Dan McLaren announces he will run for council

The proposed tax freeze formed the foundation of his campaign platform and was one of the most prominent themes during his remarks. McLaren argued that local taxpayers have faced increasing financial pressures in recent years and said council needs to find ways to manage civic priorities without continually increasing property taxes.

While acknowledging the challenges facing municipalities, McLaren said residents deserve to see greater fiscal restraint and efficiency from local government.

Public safety was another key focus of his address.

McLaren proposed hiring four lawyers who would be embedded with the Prince George RCMP detachment. He said the lawyers would assist police with the administration of justice while also pursuing private prosecutions in cases where charges are not advanced by Crown prosecutors.

“I will advocate for the city to hire four lawyers that they be embedded in the RCMP detachment,” he said. “They’ll not only assist the RCMP with their day-to-day administration of justice, but they will, in accordance with Sections 504 and 507 of the Criminal Code, lay private prosecutions against criminals.”

McLaren pointed to his own experience following an incident at a building he owned as an example of why he believes the current system requires additional tools.

“When my building blew up at the Achilles, the RCMP recommended charges,” he said. “The Crown, after eight months, said we’re not going to move them forward.”

He argued there are instances where police investigators believe charges should proceed but prosecutors ultimately decide not to move forward.

“Clearly, there are cases where the Mounties want people behind bars and Crown just isn’t prepared to do it,” McLaren said. “I say we can change that.”

The proposal is likely to generate discussion about the respective roles of municipalities, police and provincial prosecutors in the justice system. Crown counsel services in British Columbia are administered by the provincial government, while municipalities fund local policing costs.

The third pillar of McLaren’s platform focuses on economic growth and investment attraction.

McLaren said strong economic development policies are essential to improving the community’s long-term prosperity and quality of life. He argued that reducing costs for residents and improving public safety would help create conditions that encourage investment and job creation.

“A great city must attract investment,” he said.

McLaren noted he developed the economic portion of his campaign platform before a recent major industry announcement that he described as disappointing for the region, suggesting it reinforced the need for Prince George to take a more aggressive approach to economic development.

“Low taxes and safe streets are the first steps in attracting jobs and improving lives,” he said.

Borrowing a phrase made famous during the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign, McLaren emphasized what he sees as the central importance of economic policy to a community’s overall health.

“As James Carville famously opined in 1992, ‘It’s the economy, stupid,’” he told supporters. “If we get the economy right, pretty much everything else gets better, too.”

He said Prince George must be prepared to pursue larger opportunities and think beyond traditional approaches to growth.

“I say that we must be bolder. We must think bigger, and we must make our own luck,” McLaren said. “I’m a big believer in economic development.”

McLaren joins what is expected to be a growing field of candidates seeking seats on city council in this year’s municipal election.

Voters will head to the polls on October 17 to choose a mayor and council that will help guide the city’s priorities over the next term. Issues surrounding affordability, public safety and economic diversification are expected to feature prominently throughout the campaign.

For McLaren, the message is straightforward: keep taxes under control, strengthen public safety measures and focus on attracting investment to build a stronger local economy.

Whether those ideas resonate with voters will become clear when Prince George residents cast their ballots this fall.

by Cheryl Jahn

Dan McLaren announces he will run for council

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