Cambie Report

An Easter basket assortment of Vancouver politics, including our interview with Bowinn Ma and Christine Boyle of the new podcast, People's Pod.The Vancouver PlanWhat You Should Know about Vancouver's New City Plan | The TyeeVancouver unveils long-term plan to increase density, improve affordability by 2050 - BC | Globalnews.caThe Jericho Lands Need a Human-Scaled Rethink | The TyeeResidents call fight over Jericho Lands redevelopment 'a battle for the soul of Vancouver' - BC | Globalnews.caJericho station approvedCouncil police budget reportSwanson motion to reject police budgetShould Vancouver adopt a 'mansion tax?' Here's what one councillor proposesSwanson mansion tax motionCity councillor calls for vote on whether Vancouver should host 2030 Olympics | Globalnews.ca Hardwick Olympic plebiscite motionVancouver City Council to consider free parking to help revive Chinatown | UrbanizedMDG Chinatown free parking on Sunday motionForward Together VancouverRebecca Bligh seeks re-electionLisa Dominato seeks re-ele

Members of COPE - the Coalition of Progressive Electors - will be voting for their council, school board and park board candidates on Sunday, April 10. Members will also be deciding how many candidates to run for each position. Meet the individuals seeking those spots in our third candidate nomination special episode.Learn more about COPE's candidates here

The Vancouver Greens council nomination meeting is on Saturday, April 2. At that meeting they look set to nominate five candidates for council (and maybe mayor?). Meet the five individuals seeking those spots in our second candidate nomination special episode.Learn more about the Greens nomination process here

We're back in the midst of nomination season and there's a ton to cover.Dunking on MDGProvince restores $5.7 million that was cut from 2021 Vancouver police budget Frances Bula breaks down the VPD reportForget Police Reform in BC. The Fix Is In | The TyeeBC cop director urges Vancouver police, council to 're-engage in spirit of collaboration' to avoid future budget fightsVancouver mayoral race becoming even more crowded - The Globe and MailOneCity candidatesNominations - Green Party of VancouverJohn Irwin jumps to Vision VancouverBecome a Candidate- Vision VancouverLesli Boldt announces for VisionProgress Vancouver Announces Candidate Nomination DatesTEAM candidate expression of interestMark Marissen Granville pitchVancouver Aquatic Centre damaged after front section of building 'falls off' - BC | Globalnews.caWhy is Coquitlam not holding a byelection to replace a vacancy left by Bonita Zarrillo? - Tri-City NewsVancouver Police Department - WikipediaThe Mulligan Affair and other BC characters – Eve Lazarus

Hear from people putting their names forward for council, school board and park board nominations from OneCity Vancouver.Party members will be selecting four council candidates and three park board candidates and acclaiming five school board candidates during their voting period on March 3 and 4.Learn more about the candidates at https://nominate.onecityvancouver.ca/

We speak to Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart about his first three years in office and how he's setting up for his re-election bid next year.

Can Vancouver square the circles of it's budget?Staff have presented their budget to council calling for a 5% property tax hike, which translates to ten bucks a month for the average homeowner. And while many departments face cuts, the police think their increase is actually a decrease (math is hard) and want more. They need not fear though, because the mayor is not "anti-cop."Mayor Kennedy Stewart is also eager to further raise your taxes to fund the climate plan, which he earlier killed a funding mechanism for. Maybe the rest will come from his deja vu housing plan.Ken Sim also has a plan to address permit backlogs, which will totally not lead to abuse or staff revolt.Vancouver looks at building more homes around Renfrew and Rupert SkyTrains, while Burnaby struggles with a few townhomes by BCIT. But things are brighter in Surrey - or at least they will be once staff sanitize their housing needs report.Download the Alertable App if you live in Vancouver.Nick Lauga, Iona Bonamis and Jada Natalie Stevens  join

Floods. Keep up with the latest from the Fraser Valley Current.Vancouver loves public hearings. A lot. So much that they've spent four meetings already discussing a proposal to streamline rentals along arterials. Unsurprisingly, those writing in opposition live in rich areas.Vacancy controls are coming to SROs though with only one councillor opposed.Laneway houses make neighbouring properties more affordable.Surrey police referendum is a no go, as Elections BC laughs in their face. And the Mayor and RCMP continue to fight a war of words.Two new candidates are putting their names forward for OneCity's council slate, including Bobo Eyrich and Ian Cromwell.The new Vancouver Art Gallery scores a $100 million donation, which still leaves them hundreds of millions from their goal.And the Park Board considers rebuilding two outdoor pools.And for Vancouveratta, learn about Sumas Lake from the Fraser Valley Current, Abby News and Vancouvertraces. Or just read Chad Reimer's Before We Lost the Lake.Photo credit: Wikimed

