad faith family move in’s and through other means and also advocate at the provincial level for these issues?
8. Affordable Housing Fund: Will you support maintaining and expanding the City of New Westminster's Housing Accelerator Fund for building new affordable housing?
9. Pets for All: Will you advocate at the UBCM for the Province to give all tenants the right to own pets in their homes?
10. Maintenance: Would you support expanding the city’s Standards of Maintenance By-laws for rental units based on tenant feedback on common, unaddressed issues?

Renter Issues at City Hall

City Council is on summer break and there were no council meetings from July to August. Meetings resume on August 31st.  

Renter News

• Vancouver Council Votes 6-4 to replace low income housing with hotel
• Average Market Rent in New Westminster down 6.6% from last year
• Mayor of New York City releases short documentary on history of tenant organizing
• Founding of first tenants union in Bermuda

Repeal ARI-C Campaign

Folks across the lower mainland have been working on a provincial campaign to repeal the Additional Rent Increases for Capital Expenditures in BC. An ARI-C is a process that allows a landlord to increase the rent of their existing tenants to cover the costs of maintaining and renovating the property. The rent increases never go away, they compound year after year, and there is often no way to appeal the decision. We have already seen many buildings across New Westminster get hit by ARI-Cs, and every rental building is at risk until this law is repealed.

Website: https://www.repealaric.com

Letter writing Campaign: https://www.repealaric.com/letter/

If you would like to see the NWTU join the fight against ARI-Cs, we need help and dedicated volunteers to make that a reality! Come out to our public meeting or reach out by email to get involved and get this project started.

Get Involved

Can't make the meeting? Want to join our volunteer, renter-led action team to fight for affordable, safe and stable housing for our community? We want to meet with you! Send us an email at nwtenantsunion@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 778-358-2680.

We are always on the lookout for Building Contacts who can support the New West Tenants Union's work by keeping us posted of issues at rental buildings around the city.

Learn more about Building Contacts and what your role could be in organizing for stronger tenants' rights in your building here.