Cambie Report

Michael Wiebe has his first days in court. Health Canada considers the Vancouver Model. "Dictator type" land use policy changes considered by Metro Vancouver Board. Mid-rise buildings: rejected, opposed and delayed. Dysentery outbreaks. Efforts at reconciliation. And stop feeding the wildlife.Plus a Vancouveratta dedicated to the late Jack Chow.TranscriptLinksBurnaby housing market seeing prices skyrocketLawyer’s report ‘inadmissable’ in conflict case involving Vancouver councillorDan Fumano: 'Heavy' political influence behind Vancouver councillor's conflict case, lawyer saysCity submits “Vancouver Model” of decriminalization application to Health CanadaDrug decriminalization: Vancouver sends preliminary application to Health CanadaMetro municipalities retain industrial land controlMetro Vancouver Board Meeting video linkCity of Vancouver rejects 11-storey tower next to future Arbutus Station over height | UrbanizedNew West residents want council to reject 6-storey buildingVancouver councillor questions drawn

Madness in the NPA, the approaching court case against Michael Wiebe, some reaction to the federal proposition of a handgun ban, some problems in the planning department and of course affordability continues to be an issue.Raw transcriptLinksVancouver city councillor takes leave of absence to deal with court caseNPA directors suing City of Vancouver, mayor for defamationRising Tumult for Vancouver's Oldest Political PartyDan Fumano: Lessons learned as Vancouver politician retracts accusation of made-up quoteMysterious mayoral pollVancouver mayor wants handgun ban if legislation passes - NEWS 1130Frances Bula: Vancouver city hall backlog delays crucial developmentsRental supply is up in Vancouver, but affordability still elusiveSquamish Nation moves Vancouver forward with transformative Senakw project | UrbanizedNearly all units in Little Mountain social housing building will be sized for larger families | UrbanizedVancouver Park Board to clear half of Strathcona homeless camp - NEWS 1130Surrey mayor defends o

Coquitlam council continues to meet in-person, Vancouver continues to be expensive and the NPA continues to be a trainwreck. Nevertheless, some things are moving forward as the City makes in roads on decriminalizing all drugs, easing the path for nonprofit developments and allowing corner stores once more. And council agreed to call for a slightly higher threshold to run for office.Why is Coquitlam council meeting in person during COVID?Home prices in Vancouver have increased by nearly 80% in the last decade: studyVancouver mayor says feds agree to talks over decriminalization of drugs NPA shenanigansWorries Rise that NPA Board Could Run Extremist Candidates in 2022Dan Fumano: NPA leadership opts not to publicly face serious questionsDan Fumano: Frustrations boiling over between NPA politicians and their board NPA claims above articles are "false and defamatory"UBC Students Against Bigotry brings receipts City of Vancouver considering expediting non-profit housing by eliminating rezoning step | Urbanized Clas

A peaceful protest is not comparable to an attempted coup, territorial acknowledgements can actually be legislated, churches should face consequences for violating public health orders and building a laneway home in Vancouver is very complicated.Vancouver councillor under fire for 'monumentally bad take' on Capitol riotsDan Fumano: East Van real estate dispute reveals unlicensed warehouse useSurrey's rejection of Indigenous land acknowledgement enforces systemic racism, BCAFN saysSurrey strata orders removal of dog deemed 'too tall' for bylawLangley Township could strip tax break from churches defying COVID health ordersFate of Vancouver’s laneway homes hangs in the balance after city rules take U-turnHow Lulu Island Got Its Sweet Name 

Matthew, Scott and Ian, the hosts of Cambie Report and PolitiCoast, team up to bring you a special year-in-review of the federal, provincial and local politics news from 2020. Originally aired on YouTube

We dive into two stories this week. First, a bit more on the reply from Councillor Michael Wiebe to a petition to remove him over allegations of breaching conflict of interest rules. And second a look at a new study into whether neighbourhood associations reflect the broader public.We recorded and streamed this live to YouTube as a test of our upcoming December 30 Holiday Live Show, which will be a crossover with PolitiCoast. Apologies for some of the sound quality issues, we are still working the bugs out.LinksConflict of interest case involving Vancouver councillor goes to B.C. Supreme Court The representativeness of neighbourhood associations in Toronto and Vancouver - Aaron A Moore, R Michael McGregor, 2020Vancouveratta: Robson Square

