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All-Candidate Speaking Events (Dates and Transcripts)
Voter Questions and Answers
Questions and Answers – Emails
Mr C. asks: “I wanted to reach out to you and ask if you could kindly send me your position on major issues facing our City.”
1. Community Hub & Protecting City Land
For years, City Hall has explored selling public land to fund a new city hall, even spending money on consultants, outreach, and early design work. While council has paused the sale for now, the pressure could return. I believe city land should never be sold except in the most extreme circumstances. Instead, we can responsibly redevelop the existing municipal hall site in phases to meet future needs while protecting our irreplaceable public assets.
2. Fair Taxation & Sustainable Growth
We’ve been told that more density will lower taxes, but in reality, it strains services and infrastructure, leading to higher costs for residents—like this year’s jump in water bills from $65 to $110 quarterly in my neighbourhood. I support gentle density that respects White Rock’s “city by the sea” character and aligns growth with service upgrades, so existing taxpayers aren’t unfairly burdened.
3. Smarter, More Transparent City Hall
As someone who built my own home here, I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating the city’s permitting and engineering processes can be. City Hall should help residents, not create obstacles. Streamlining permitting, reducing duplication with outside engineers, and making better use of staff expertise will lower costs, improve efficiency, and restore accountability. Transparency is also key—we should proactively publish information so residents don’t have to fight through Freedom of Information requests.
4. Strengthen Our Urban Canopy & Protect the Night Sky
Redevelopment is inevitable, but it should foster a community that feels green, healthy, and welcoming. Too many new builds max out lot coverage with large houses and driveways, leaving front setbacks barren or covered in gravel. I believe every new home should contribute to our urban canopy by planting mature trees—ideally species that thrive in our climate and provide real value, such as fruit or nut trees, rather than just ornamentals. On public land, like house boulevards, the city should ensure builders fund this consistent tree planting to offset canopy loss from development.
At the same time, we need to protect our night skies. Growing up, it was still possible to see the stars even near Vancouver, but today light pollution has dimmed that experience—even here in White Rock. By adopting best practices from groups like DarkSky International, we can reduce excessive and unnecessary lighting while still keeping our streets safe and welcoming. Take, for example, the bright LED strip lighting on uptown towers—it may look striking, but it can be incredibly disruptive for both residents and local wildlife. I experienced this firsthand while living just a block away, where nighttime often felt like daytime.
Miss S-D. asks: “Will you vote to abide by the current OCP and not side step it with spot zoning? In my opinion, it is an aggressive plan as it is written.”
OCP: The challenge with our OCP is not only the plan itself but how often it is amended to fit whichever major project is presented to the city. Significant money has gone into consultants and staff hours, yet it’s repeatedly adjusted to suit developers. I’ve lived in Uptown for years and have seen firsthand the impacts of over-densification, from traffic, loss of sunlight, to noise 24/7, and light pollution. I’m not fully opposed to towers, but I strongly believe they should have been limited to North Bluff Road, with gentle or low-rise density used elsewhere to preserve community feel and open spaces.
Miss S-D. asks: “It appears to me that all recent high rise developments in WR are built to the maximum of structure to land ratio leaving only room for hardscaping. As climate change continues to call into question heretofore construction norms, is this an aspect of development that you would work to change? I, as one of many disgruntled White Rock residents, believe the excessive development in this very small city is permitted without a view to the long term ramifications. It is well known that hardscaping increases temperatures and flooding in urban areas.”
Density & Development: The pace and scale of density are too much, too fast, and not aligned with long-term resident needs. Towers may be efficient, but they erode community character and green space. Along Johnston and Thrift, for example, mature trees and even part of a park were cleared for development without meaningful ecological trade-offs. Development should prioritize sustainability, such as, green roofs, permeable hardscaping, and rainwater collection systems. When I built my home, I wanted to install greywater recycling, but city requirements and added engineering costs made it nearly impossible. The city needs to make it easier, not harder, for residents and developers to choose greener options.
Miss S-D. asks: “White Rock ranks amongst the ten most densely populated cities in Canada. Will you push back on the provincial government’s push for more density?”
Provincial Mandate: White Rock I believe is already well above provincial density mandates. We should now be aligning growth with infrastructure capacity, not racing ahead of it. My own water bill has jumped from $65 to $110 per quarter despite using less water; costs like these are a direct result of overburdened systems and lack of accountability. While there’s limited choice because funding from the province and feds is tied to compliance, I believe municipalities should advocate for control over their own development pace. It would be prudent for White Rock to watch the few municipalities who are currently pushing back like Burnaby and Coquitlam.
