23 Facts About Bonita Zarrillo

Bonita Zarrillo had previously narrowly lost the riding in 2019 to the Conservative Party's Nelly Shin.

Bonita Zarrillo was critical of the proposed developments in Burquitlam, stating that the developments resembled "lifeless" developments in Eastern Canada which caused disconnects between the public and public spaces taken over by entities, highlighting concerns regarding housing affordability.

On greenlighting the City Centre Area Plan, Bonita Zarrillo expressed concerns about the displacement of low-income housing.

Bonita Zarrillo was criticized following her decision to leave a city council meeting without prior notice to attend a National Day of Action Against Anti-Asian Racism rally at Lincoln station.

Bonita Zarrillo stated that the format "[changed] the meeting dynamics and doesn't provide for equal access" and that she was "uncomfortable" with several city council members who attended the meeting in-person who were unmasked in their cubicles, raising public health concerns.

Bonita Zarrillo gained a reputation as a dissenting voice during her three-term tenure as a councillor.

Bonita Zarrillo announced her campaign for the seat on International Women's Day, and five weeks after winning a third term on the Coquitlam City Council.

Bonita Zarrillo filed for a recount citing concerns of "administrative mistakes", which was later terminated at Bonita Zarrillo's request.

Bonita Zarrillo ran again in the 2021 election in a rematch against Shin.

Bonita Zarrillo won in her rematch against Shin, with 62.2 percent of voter turnout in the riding, flipping the seat back to the New Democratic Party.

Bonita Zarrillo was confirmed to have been elected on September 24,2021, four days following polling day, after mail-in ballots had been counted.

Bonita Zarrillo resigned from her city council seat on October 1,2021.

Bonita Zarrillo criticized the Coquitlam City Council's lack of action in regards to funding transit.

Bonita Zarrillo praised outgoing MP Fin Donnelly's work in regards to implementing Canada's ban on shark finning and closed containment aquaculture.

Bonita Zarrillo opposes the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, stating the need for urgent climate action.

Bonita Zarrillo highlighted the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels, and her view that the city of Coquitlam did not need a secondary pipeline running through the city to deliver an additional 900,000 barrels of oil.

Bonita Zarrillo said that of the available housing inventory, too much was going towards luxury homebuyers, highlighting the plan for half a million units of affordable housing offered by the NDP.

Bonita Zarrillo discussed displacement of homeowners as a direct result of a lack of housing affordability and as a visible result of the housing crisis within the local community.

Bonita Zarrillo was born in Saskatoon and graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in sociology.

Bonita Zarrillo travelled around Canada, living in nearly every province and overseas following her graduation, working as a computer programmer.

Bonita Zarrillo later worked as a data analyst to map consumer behaviour for companies such as Walmart.

At the age of 48, Bonita Zarrillo quit her position as a business analyst after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in order to focus on her treatment and recovery.

Bonita Zarrillo moved back to Coquitlam in 2010, and started a business as a jobs recruiter.