Vancouver Council heard from over 200 speakers before ultimately voting to freeze the police budget for 2021, setting the stage for a standoff with the Police Board.Kennedy Stewart is also chalking up some wins with his decriminalization motion and increase to the Empty Homes Tax.CANADALAND exposed a sweet deal between UBC and Postmedia and the NPA's board is back in the news.Ian talks a bit about the latest study from his workplace, the BC Humanist Association, on prayers at municipal councils and the Park Board releases a survey showing strong support more space for bicycles and pedestrians in the park.And the District of North Vancouver almost made Christmas even more dark this year.Image credit: Flickr/British Columbia Emergency PhotographyVancouver Budget Justin McElroy budget highlightsBudget highlights from Christine BoyleLive budget debate thread Justin McElroy Vancouver police board approves $6.4 million increase to VPD budgetVancouver Won't Increase Police Budget, But Balks at DefundingCity of Vanco

Vancouver approves of the Climate Emergency Action Plan while Michael Wiebe watches from the sidelines for an alleged conflict of interest that leaves us befuddled. The Mayor has a bold plan to decriminalize drugs by writing a sternly worded letter. At the same time the Vancouver Police are keen on setting up new task forces to undermine the expressed will of Council. Surrey has its own policing issues as they are raising taxes to afford the ballooning costs. And Langley's Mayor is removed from the Metro Vancouver board by her council under a cloud of confidentiality.Topics:Climate Action Plan and general climate newsPetitionsIntrigue around recusalHow to get high and save the planetMayor tries to do Provincial and Federal Stuff (The Drugs Edition)Changing police enforcement - or notSurrey Tax IncreasesLangley mayor removed from MetroVanCovid newsVision Vancouver general meetingVancouveratta: Battle of Ballantyne PierLinksVancouver City Council approves road tolls into downtown and Central Broadway | Urbanize

City of Vancouver staff presented a Climate Emergency Response Plan  in response to council's declaration of a climate emergency. The plan pitches, among other things, congestion pricing and an end to free parking city-wide as steps to tackle emissions from vehicles in the city. For more, see Dan Fumano's article in the Vancouver Sun. Find OurTime Vancouver on Twitter.City staff also presented  a Covid-19 Economic and Community Recovery Program Progress Update with some numbers on the economic hit, which has led to consideration of a property tax hike of up to 12% needed to balance City of Vancouver's 2021 budget. Hopes for the province to fill that gap were dashed this week, leaving the Vancouver mayor 'gobsmacked'. Here's Justin McElroy with details on the province's municipal funding model.Vancouver City Manager opposes council's plan to install new auditor general's office, although the motion ultimately passed unanimously as we were recording. The staff report is here.Council also opted to defer discussi

Lots to catch up on in Vancouver city politics.We start off discussing the court action aims to remove Vancouver city councillor Michael Wiebe from office before turning to council's split over mandatory masks.Those splits are made apparent by an intrepid Reddit user who plotted councillors votes on the urbanist/left-right chart, which explains why Vancouver's mayor was ‘flabbergasted’ in housing plan defeat.We then look at what we learned following BC Housing being ordered to reveal details of deal to sell Little Mountain lands to developer and we take staff's side on Vancouver council's decision to approve year-round free parking for veterans over city staff objections.Finally, the Park Board killed Matthew's dreams of a new outdoor pool in Mount Pleasant.And in our Vancouveratta we look at the first Vancouverattan, Major JS Matthews. Make sure to check out the Vancouver Archives  YouTube channel.Image via Reddit user jsmooth7

We look at  the Cambie Report's latest story on the $40,000 being spent on Facbeook ads by a group called BC Rental Project. A new report suggests Michael Wiebe might need to resign based on his voting for patio permits that may have benefited his business.  Those calls may be a bit premature but it's quite the allegation.Mayor Kennedy Stewart has a new housing home that promises to provide homes that the middle class can afford to buy. It's a bold promise that is thin on details.Stanley Park is back open to car traffic, which makes us sad. What also makes us sad are toxic billboardsAnd we look at Celebrities nightclub in this week's Vancouveratta.LinksCambie Report story: BC Rental Project spent nearly $40k on Facebook ads prior to provincial election call Vancouver councillor should give up seat, report concludes, which could open door to byelection Making HOME - Imagine a Vancouver with homes the middle class can affordA Seattle Think Tank Likes the Vancouver Mayor's Housing Proposal Vancouver's Stanley Pa

Vile anti-homeless rhetoric is rampant in Vancouver, including from NPA board members, leading to a deepening schism with the elected caucus. Perhaps this is part of why Ken Sim says he's going to run against the party in the next election.In Surrey, a poll from the National Police Federation sparks rumours about a Dianne Watts comeback. And TransLink's latest updates on the Broadway subway and SFU gondola.Thanks to your support a transcript will be available at cambiereport.ca LinksVancouver Councillor Urges End to Social Media Attacks against Homeless People and Drug UsersVancouver NPA director under fire for telling people to 'harass' city's homeless@NPACaucus statementDan Fumano: NPA ex-mayoral candidate Ken Sim to run again — against NPADan Fumano: NPA and its ex-candidate trade barbs over campaign finance irregularitiesDan Fumano: Catching up with key figures from 2018's 'crazy' electionPoll shows former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts popular among prospective votersIt's official: Construction on $2.8-billio

