Vancouver Liberals release 148-point platform ahead of municipal election

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Liberals have released a 148-point platform for the Oct. 17 civic election, outlining what the party would do if elected to the mayor's office, city council, park board and school board.

"Vancouverites should know exactly what we intend to do if we're elected. That's why we've put forward 148 specific commitments that people can hold us accountable for," said mayoral candidate Kareem Allam.

Allam said the platform is deliberately detailed so people can look back four years later and ask whether promises were kept.

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The party, which has no affiliation with provincial or federal parties of the same name, is also seeking commitments from B.C.'s provincial parties ahead of the separate provincial general election on Oct. 24.

"But municipal government can't do everything alone. Some of the biggest challenges facing Vancouver cross jurisdictional lines," said Allam.

The Liberals would ask the provincial government to outline steps for bringing the University Endowment Lands and University of British Columbia into the City of Vancouver's jurisdiction.

They also propose a plebiscite during the 2030 civic election on whether to retain citywide council elections, introduce neighbourhood wards or use another system.

For city hall operations, the party proposes a public lobbyist registry, reversing freedom of information fee increases, restoring the Equity Office and strengthening the Integrity Commissioner.

They would hold quarterly meetings with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations and create a task force to advance commitments under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The party would advocate for an independent audit of Metro Vancouver Regional District and work with other municipalities on governance changes.

To address the mental health and addictions crisis, the Liberals propose adding housing and early intervention for youth mental health to the existing four pillars, creating a new six-pillar strategy.

A strategy addressing methamphetamine would be developed within the first year, and people living in encampments would be offered housing and appropriate support before camps are closed.

Allam is calling for a new "Vancouver Accord" involving municipal, provincial, and federal governments to assign responsibilities, establish funding and set goals for housing, treatment and public safety.

The Liberals oppose this election's public safety plebiscite questions on greater enforcement against public hard drug use and creating a secure medical treatment facility for involuntary and voluntary care.

They assert such a facility would be a "prison."

Other social support measures include free public Wi-Fi in the Downtown Eastside, a property tax exemption for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank's Vancouver facilities and food hubs in vacant City-owned spaces.

Public safety proposals include funding 15 additional Vancouver Police Department financial-crime investigators to trace drug-trade profits.

Community policing centres would receive more stable funding, and crisis services would be expanded through Peer Assisted Care Teams and Car 87.

The party also promises to fill funded positions on nurse-led crisis teams and establish a violence-prevention unit involving police, schools, health services and community organizations.

Housing policy would focus on simplifying approvals while expanding support for renters, co-ops and other affordable homes.

The Liberals propose adopting the B.C. Building Code while retaining Vancouver's stronger zero-carbon and energy standards and heritage protections.

They would combine the City's current 12 housing-approval departments into a single process with one contact for applicants and review construction-related bylaws during their first year.

Churches, co-ops and non-profit organizations would be allowed to develop affordable and non-market housing on their land without rezoning.

Development charges would be revised with phased rates and exemptions for priority housing.

The party would reverse the City's current pause on net new supportive housing and seek provincial help to build and operate supportive housing with sufficient staffing and health services.

For existing co-op and non-profit housing on City-owned land, the Liberals promise immediate lease extensions and automatic renewals, municipal financing for repairs and additional public land for new projects.

A community land trust would hold City-owned land for uses such as affordable housing, childcare and recreation.

The City's Renters' Office would return, with protections against displacement during major redevelopment, including projects under the Broadway Plan.

The previous Renter's Office was closed by the ABC-majority City Council in January 2023 after handling roughly 370 inquiries per year.

The platform also calls for maintaining a substantial share of new Downtown Eastside social housing at shelter-level rents and reserving some required below-market homes in new developments for essential workers.

With files from Daily Hive