Miss S-D. asks: “Homelessness is likely to be brought up in the candidates’ forum. Personally, when I observe the homeless in this area, I think the issue is drug use, not accommodation, and this is not a White Rock only problem. I have asked the city council if there are statistics on the numbers of homeless in this area, as I would think, that would be fundamental to any proposals regarding this issue. I have not received a response.”
Homelessness: I have been personally affected by this through constant thefts and vandalism of both my property and that of my neighbours. I can’t even leave doors unlocked while working in the backyard or tools out for a few minutes without the risk of them disappearing. This is a growing concern in White Rock, especially in Uptown, where open drug use makes some areas feel unsafe. Like you, I don’t see this as simply a housing issue. It is also driven by addiction and requires federal and provincial policy changes. Locally, our resources are limited, and money spent here means less for core services. Still, we may want to look at using Surrey’s approach, which has consistent bylaw enforcement and cleanup. But most importantly, we must lobby higher levels of government for meaningful change.
Miss S-D. asks: “Affordability of housing is an issue and costly high rises do not address the housing issues Canada faces. The lesser priced units are too small for families and the reasonably sized units price most young families or first time home buyers out of the market. I perceive high rise development as an outdated approach to urban planning. What is your opinion on this and how would your opinion affect your voting?”
Affordability: Housing affordability is primarily a federal and provincial responsibility due to their policy choices that have turned it into a commodity while massively increasing demand, but the city still has an important role to play. When I built my own home, I experienced firsthand how adversarial, bureaucratic, and expensive the permitting process can be. Streamlining approvals, eliminating duplication between city staff and licensed professionals, and cutting excessive charges, such as $16,000 for a simple sewer and storm connection, would reduce holding costs and open the door to more diverse housing models, including co-ops.
That said, I recognize these savings alone won’t guarantee affordability, as developers often price homes at whatever the market will bear. This is why real solutions also depend on higher levels of government addressing speculation and the commoditization of real estate. Still, at the municipal level, we can lead by removing unnecessary barriers, reducing the costs we directly control, and advocating for broader reforms that give real buyers (not investors) a fairer chance.
Mr. B States: “Current council members do not answer their e-mails”
I agree. This has been an ongoing issue not just with the current council, but with previous ones as well. I’ve reached out to multiple councillors in the past and have been lucky if even one responded. We need to hold them accountable by reminding them that they are in office because of our votes. Each election, we should choose those who truly represent us, not just those with polished platforms promising the sky.
It would be interesting to see a CRM (customer relationship management software) that tracks incoming emails and whether they’re replied to or closed, providing useful statistics. But I imagine something like that would never fly, as it would hold people accountable.
Mr. B States: “The rate at which some drivers speed along North Bluff Horrible”
Speeding is an issue not just on North Bluff, but across the city. I recall reading an ICBC release noting that North Bluff and Johnston is among the top 10 worst intersections for accidents. I live on a street with a one-way entrance from a hill and a blind corner, yet I constantly see drivers ripping through without even looking; it feels like a tragedy waiting to happen. I once asked an RCMP officer why they don’t monitor the area, since they could issue thousands of dollars in tickets daily, but he dismissed the idea, saying they follow council’s priorities on where to focus enforcement.
We need policing to bring back enforcement of small infractions. Everything from missing front license plates and fully tinted front windows to basic rules of the road like rolling stops. When people constantly see others breaking the law without consequence, they’re less likely to follow the rules themselves. I’m not saying I agree with every law on the books, but if we don’t like them, the proper path is to change them, not ignore them.
Mr. B States: “Oh those high rises”
Tell me about it. My water bill jumped from $65 to $110 a quarter, even with less use. The city is being run by staff, not council, with each department building its own little fiefdom to pad resumes. Council lacks the practical experience needed to question the budgets they’re presented with. How can they push back against, say, the building department when they have zero experience with the actual process? That’s where I bring real experience, and I’m ready to push back hard.
Healthy Active Living Peninsula Questionnaire
“Whether candidates support infrastructure investment for a new ice plant at Peach Arch Curling Club?“
Yes. We’ve seen it before with bowling alleys, once they’re redeveloped and closed, the cost of bringing back these kinds of community spaces is simply too high. I believe it’s important for the city to preserve existing infrastructure where practical. Losing such a unique activity centre would be a great loss.
