Henry's Blog

If you want to lead in Abbotsford, stick to the issues. Don’t disrespect the electorate and distract them with things that are either false or irrelevant. That’s not fair to them. The people of Abbotsford deserve to hear us – mayoral and council candidates alike – bang back-and-forth on the issues, not on alarmist allegations without foundation.

If you know me, even if you don’t support my bid for mayor, you know the recent allegations in articles on a certain pseudo-news site are hit-pieces disguised as news stories that bear hysterical headlines. If you don’t know me, and you are wondering what all the recent hoopla is about, then please read this Abbotsford News article; I believe it will, in the words of the late Allan Fotheringham, de-muddify the fuzzification.

Update: Thanks to the organizers,  audience, and my fellow candidates for a successful mayoral all-candidates forum at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium last night.

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We go to the polls in Abbotsford for a general local election on October 20, when we’ll vote for one mayor, eight city councillors, and seven school trustees. Are you on the City of Abbotsford voter’s list?
If not, you can register in person on the day you vote.

Can’t be here to vote on October 20?
We have two advance polls: one October 10, the other October 13.

Do you know who is running for what office in Abbotsford?
The Province of BC has a complete list here.

Want more information?

Click:
City of Abbotsford – General Local Election
Elections BC – General Local Election 2018
Write:
electionoffice@abbotsford.ca
Call:
604-851-VOTE (8683)
Visit:
Abbotsford Election Office
Abbotsford City Hall
32315 South Fraser Way
Abbotsford, BC V2T 1W7

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During the November 2011 municipal election, I promised the people of Abbotsford I would support open, transparent, and accountable government and would apply that same principle to my expenses as an individual member of Abbotsford City Council. In other words, whatever taxpayer money I spent would be open to the public for review and comment. I have not wavered on this.

Here are my expenses for 2017. Please scroll down to catch up with my previous years’ disclosures.

Expenses for
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016

And if you’re interested, you can see the final tally of campaign contributions (corporate and individual) and expenses from my 2014 campaign for mayor at this link: Dollars & Doners: The Final Tally.

Need to get in touch? Call or write to me: 604-864-5500 / MayorBraun@Abbotsford.ca

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On Monday this week, The Hon. Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade, and Technology and MLA for Surrey-Whalley visited Abbotsford City Hall, where we discussed three major topics:

1. Skilled labour
   Abbotsford is currently experiencing an unprecedented demand for qualified, skilled workers – the highest of any municipality south of the Fraser River. The City of Abbotsford is currently developing a Workforce Development Strategy in response to the feedback we received through the Abbotsford Business Walks 2017 Report and we welcome provincial support for our programs that will benefit our entire region.

2. Highway 1
   The continuation of Trans-Canada Highway improvements to the Whatcom Road interchange, which will include a new overpass, is economically and socially significant for both Abbotsford and the region because these improvements to this key transportation corridor will expand markets for our community’s important local sectors (manufactured goods, agri-food, aerospace), while it supports thousands of residents in accessing employment across the region. It will also help
   –> bolster continued success of our Abbotsford International Airport,
   –> reduce greenhouse gas emissions as it encourages movement, not idling during full-stops, and
   –> support increased public safety through the reduction of traffic congestion.

3. Industrial land
   Abbotsford needs more industrial land to support job growth, business expansion, and enterprise retention.

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During this extended spell of extreme heat, there are resources in the City of Abbotsford to help you stay cool and safe. And please remember to lend a hand to those who may need it during this heat wave.

Link to resources: ExtremeHeatResourcesAbbotsford

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SWOOP, Canada’s newest low-fare airline, had its inaugural flight last week, with its first landing at our own Abbotsford International Airport, also known as YXX. Now you can fly directly from Abbotsford to Edmonton, Winnipeg, or Hamilton, with an easy connection to Halifax — and back again — while enjoying ultra-low fares.

