Dream South Delta reached out to Ian Paton, the MLA for Delta South, asking for his perspective on the proposed redevelopment of the Tsawwassen Town Centre mall site. On March 7, 2025, we received this statement from him.
“I voted against Bill 44, and the Conservative Party of B.C. campaigned on repealing it in the Fall 2024 election. I remain against mandated density from the provincial government. Community members, with their local government, should decide how their community is developed, not the province. I believe public engagement is necessary as South Delta grows so that we keep the character and feel of our community. However, under Bill 44, public hearings about housing are no longer allowed.
When I was a council member for the City of Delta, I was really pleased with a number of developments that went through, including the Southlands. That development keeps the community’s roots while providing growth for the area. Community involvement and public participation were pivotal in shaping that development and helping make it what it has become today.
I hear your concerns about the strain on public services and on health care. I share many of these concerns. In the B.C. Legislature, I see the strain happening on provincial services around the province, including our own Emergency Department at Delta Hospital.
I don’t think high rise towers are a good fit for Tsawwassen or Ladner. I think 6 to 8 stories is a reasonable height for development. It is important to keep the character of the community; it’s why we all live here and like to call it home.”
