City Issues · 3 min read

Burnaby General Local Election 2026: Q&A with Philip Stojanovski, city council candidate

By Mylo Bonifacio · September 24, 2026

It's been four years since Burnaby residents went out to vote, and this fall they get to review what their local officials have done and decide who to vote for. Advance voting runs October 3, 7 and 10, and general voting day is October 17. Philip Stojanovski is one of the candidates running for Burnaby city council. Here is a quick Q&A with Philip:

Why are you running for Burnaby city council, and what background or experience would you bring to the role?

Burnaby is growing faster than our infrastructure can handle. As a workplace investigator, I uncover hidden issues and hold power accountable. Rapid, unmanaged growth is choking our streets, blocking ambulances and emergency responders, while straining our healthcare system to the breaking point. With unsold developments sitting empty and unaffordable, we now face the reality of government buyouts because no one else can buy them. We need responsible growth that matches our healthcare and infrastructure capacity. I will fight for responsible growth that matches our infrastructure, cut through mismanagement, and put Burnaby residents first.

What do you see as the most important issue facing Burnaby right now, and what would you do about it if elected?

Burnaby's biggest issue is unmanaged, over-the-top construction choking our city. Rapid population growth and endless high-rises are outpacing our healthcare and infrastructure, causing massive traffic gridlock where ambulances get stuck. Meanwhile, unaffordable towers sit empty, leaving taxpayers facing government buyouts. As your councillor, I will halt reckless overdevelopment, fix the gridlock, and demand that infrastructure and healthcare grow before more towers go up.

Burnaby continues to grow and add housing. What is your approach to development in the city, and how would you address housing affordability?

Burnaby needs homes families can actually afford, not luxury high-rises that sit empty. My approach prioritizes smart, community-focused development, like townhouses and mid-rise rentals, that fits our neighborhoods and supports local growth. We must shift away from out-of-reach mega-towers and focus on housing that serves everyday residents, key workers, and seniors. By aligning new builds with actual community needs and existing infrastructure, we create real affordability without breaking our city's capacity.

How would you approach transportation in Burnaby, including transit, traffic, and road safety?

Burnaby's current traffic gridlock is a public safety emergency. Unregulated, back-to-back construction has blocked streets and created bottlenecks where ambulances and emergency responders are trapped, putting lives at risk. As your councillor, I will crack down on poorly managed construction permits, coordinate major builds to keep roads open, and ensure infrastructure expansion outpaces development. We need to clear the gridlock, protect emergency response times, and keep Burnaby moving safely.

How would you approach the city's budget and property taxes while keeping up services and amenities?

To keep property taxes manageable while protecting core services, I will stop funding runaway growth that outpaces our infrastructure. As councillor, I will prioritize taxpayer dollars toward fixing traffic bottlenecks, keeping emergency lanes open, and ensuring police and fire services can respond without delay. We need strict fiscal discipline: I will audit city spending to cut bureaucratic waste, make developers pay their fair share for road and infrastructure upgrades before building, and keep property taxes low for everyday residents.

Burnaby Daily asks these same questions of every candidate who gets in touch. You can find profiles for everyone running for mayor, council and school trustee through the City of Burnaby's candidates page.