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I’ve just added Instagram to my social media bucket. Now you can find me there as well as on Facebook and Twitter. You can also reach me by email or phone at 604-864-5500.

eMail: http://bit.ly/HenryBraunEmailForm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henrybraunabbotsford/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HenryBraunAbbotsford/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MayorHenryBraun
Telephone: 604-864-5500

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No. The City of Abbotsford is not suing Ledgeview.

In the Friday edition (May 4) of the Abbotsford News, an article with the headline “City files lawsuit over Ledgeview clubhouse fire” was printed.

Unfortunately, while that headline and the lede following it might be compelling, they aren’t fully accurate.

What’s not clear in the article is this:
The lawsuit is driven by the insurance company, not the City of Abbotsford.

The language of insurance policies allows insurance companies to step into the shoes of the insured, in this case the City, without any forewarning.

The City of Abbotsford didn’t know if or when the insurance company might do this—until it did. In this case, the insurance company waited until just before the two-year time limit to launch a lawsuit was up.

The insurance company has already paid the loss caused by the fire and now is casting a wide legal net as it looks to recover from others some of the money it paid.

If you go to the City’s website, you can read a clarifying piece under Setting the Record Straight.

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The rumour is true; I’m ready to serve another four years as your mayor in Abbotsford.

And I’m pleased to enter this year’s mayoral race knowing Abbotsford has reached new levels of economic, organizational, and social health because of the exhaustive efforts of City of Abbotsford management, staff, and my colleagues around the council table.

Fiscal discipline and organizational alignment lead to effective service delivery

This term, we’ve achieved fiscal discipline, which means our financial house is in order. The City of Abbotsford now has strong, consistent governance and aligned operations we refer to as organizational alignment. We’ve made development decisions based on our long-term strategies and are not swayed from our community vision by short-term gains.

We recognize the importance of certainty in community building and that our rules and bylaws are critical to protecting the livability of our city. We support efficient and effective delivery of our city services and programs and pursue excellence in customer service, striving to always provide a positive customer experience. We believe in an involved, safe, and engaged workforce.

Careful planning is essential if we want to create a vibrant city

When I decided to run for mayor four years ago, I said then that the community had so much going for it . . . “we just need to pull a lot of loose strings together . . . and I think people will be pleasantly surprised at the change in the city” at the next election, which this year is set for October 20.

Many of the people on my former campaign teams are returning to help, including Ruby Stobbe, who’ll run the campaign office. This year, I am happy to add Ken Baerg as campaign manager. Many of you know Ken as the founder and public face of Run for Water, which helps “bring profile and resources to impoverished people in Ethiopia.”

In 2014, I was told “nice guys don’t win.” I didn’t believe it then; I don’t believe it now. You won’t see your time wasted by mud-slinging from our campaign. If I happen to be the target, I will continue to state my case clearly and honestly on this blog, in face-to-face discussions, at public forums, and through my personal social media channels.

A complete community and vibrant economy add up to quality of life in Abbotsford

Abbotsford is more business friendly now, the city budget and five-year financial plan are sound, and the planning for a walkable, livable city continues to be intense. During the next four years, I plan to focus efforts on building both a

• complete community that includes heightened arts and culture, connected bike lanes, and making walking and transit easy and delightful, and
• vibrant economy, which means building and broadening our tax base (industrial development) so we can provide the things our community needs to enhance our quality of life.

As always, I’ll continue to work with governments at higher levels to support Abbotsford in its efforts to address important issues like poverty, homelessness, mental health, and addictions.

Read about the four cornerstones of Abbotsford’s strategic plan, 2015-2018 here.

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During the November 2011 municipal election, I promised the people of Abbotsford that I would support open, transparent, and accountable government and would apply that same principle to my expenses as an individual member of Abbotsford City Council. To that end, here are my 2016 expenses, open for review and comment.

Scroll down further for links to my previous years’ expenses.

Expenses for

2012
2013
2014
2015

Need to get in touch? Call or write to me: 604-864-5500 / MayorBraun@Abbotsford.ca.