Lawyer Micah Goldberg joins Ian & Matthew to break down the Park Board's new camping bylaw. Plus NPA drama, housing impasse at city council and byelections in Burnaby.Apologies for Ian's trash audio quality in the first half - not sure what happened there but it gets better.Look for a transcript at cambiereport.caFollow @micahgoldbergVancouver Park Board votes in favour of allowing overnight camping in parksTent Cities and the Violent Origins of Vancouver's ParksFour directors quit NPA board, say it risks becoming ‘irrelevant’Dan Fumano: 'Postpone and delay' — Vancouver council defers rental-housing incentivesB.C. guidelines pave way for Burnaby to hold council byelectionVancouveratta: Central Valley GreenwayPhoto credit: flickr/Ted McGrath CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

We're back at the mics to start catching up on Vancouver politics. City Council passed a couple motions to look at changing policing in the city, we may get to drink in plazas but have to wear masks on transit. Also Gassy Jack was a pedophile.Pearl Lowe Twitter threadVancouver council votes to request police ban on street checksVancouver city council passes motion deprioritizing policing in mental health calls and social issuesVancouver councillors demand action to quell fears, threats near Strathcona ParkVancouver approves pilot project to allow outdoor drinking at select city plazas Pronunciation guide for šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énk Square TransLink implementing mandatory face covering policyA petition is calling on the Vancouver Park Board to increase vehicle access to Stanley ParkTangled traffic as cars, bikes and horses forced to share the road in Stanley ParkThe Tyee Tearing Down Our Monumental Mistakes

The Vancouver Just Recovery Coalition is calling on the City of Vancouver to prioritize lessening existing inequalities, respecting Indigenous rights, and tackling the climate emergency.Tessa speaks to co-chairs Kimberely Wong and Matthew Norris about the impacts of the crisis on marginalized communities, the Coalition's joint statement and what needs to happen going forward.Learn more at vancouverjustrecovery.caThanks to support from our patrons, a transcript will be available soon at cambiereport.ca

COVID-19 is the biggest shock to transportation in Vancouver since the Olympics. Instead of surging demand, we're seeing collapses and massive mode-shifts.Matthew speaks with Dale Bracewell, the Manager of Transportation Planning at the City of Vancouver about how the City's transportation department is coping with this sudden change and looking to the future.Patrons get access to our full interview.A transcript will be available soon at CambieReport.ca

Ian speaks to Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and Burnaby Now reporter Dustin Godfrey about the City's response to COVID-19.Our Patron Slack is open to all supporters – Fill out the form for accessBurnaby Now: Local journalism needs your supportBurnaby losing $5 million-plus a month as budget debate beginsBurnaby dragged its feet on COVID-19 protections, says city worker

Translink is in trouble.A complete collapse in ridership and gas tax revenue has punched a half a billion dollar hole in the transit agency's 2020 budget. If they don't get a bailout from higher levels of governments, the service will be unrecognizable.New Westminster Councillor and Transit advocate Patrick Johnstone spoke with Ian on April 26 about the state of Translink's budget and what you can do to help.Public Meeting of the Mayors' Council [PDF]Save Transit in BC: HomeAbundant Transit BC 

The BC Government is moving residents camped in Oppenheimer Park to temporary accommodations in hotel rooms and community centres. We look a bit more at the announcement and then Ian speaks with Councillor and longtime advocate for the Downtown Eastside Jean Swanson about the news.Interview with Jean Swanson starts at 6:33.BC Government Announcement: Province secures safe shelter, supports for people living in major encampmentsPhoto credit: Flickr/bcgovphotosOur Patron Slack is open to all supporters – Fill out the form for accessTranscript

Tomorrow would be the first day back at school after spring break for over half a million students across British Columbia.The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that all in-class instruction has been cancelled indefinitely as we all heed that important advice from Chief Public Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry to Stay home.In this Community Conversations episode of Cambie Report, Tessa Vikander speaks with people directly affected by the school closures and the potential of online learning. First she talks with Christina Meyers, a parent to two school-aged children. Then she speaks to grade 12 students Elijah and Oren. These interviews were recorded last week on March 14 and 15.For the duration of the crisis, we're opening up our Patron Slack to all listeners and supporters. Go to leginbootmedia.ca to request an invite.Wash your hands and stay home.