When Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender was elected as the Liberal MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood, he was quick to call out Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan as a hindrance to the province moving forward on transit issues.
On election night, Fassbender was quoted in a Langley newspaper, saying Corrigan was stalling progress because he believed the NDP would form government.
"Derek has always been down on the provincial government on every front, whether it was TransLink or policing, and he was accusing me many times of being a lap dog of the provincial government," Fassbender told the NOW. "And (he) has said the government's going to change, so why bother working with this government."
Fassbender noted that in 2010, Corrigan voted against a memorandum of understanding with the province regarding working together to find funding solutions for transit projects. It was signed despite the Burnaby mayor's stance.
"I find Derek every time I'm in a meeting with him, (he's saying) how bad the provincial government is," he said. "That doesn't build (any) kind of a relationship. Whether you like the government or not . you need to work with them."
Corrigan wholeheartedly disagreed with Fassbender's comments.
"I know that Peter vastly overestimates my ability to influence decisions made by the mayors' council," Corrigan said.
He said he voted against the memorandum of understanding because he had concerns about election promises being made by former premier Gordon Campbell.
"I have worked with the Liberal government for all of the years that I've been mayor," Corrigan said. "It's been difficult, no question about that. Whenever I'm given an opportunity to do something positive with the government - I do. It's always Burnaby's interest that I put first. Whatever my personal feelings are, the interests of Burnaby far outweigh (them)."
However, on election night, Corrigan told the NOW he was concerned about the Liberals, saying, "this has been the worst government - a government that has shown a tremendous tendency toward corruption."
In response to Fassbender's comments, Corrigan said Fassbender's political affiliation with the Liberals proved a strain on the mayors' council, and that affiliation was the reason he lost his seat as chair and vice-chair of the council.
Corrigan said despite Fassbender's comments, he will work with the provincial government - no matter who is in power.
On the same note, Fassbender said he will focus on finding solutions to issues brought forward by the communities.
"I just hope everybody, and Derek - he's an outspoken and a very passionate person in a lot of ways - will do what we all should do - and that is work together."
For a longer version of this story, go to www.burn abynow.com.
