For decades, Maple Ridge has been like a city frozen in time.

As surrounding cities achieve thoughtful, balanced growth to meet citizens’ needs for transportation, shopping, amenities and recreational assets, we’ve gone haywire building houses without addressing traffic gridlock and creation of local jobs.

The city quotes statistics that point to a reduction in crime while we deal with the reality of eight shootings in the past year; four since April.

This is why, after a one-term hiatus, I have made the decision to return to city hall.

I have extensive leadership experience on the regional stage, relationships across the province with all levels of governments and two terms as a Maple Ridge city councillor (2011-2018).

I have the right qualifications to lead council and our city. 

Most important, I am ready to return city hall to the people of Maple Ridge. 

I am ready to be your mayor.

On my radar…
priorities that impact people

LOWER TAXES: Work to deliver reduction in taxes.  I’ve led this before on previous councils.  I’m ready to advocate for you again.

NO RAISES: Forego council raise increases until burden on residential taxpayers is balanced by increasing commercial and industrial tax base.  For years, Maple Ridge taxpayers have born more than 90 per cent of the tax burden.

END MUZZLING: End “legislated muzzling” of councillors; revise Mayor Morden’s heavy-handed council conduct bylaw.  In the same breath, reverse current addiction to meetings behind closed doors and advanced registration to attend council meetings. 

TRAFFIC: Warning: congestion ahead.  Move now to four lane Abernethy and install the bridge at 240th.  Push senior government to come to the table on transit, expansion of West Coast Express service and traffic planning for looming future growth.  Lobby for implementation of existing sensor technology to manage traffic flow.
A nightmare awaits if we keep building houses and fail to address the need for roads and transportation corridors. Hundreds and hundreds of residential units are already in process or on the drawing boards, ready to come on stream. Mission’s plans for 40,000 residential units will impact our roads as well.

SAFER STREETS: Undertake cost vs. benefit analysis of existing programs based on data from impacted citizens and business—not crime stats. Eight shootings in the past year; four since April. It’s a matter of reality vs. perception—citizen reality.
Step up against those who thrive by growing the street population: Salvation Army infilling empty beds with ‘out of towners’, prisoners dropped off after serving sentences and rehab clients who drop out of treatment and fail to return to home areas.
Realize our appeal to addicts:  Huge entrenched addicted population demands high quality product, available in abundance with easy access through a vast network of dealers.  Courts are too crowded to prosecute. Access to detox and treatment filled with roadblocks. And what’s the point?  They finish treatment and go back to the streets. Housing and supports are reserved for practicing addicts, not those who have cleaned up.  Pick a problem.  Just start.

INCREASE DCCS AND CACS:  Increase development cost charges and community amenity contributions to fund facilities and infrastructure to bring us in line with rates charged by other cities.

PRIORITIZE RECREATION AND LEISURE FACILITIES: Recreation facilities, meeting the needs of sport groups, creation of parks and gathering areas, as well as amenities for seniors and families—this should be every mayor’s goal.  Study says Maple Ridge saw the smallest growth in municipal spending from 2009-2019 in all of Metro Vancouver.  Nothing much improved 2019 to present day.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:  Find the land, make the plan, create access and get going on increasing retail, commercial and industrial opportunities.  Stop piecemeal development and rubber stamping of re-zoning applications  Get going on updating our community plan and decide where commercial, industrial and retail will go to access future transit and roads. Where is the vision?

DISASTER PLANNING: Right now, residents of Silver Valley would be trapped if fire blocked their single escape route. Stop stalling on the bridge at 240th to provide a secondary route.  Identify other critical areas that would be impacted by severe weather events. Prioritize neighborhood-specific disaster planning and build foundation for community sharing and volunteerism during disasters.

DOWNTOWN PARKING: Short term solution: additional parking lots or possibly a parkade to service downtown business staff and customers. Or, look to the under-used, city-controlled lot just east of the bus loop. Once Pitt Meadows opens its own detachment, a percentage of our force will re-locate. Bonus.
Long term: Some of the city’s largest employers—the city, RCMP, Fraser Health and Service BC devour hundreds of useable parking spaces downtown. Stop renovating and plan for future relocation. Replace with retail. Don’t disturb the park.

DEVELOPMENT: Push thoughtful development that respects our environment while providing built-in amenities. I’m not opposed to development or developers—there are many who live right here and build beautiful, livable projects. Let’s bring them to the table to consult on affordable housing.

LAND REVIEW: Review agricultural land specific to re-organizing unproductive land.  Promote innovative agricultural practices to encourage local community farm to table.

RED TAPE: Reduce red tape at city hall. Become more accommodating and innovative. Declare: Open for business.

HOSPITAL PARKING:  Continue advocacy for free hospital parking. This is a provincial issue that has plenty of support from locals. I stand with them and will continue this fight.

Two-term President of Lower Mainland Local Government Association representing 33 municipalities and 2.4M residents. (Life Member Achievement Award)

President Representative on the board at Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

Two-term City Councillor (2011-2018).

"Corisa came on board and worked with me in trying to achieve No Paid Parking at our Ridge Meadows Hospital. When no one else in government would listen to my requests, Corisa did. We haven't forgotten this important issue, and I know if she is elected Mayor she will continue to fight for the people. As a Councillor she would always speak up and do her best. She has my vote for Mayor of Maple Ridge." - Rus Curnew