Feeling confident in the mayor's chair

Profile of Derek Corrigan
By Dan Hilborn
Published Nov. 16, 2005


Mayor Derek Corrigan has never been a politician to shy away from controversy. Whether it's an election year or not, the straight- shooting mayor tells it like he sees it. Reporter Dan Hilborn visited Corrigan in the mayor's office this past week and asked him what he thinks about his record, leading a BCA-dominated city council and the current political campaign.

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With 18 years of service on Burnaby city council, including the past three as mayor, Derek Corrigan is running on his record.

Corrigan points to unprecedented growth both in the city's reserve funds, which are now more than $430 million, and a business development and housing boom that is being fuelled, in part, by the opening of the Millennium SkyTrain line.

In an hour-long interview in the mayor's office on Canada Way last week, Corrigan said unabashedly that he believes the Burnaby Citizens' Association-dominated council has done an excellent job of running the city.

"We do not walk in lockstep with each other," Corrigan said of the 8-1 BCA majority on city council. "I think it's perfectly healthy. Party politics do not work at the municipal level and I'm never surprised when councillors vote different ways."

Pointing to the recent approval of a private liquor store on Bainbridge Avenue, Corrigan said council is often split 4-4 on issues with the lone opposition member of council, Team Burnaby Coun. Lee Rankin (himself a former BCA member), casting the deciding ballot.

He also downplays allegations that he has a reputation for being a "hard-nosed" politician. "You must be referring to my work as a councillor, because I don't believe I've been that way as mayor," he said. "I have changed. There is a much greater responsibility to be respectful to the public and make sure everyone gets heard.

"Yes, it's a different role being mayor, but that does not mean that I'm a wilting flower on the regional scene. If you don't have someone strong representing the City of Burnaby, you'd get walked over."

But, despite his protestations, Corrigan is easily the most partisan mayor of Burnaby since Bill Copeland defeated Bill Lewarne in 1987. A lightning rod for the right wing, he's been lambasted for his refusal to go along with B.C. Liberals' plans to twin the Port Mann Bridge and to build the RAV line to Richmond before rapid transit gets to the northeast sector.

In his defence, Corrigan said he was equally vocal when the NDP was in power in Victoria. "The question you have to ask is, do you let the city get taken advantage of, or do you stand up?"

Like many politicians, once Corrigan finds his voice, he sticks to his message. His comments about the 2005 civic campaign are virtually identical to the speeches he's given at the few all- candidate meetings held across the city during the campaign.

For his successes, he points to development and growth. In terms of difficulties, he claims his opposition is making Burnaby look bad.

"Their campaign is to lie, lie big and to repeat that lie as often as you can," Corrigan said. "That's very frustrating because you're watching them hurt the reputation of this city.

"It's unparalleled. In the last election they libelled me. This time, they're libelling the city."

The libel Corrigan refers to was in an advertisement published by the Burnaby NOW in issue immediately prior to the 2002 vote.

This year, Corrigan is most concerned about Team Burnaby claims that Burnaby has the fifth-highest crime rate in Canada, a number taken from a Canadian Business magazine article that looked at only 40 large cities across the country.

"We're not even the fifth- worst crime rate in B.C.," Corrigan said. "It's frustrating. We have, without a doubt, the best relationship between the city and the RCMP, ever."

He was also upset by claims that Burnaby property taxes have risen by 52 per cent in the past decade. "That is absolutely untrue," he said.

"They're on an American-style negative campaign and it's difficult to combat that," Corrigan said. "You have to believe that the people in the community are smarter than that and they trust that I will always do what is best for the city."

And, in that vein, Corrigan points to the ongoing development of the city and promises of more to come.

His favourite projects are the revitalization of the Edmonds town centre, the proposal for a privately owned multi-sports centre near Burnaby Lake and the city's planned economic development strategy, which is in the final stages of being approved.

Corrigan said he wanted to clean up Edmonds to avoid having it become Burnaby's version of the Downtown Eastside. "We brought in our version of the Fram oil filter commercial - you could pay us now or you could pay us later."

He said the planned $50 million, five-storey multi-sports centre from Cannon Johnston Architecture Inc., which recently received second reading approval at city hall, is proof that a left-leaning council can work with the private sector.

Corrigan also hopes to finalize a new economic development strategy within the next few months. He said Burnaby is in an enviable position, with 50 per cent of the film studio space in the Lower Mainland and 5,000 people working in the industry in this city.

Corrigan also said Burnaby has done a good job of bringing high- tech business to the city and noted that ancillary services are beginning to pop up around successful high-tech firms that are already located here, such as Ballard Power.

And Corrigan said the city has also done a superb job of protecting its environment, both by dedicating its parkland through referenda and by acquiring lands such as the Fraser Foreshore Park.

"Unlike any other city in the region, we're restoring habitat on the Fraser River," he said. "We took our piece of the river and made it into habitat for salmon."

And Burnaby is a national leader in its own energy use, with a $7- million retrofit of its light, heat and water use in all city facilities over the past few years. With the savings generated from the change, Corrigan expects the city to recover that initial investment within 10 years.

Corrigan also refuted allegations that he has his eyes set on running for the B.C. NDP in the next provincial election, which is expected to be held on May 17, 2009.

"You know, I'd like to serve a third and a fourth term if the public wants me," he said. "To be absolutely truthful, being mayor of this city has been the absolute pinnacle of my aspirations and I think this is the best job in the world.

"I think serving as an MLA or an MP would be a great job, but there are four MLAs, two MPs and only one mayor. This city is the love of my life."