The False Creek South plan, carefully crafted and presented by city staff, has been unanimously sent back to the drawing board  by council. But maybe it's for the better.Yes is now Progress and everyone was there for the launch.The Vancouver Plan is getting rave reviews despite only being at the survey stage (but do answer that survey).North Shore mayors agree on transit.The Province proposes changes to support development.Local man wants to sue city over not being consulted enough.And Pitt Meadows council is delayed by local anti-maskers, which seemingly includes one councillor.And in Vancouveratta we look at the "False" in False Creek, and when it got a bit smaller.Image via Wikimedia/Wpcpey

Two transit-themed interviews this week.First, Ian talks again with Andrew McCurran, Director, Strategic Planning & Policy with Translink about the Transport 2050 draft regional transportation strategy. The final version of this document will guide the transit provider over the next thirty years. Make sure to read the strategy and provide feedback (by Oct 29) at Transport2050.caThen, Ian speaks to Professor Peter Hall and Steve Tornes about their recent study into employer transit subsidies.Journal ArticleMain ReportExecutive SummaryData 

One year remains until election day. We look back at who we'd picked and where the main mayoral candidates are now.

Aaron Gunn is officially wants to be in the race for leader of the BC Liberals but other contestants are divided over whether he should get the green light.First, we line up the Battle of the 90s NDP in this week's Greatest BC Premier Bracket. Vote now.LinksSegment 1: Welcome to the Gunn ShowLatest B.C. Liberal leadership candidate accused of being racist and transphobicMichael Lee is againstAaron Gunn says Lee is two-facedEllis Ross welcomes GunnQuick takesFairy Creek: Appeal court reinstates injunction against old-growth logging protestersKelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick open to considering a mayoral run – Kelowna Capital NewsCanada seeks to claw back $25M in COVID relief from thousands of fishers (maybe?)Legal talks are dragging out Annamie Paul's departure from Green leadershipConservative Party's national council suspends member after bid to recall O'Toole as leaderChinese-Canadian Tories urge O'Toole to resign, saying tough-on-China platform alienated votersPremier approvals      

Kennedy Stewart abandons a key plank of the city's climate policy just like a contractor has abandoned work on a north shore wastewater facility.LinksParking programParking program staff presentation and staff report.Christine Boyle's explanationMelissa De Genova's reasons for opposing itKennedy Stewart's press releasePete Fry's amendmentKen Sim's reactionAndrea Reimer's reactionBCGEU Treasurer Paul Finch on union's dropping support for StewartMDG quoteOther storiesTEAM launch and websiteVancouver Magazine: Inside Colleen Hardwick's Polarizing Path Through Vancouver City HallCompassionate club exemption debate8% oppose SkyTrain to UBCContractor lays off three-quarters of workers on $1-billion North Shore wastewater plantBurnaby candidates who spent the most, won 2 seatsCoquitlam wants to skip byelectionJudge tosses restaurants' lawsuit over Stanley Park bike laneCity and builder tussle over tiny lot in East VancouverPhilip Owen

We survived the federal election where nothing happened so we can turn our attention fully toward the upcoming municipal elections but first perhaps a byelection in Coquitlam.The massive cull of coyotes in Stanley Park resulted in four coyotes being "lethally removed" as well as two arrests.Vision announces a call for candidates, which draws up some interesting names but ultimately the party has been shunned by the VDLC.Pop-up patios are now permanent in Vancouver, while new provincial money wants to make sure permitting delays are not.City council is set to start meeting in a hybrid format following lobbying by Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung. However, its advisory committees are back in person.Vancouver's Mayor had a run in at a wine store, while Surrey's Mayor is mad about (possible?) SkyTrain construction delays.Finally: Street cars remain cool, the carp are dying in Stanley Park and running for Coquitlam council is about to get incrementally harder.And in our Vancouveratta: The time we switched from driving

