FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maple Ridge Means Business: A One-Year Plan to Strengthen Local Business and Protect Taxpayers

MAPLE RIDGE, BC – September 23, 2026, Jerry Kok announced Maple Ridge Means Business, a focused one-year economic strategy designed to reduce the burden on local businesses, encourage new investment, and measure the impact of pro-business policies on economic growth throughout the community.

At a time when many businesses are facing economic uncertainty, rising costs, and growing regulatory challenges, Maple Ridge Means Business will provide immediate support to local entrepreneurs while creating the conditions needed for long-term economic success.

"Businesses are the backbone of our local economy," said Jerry Kok. "They create jobs, support community organizations, sponsor local events, and generate the tax revenue that helps pay for essential services. Yet too often, they are treated as an afterthought. It's time to put business growth back at the centre of our decision-making."

The initiative includes several key commitments for 2027:

Key Actions

Zero Business Property Tax Increase* Business property taxes in 2027 will remain at 2026 levels, providing predictability and relief for local employers during challenging economic times.

Zero Business Licence Fees for New Businesses Any new business opening in Maple Ridge during 2027 will receive a waiver of business licence fees, reducing barriers to investment and encouraging entrepreneurship.

Faster City Processes Clear direction will be given to improve turnaround times and reduce delays in permits, applications, and approvals.

Approval Timelines and Accountability Clear expectations will be given for how long approvals should take and regularly measure performance against those targets.

Measuring Results The strategy will be evaluated over one year to determine its impact on business investment, new business creation, employment opportunities, and economic activity.

A Plan That Requires Fiscal Responsibility

Kok emphasized that this initiative is dependent upon electing fiscally responsible councillors who share a commitment to economic growth and taxpayer protection.

"To make Maple Ridge Means Business a reality, we need council members who understand that economic growth and responsible spending go hand in hand. We cannot continue increasing the cost of doing business while expecting investment to flow into our community."

*Kok also stated that the initiative is contingent on defeating all three components of the proposed recreation referendum that would authorize approximately $393 million in borrowing. “What I am hearing at the doors is that residents simply cannot afford this right now, and certainly businesses cannot either”. Kok has made it clear that there is still a need for more recreation and that the recreation pieces will be revisited with a plan and a price that unites our community.

"The proposed borrowing would place significant financial pressure on taxpayers and could result in higher taxes for years to come. If we are serious about helping businesses succeed and keeping Maple Ridge affordable, we must reject all three questions of the recreation referendum."

Business Growth Benefits Everyone

As a former four-year President of the Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce, Kok has spent years advocating for local businesses and understands the challenges they face.

"I've heard directly from business owners who are struggling with increasing costs, labour shortages, regulatory delays, and economic uncertainty. Many are doing everything they can just to keep their doors open. Additional tax increases could be the final straw for some businesses."

Kok warned that a shrinking business sector ultimately shifts more of the tax burden onto residents.

"When businesses succeed, everyone benefits. When businesses close, the tax burden doesn't disappear, it gets shifted onto homeowners and residents. A strong business community helps fund the services we all rely on while creating opportunities for local families."

A Clear Message

The Maple Ridge Means Business initiative sends a simple but powerful message:

Maple Ridge is open for business.

By reducing costs, speeding up approvals, and creating a more predictable environment for investment, Maple Ridge can become one of the most business-friendly communities in British Columbia while protecting taxpayers and strengthening the local economy.

Maple Ridge Means Business