“Whether candidates support creating a cover for the Centennial Park lacrosse box to help create a covered space for year-round pickleball?“
Yes. As a hobby pickleball player with my kids, I think the courts are a great use of space. I enjoy playing outdoors but wish it were possible to do so (mostly) year-round, with protection from full sun or rain. However, I believe any upgrades should be done in consultation with other activity and sports groups that use Centennial Park, to ensure the space is developed with long-term community needs in mind.
“Whether candidates support an outdoor swimming pool for the city?“
No. However, it may be worth evaluating models such as the Otter Co-op Outdoor Experience in Aldergrove. My kids and I are frequent swimmers, going 2–3 times per week using pools across the Lower Mainland. Looking at usage rates at nearby outdoor pools like Sunnyside, which is generally not very busy and often has swim lessons available in summer, I don’t believe a similar facility would provide a net benefit for White Rock. With a potential construction cost in the tens of millions and likely close to a million dollars annually in operating expenses, such a project would create a long-term tax burden on residents for very limited return.
Peace Arch News Questionnaire
“One-Sentence 30 word bio“
I’ve lived in Uptown and East Beach with my two boys. Built my current home, 99% myself, and navigated adversarial City processes, I understand our strengths and what must change.
“Where do you Live?“
White Rock (East Beach).
“Question 1: Are you satisfied with the city’s process of public engagement?“
I wouldn’t call it engagement when council and staff have already made decisions, started spending money, and only then reach out to residents with surveys tailored to support their plans. Major projects, like a new community hub, need proper community involvement before money starts flowing to ensure our tax dollars are spent responsibly and without a foregone conclusion.
For example, when the city redid my street a few years ago, they hosted in-person meetings with multiple design options. Residents overwhelmingly chose a design that emphasized community, with trees and recessed parking. But when construction began, the city ignored all of those discussions and implemented a design no resident wanted or supported. Unfortunately, this has become a normalized process at City Hall and it needs to change.
“Question 2: Is it Inevitable that White Rock becomes a city of high-rises?“
As long as we keep electing the same councillors, or those closely tied to developers, White Rock will continue to see an OCP and spot zoning that benefit builders over residents. While high-rises can be an efficient form of density, they must remain limited if we want to preserve a welcoming, livable community. Walking through Uptown today, it feels darker, colder, and less inviting, with sunlight blocked and green space erased. I grew up in Vancouver and have seen firsthand how unchecked development erodes character. I don’t want that for White Rock.
City Hall often promotes density as a solution to lower taxes, but in reality, it drives up costs through major infrastructure upgrades and expanded services like police and fire. Growth is inevitable, but it must be balanced. By focusing on gentle density and a thoughtful mix of housing types, we can grow sustainably at a pace our infrastructure and taxpayers can actually support.
“Question 3: Is the city doing enough to address the needs of the marginalized in our community?“
This is a difficult issue with many perspectives on both causes and solutions, and people’s views often shift once they are personally affected by theft, vandalism, or open drug use. Many root causes are shaped by federal and provincial policy, which limits what White Rock can realistically address, given our small size, space, and tax base.
That said, we still have a role to play. As a community, we should do more to support those who are marginalized. The city can help facilitate low-cost services such as food banks, public washrooms, and sanitation stations. Looking ahead, if we pursue a new community hub, we should explore options for truly affordable housing; projects where rents are tied to income and assets, ensuring sustainability without profit-driven pricing.
Finally, collaboration with Surrey is essential. Surrounded on three sides, White Rock cannot tackle these challenges in isolation; regional cooperation is key.
“Top 3 Priority Issues“
- Keep Public Land, Build a True Community Hub
- Expand Our Urban Canopy, Protect White Rock’s Night Skies
- Citizen-Focused Governance: End Adversarial City Hall, Prioritize Residents’ Needs
White Rock Fire Fighters Union (IAFF Local 2407) Questionnaire
“Question 1: Why do you want to serve the public?“
It is becoming harder for families to live in White Rock with ever increasing fees and taxes, while services continue to decline. Two major events drove me to run: the potential sale of public land, which should never happen; and the adversarial interactions I faced at city hall while building my own home. We need a city that protects public land, reduces the overall tax burden, and supports its citizens and businesses.
“Question 2: Have you ever run for or held elected office? If yes, please list the positions and the years.“
I have not held public elected office. However, I have been elected to other positions, including Strata President and Vice-President of USGE Local 20011 (PSAC RCMP Vancouver Local).
