Cambie Report

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. 

Sarah Kirby-Yung, Lisa Dominato and Colleen Hardwick have left the NPA caucus and were soon joined in their exodus by the three NPA school board trustees. This leaves Melissa De Genova as the sole NPA member on council, with Park Board Commissioners John Coupar and Tricia Barker rounding out the party's significantly diminished caucus.Plus council votes to end public hearings for some social housing projects and Michael Wiebe's decision to declare yet another conflict prompts another edition of Charts On A Podcast! as we dive into voting records.Council may vote to support a bid to bring a Formula E race to Vancouver. And from the courts comes a ruling against a Port Coquitlam councillor who was censured for leaking information about a tree and the BC Court of Appeal reveals that city staff read from a script in rejecting the controversial 105 Keefer Project.Plus happy Earth Day (yesterday), we look at the start of Greenpeace.LinksColleen Hardwick, Lisa Dominato and Sarah Kirby-Yung leave NPA partySo now what

Ken Sim pledges to abolish the Park Board. He will probably run with the new party A Better City Vancouver. Mark Marissen is running for mayor. And the election is still 18 months away.Ken Sim will abolish the park boardThe Aquarium is sold to US theme park operatorJohn Coupar doesn't like the idea of abolishing his current jobMelissa De Genova & NPA are also unhappySarah Kirby-Yung is more open to “discussion about its governance” Restaurants also dislike the park boardA Better City Vancouver launches - check out their websiteMark Marissen launches his bid - which we maybe spoiledMeanwhile the current mayor continues to press forward with drug decriminalization in the cityBurnaby and Richmond are also having byelectionsKeep up with hyper-local politics with the Burnaby Beacon and Tri-Cities DispatchAnd our Vancouveratta looks at the founding of the Park Board before Ken Sim kills it

The NPA Board drops a bombshell by announcing 18-months out that Park Board Commissioner John Coupar will be their mayoral nominee. So we're hear to break down the who/what/when/why of what the hell is going on.Thanks to Patron Greg for letting us use his call into CKNW this afternoon. Read more about John Coupar's nomination.Melissa De Genova's DEMOCRACY DIED tweet and some background to it.This week's Vancouveratta was on the Ripple Rock explosion. Watch the video.

A rental-only zoning bylaw survives a court challenge in New Westminster, patios are extended, staff will keep thinking about the Olympics, Twitter drama, housing for the homeless, Yes in New West, bikes in Stanley Park, UNDRIP and Joyce St development vs cultural food assets. And an extended look at Vancouver's long history of anti-Asian racism in our Vancouveratta.Plus a Cambie Report original sea shanty to lead off the show.Supreme Court of British Columbia rules in favour of City of New Westminster use of residential tenure zoning to protect existing rental stockRulingVancouver mayor to introduce motion calling for expanded patio program - NEWS 1130No meal, no patio: Many B.C. breweries forced to close outdoor spacesCouncil votes to study Olympic bidEileen Park Robertson vs Bob MackinGranville Street youth hostel to be permanently turned into housing for the homeless | UrbanizedNew West petition didn't mention affordable housingVancouver Park Board approves Stanley Park bike lane for summerVancouver Counc

We got our hands on the Young Report alleging Michael Wiebe should resign from council. Plus Gil Kelley is out as chief planner and the police board appeals the decision by council to freeze its budget.Read our story about The Young Report and download it here.City mum on sudden departure of Vancouver's chief plannerCity of Vancouver chief urban planner Gil Kelley leaves position | UrbanizedVancouver Plan - The Future We Want: Conversation KitDan Fumano: Beedie vs. Vancouver — Developer takes city to B.C.'s top courtVancouver police board to appeal council's decision to 'cut' VPD budgetA Former Mountie Will Set the Police Budget for Vancouver. That's WrongThe Deep Divide on Police in Vancouver Schools Continues J1ers: The tale and trials of Vancouver's visiting Irish students