The short answer
Small businesses employ Burnaby's neighbours and pay a large share of its taxes. Vision 2030 would streamline permits and approvals, minimise construction disruption on commercial streets, and measure City Hall's own performance so opening and growing a business here gets faster.
Three things to know
- Every month a storefront sits empty waiting on a permit is a month of lost jobs, lost rent and lost tax base.
- Construction on a commercial street can cut a small merchant's revenue for a whole season.
- Business districts in Edmonds, Metrotown, Brentwood, the Heights and Lougheed each have different needs.
Why this matters to me
I grew up in a family business. My father, Nick, ran Athens Men's Hair Styling in Metrotown for 50 years, serving generations of Burnaby families. His shop was more than a business — it was a place where people came to talk, be heard and feel welcome.
That's why red tape isn't an abstraction to me. Every delay lands on somebody's rent, payroll and family.
The honest comparison
What business owners are asking
- Why does a simple permit or licence take months?
- Why was my street torn up during my busiest season, with no notice?
- Who at City Hall actually owns my file, and when will I hear back?
My approach
- Streamline permits, approvals and business services, and publish how long each one actually takes.
- Plan before we dig: coordinate construction and keep businesses accessible and visible while work happens.
- Work with the business and community associations in each district rather than around them.
What you can hold me to
- 01Publish city service turnaround times for business permits and licences, and set targets we report against.
- 02A construction disruption standard: advance notice, maintained access and clear signage for affected businesses.
- 03Regular working sessions with Edmonds, Metrotown, Brentwood, Heights and Lougheed business associations.
Elect Bill Petrovas
For Mayor of Burnaby
“Small businesses are the backbone of Burnaby's economy. City Hall should be a partner for them, not another obstacle to overcome.”
#Burnaby #SmallBusiness #RedTape
Vote Oct. 17, 2026 · Your vote is your voice
Questions people ask
- What does 'cut red tape' mean in practice?
- Fewer duplicate steps, a single point of contact per file, published timelines, and online status a business owner can check without phoning.
- Does supporting business mean less oversight?
- No. Safety, building and health standards stay. What changes is how long it takes to get a clear answer.
- How does this help residents who don't own a business?
- Local businesses are jobs close to home, filled storefronts, safer streets and a broader tax base that takes pressure off homeowners.
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Read the briefAnnouncements are not accomplishments. Debt free is not waste free. Vote Saturday, October 17, 2026 — your vote is your voice.
Burnaby's next chapter needs you in it
Knock doors, host a coffee meeting, put up a sign, or simply pass this page to a neighbour. Every conversation counts before Saturday, October 17, 2026.