“Question 3: List your top three priorities if you are elected.“
- Keep Public Land, Build a True Community Hub
- Expand Our Urban Canopy, Protect White Rock’s Night Skies
- Citizen-Focused Governance: End Adversarial City Hall, Prioritize Residents’ Needs
“Question 4: What do you believe are the most important issues currently facing the residents of White Rock?“
White Rock is facing growing pains: affordability challenges, reduced services, congestion, crime, and public safety concerns. Some issues can be addressed locally, but others require collaboration with neighbouring municipalities and higher levels of government. Growth must be tied to infrastructure upgrades to avoid skyrocketing taxes and ensure essential services like police and fire meet population ratios and needs.
“Question 5: Are you currently, or have you previously been, a member of a labour organization?“
Yes. Previously as a federal public servant, I was a member of PSAC and USGE Local 20011 (PSAC RCMP Vancouver Local).
“Question 6: Do you believe the City of White Rock should contract out any of its services? If yes, which ones?“
Coordinating services with neighbouring municipalities could make sense if it improves service and saves money. With RCMP municipal policing contracts phasing out beginning in 2032, options will need to be considered that best suit a small city like ours. Fire services are excellent and responsive, but as demand grows, we must ensure adequate staffing and consider reciprocal agreements with Surrey where needed.
“Question 7: Do you have any ties or connections to individuals currently in office (for example, having worked on campaigns or other affiliations)?“
No. I am fully independent. It’s time for new faces unconnected to the same circles that have long dominated city politics.
“Question 8: What measures would you propose and support to help create a sustainable fiscal model for the City of White Rock? How would you balance neighbourhood concerns with the need to generate revenue for the City?“
Government isn’t a business — services like fire, police, and libraries don’t generate revenue but are essential. Tax dollars should be spent responsibly and transparently on infrastructure and core services. Fiscal sustainability can be improved by aligning staffing with needs. For example, we spend heavily on consultants; if services are regularly required, in-house staff (such as legal) may be more cost-effective. In the building department, plan-checking redundancies cause delays and add costs, which should be addressed.
“Question 9: How do you believe the fire service in White Rock could benefit during your time in office?“
Taxes should be reduced or at least held to inflation. At the same time, fire services must be equipped for new density, including towers that require higher-reach ladder trucks. Savings from other departments, such as building services, could be reallocated to meet these needs.
“Question 10: Firefighters are regularly exposed to stress, smoke, heat, and toxic substances, which significantly increase their risk of heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. These illnesses are recognized occupational hazards. Are you aware of and do you support current presumptive legislation protecting firefighters affected by these illnesses?“
There are documented occupational risks for firefighters. I support legislation that provides strong protections, ensures access to treatment, and requires proper PPE and compliance policies to reduce risk. I am not aware of the current details of higher-level legislation but would support measures to protect firefighters affected by work-related illnesses.
“Question 11: Over the years, the question of amalgamation with the City of Surrey has been raised. Do you support or oppose amalgamation? Please explain your position.“
I have mixed feelings. Surrey has a larger tax base and stronger service capacity, but White Rock’s unique character could be lost. Partial amalgamation of South Surrey into White Rock, or shared service delivery, may provide better infrastructure and services while controlling costs through economies of scale.
“Question 12: Are you seeking or have you received endorsements from any other organizations or groups? If yes, please list them.“
No, I have not sought or received endorsements. This independence is an advantage, as I am not tied to special interest groups. Unlike long-time politicians and other candidates (long-term members of municipal committees) who have promised waterfront improvements for decades without results, I bring a fresh approach.
“Question 13: The White Rock Fire Department currently employs 24 full-time firefighters. With the city’s growth, call volumes and service demands are increasing. Would you support increasing staffing levels to meet future needs?“
Yes. The city must meet recognized staffing-to-population ratios. Poor long-term planning on density leads to gaps in services. Future planning must project the cost of population growth and ensure adequate fire and emergency services.
Phillip Warner
for City of White Rock Council
About Me | Why Vote for Me | My Focus | My Endorsements
All-Candidate Speaking Events (Dates and Transcripts)
Advanced Voting: September 17th and 22nd
Centennial Arena — 14600 North Bluff Road
Election Day: September 27th
Centennial Arena —14600 North Bluff Road
Kent Street Activity Centre — 1475 Kent Street
White Rock Community Centre —15154 Russell Ave