The next municipal election is still more than seven months away, but the race for mayor has already begun.
Canadian opera singer, and long-time Mission resident, Dustin Hiles is throwing his hat in the race to become Mission’s next mayor.
“We need to take a hard look at the path we’re on. Property taxes are going up to an unaffordable rate — 5.8%, our city feels less safe, and good-paying jobs are increasingly hard to come by in Mission — we need a new plan, and new leadership,” said Hiles.
“When I grew up here, Mission was the best place to raise a family. Bar none. I have a vision for Mission that is affordable, safe, and thriving. That’s what I’m running on.”
In a written press release, Hiles indicated he has a plan for making Mission family friendly including cutting property taxes in half, and building 1,000 new affordable housing units so younger generations can afford to stay near their families. The release did not elaborate on how he would accomplish this.
He also stated he wants to build a new approach to bring safety and opportunity back to our city.
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“Mission made my career possible. Mission Optimists, Rotary, and Lions clubs all supported me as I developed my musical talent. This community has been my rock. I want these same opportunities and Mission’s community-minded values to thrive,” he said.
Hiles attended Mission Secondary School and has remained a parishioner of St. Joseph’s since childhood. He went on to study at the University of Manitoba.
Aside from his work in the performing arts Hiles spent time in Ottawa where he was an advisor to Canada’s longest serving Speaker, the Hon. Peter Milliken, and has been active as a grassroots organizer for the federal Liberal Party.
“It was always about advocating for everyday people for me,” said Hiles. “The sense of community that I felt in Mission — which allowed me to thrive, I wanted to support those values on our national stage.”
Hiles is no stranger to Metro-Vancouver municipal politics. He served as a key advisor to former Vancouver City Councillor Hector Bremner.
Over the next seven months, Hiles plans to engage with community members and extensively outline his vision to put families first and Mission back on the map.
The 2022 municipal election is set for Oct. 15.