The province is stepping up where the Park Board failed and the coyotes of Stanley Park will soon all be dead. And in Surrey, the Mayor may or may not have started an angry confrontation that may or may not have ended with his foot being run over.Matthew calls in from Pender Island for our first post-summer episode.LinksActive trapping of coyotes in Stanley Park set to begin - BC | Globalnews.caUpdate on Stanley Park coyote cull: 'Relocation not an option' after 45 attacks, 5 on children | CTV NewsStanley Park coyote cull is result of human mismanagement: lawyer - NEWS 1130Opinion: Coyotes in Stanley Park need to be culled – immediatelyPetition created remove coyotes from Stanley Park once and for allScientist takePetition against Stanley Park coyote cull sees boost after cull announced, hits 15,500 signeesCoyote attacks: Expert says animals in Vancouver's Stanley Park exhibiting 'abnormal behaviour' Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum claims he was hit by car during confrontationSurrey Mayor Doug McCallum accused of

The conflict of interest case against Michael Wiebe is dismissed. We break down the ruling.A Better City is looking for a mayoral candidate and Surrey Connect announces theirs.Jean Swanson gives out drugs and is accused of trafficking. Perhaps the new Mount Pleasant Community Policing Centre would have intervened.And Burnaby Council cools on the Gondola.Finally in our Vancouveratta, we look at the short history of coyotes in the city and tell you who ya gonna call.

It was hot out. Like really hot. Like you need to sit under a tree for some shade but the damn Park Board wouldn't open the park until they finally relented.Meanwhile what do you do if you're mayor and you feel like you're not getting your way and COVID restrictions are lifting? You start a party! And accuse your opponents of being lurking Harperites.The good news for those opponents though is their own polling has them in the lead, but mostly only if you include a bunch of extra options.Meanwhile in Burnaby you can be elected to council if you can convince 3200 people to turn out for you, although you may be accused of being a lurking Conservative for your past ties to Liberals.You don't need to worry about that in West Van and you want to be mayor though. Simply promise to run lots of expensive referendums while also cutting taxes and stopping growth in the village where the population is actually declining.Back in Vancouver though some houses are actually going to be built, as council miraculously came to

Lots is happening for Vancouver's mayoral candidates. Kennedy Stewart is cleared of conflict of interest complaints but still faces a defamation suit from the NPA. Meanwhile, Mark Marissen and Ken Sim have dueling columns that both take aim at the mayor.We have polls! First, Sutherland and Globalcon released a public poll in April; you can see the charts on our Twitter timeline. And we have our hands on internal polling from the Kennedy Stewart campaign.On the climate front, council rejects staff recommendations to delay a ban on natural gas in new builds, which was allegedly supported by the natural gas lobby. Council did however agree to several other delays that would (hopefully) help clear the permitting backlog.Despite that success, council was not able to reconcile competing motions that seek to ban leaf blowers in the city and they mired themselves in procedural shenanigans.Then we take a little detour to learn about what it means to abstain as some councillors still seem confused and we look at whethe

We begin and end with reflections on the terrible news about the bodies of the children found at the former Kamloops Residential School. Survivors, including intergenerational survivors, can access support by contacting Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society toll-free at 1-800-721-0066. 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419. Or please donate to them at irsss.caChristine Boyle's nonprofit housing motion is defeated by an alliance of Greens and (ex-) NPA votes, who also teamed up to keep bikes off Commercial Drive pedestrian-first plans. More details emerge about the Vancouver Model for drug decriminalization, as the mayor concedes they rushed the plans in case of a snap federal election.The Park Board has helpfully highlighted the worst parts of its parks, which is where you'll be allowed to have a drink, soon.New towers might come to the north end of the Burrard Bridge and a new park on the south end.Dan Fumano looks at the city's consultation on adding density to arterials - and possibly to side

Christine Boyle wants 12-storey social housing to be allowed in Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant and Marpole, which is “an affront to democracy”.Activists and drug users pan the proposed Vancouver Model of decriminalization.The Vancouver and New Westminster school boards give cops the boot with various levels of vigour. The province gives the absolutely all clear to the Park Board that it can allow drinking in parks, something New West is already doing and others are critical of the Mayor for not fighting harder for.People who abstain from votes continue to lack a spine.The NPA names three women to its Board, including one with some interesting tweets.We will never know the alternative measures agreed to as part of a settlement for sexual assault allegations against Port Moody Mayor Rob Vagramov.Vancouver has a new City Manager, new chief planner and Translink has a new CEO.And you could own this week's Vancouveratta for a mere $249,000.