Category Archives: City Hall

Unanimous vote on Vancouver tenants’ rights is a game changer

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Tim Louis

On Tuesday, December 4, COPE Councillor Jean Swanson tenants’ protection motion finally came before city council for a vote. In the week leading up to the vote, more than 300 tenants spoke eloquently to council about the need for protection … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, British Columbia, City Hall, COPE, developers, gentrification, Green Party, homelessness, NDP, NPA, People Power, Planning, social justice, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Secure renters make for a better Vancouver

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Tim Louis

COPE Councillor Jean Swanson’s motion [PDF] to give tenants protection from landlords during renovations was referred to committee at city hall November 27 so that members of the public would have an opportunity to speak to it. The motion proposes … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, British Columbia, City Hall, COPE, developers, economy, gentrification, Green Party, homelessness, NDP, NPA, People Power, Planning, Vancouver | Tagged | Leave a comment

Vancouver City Council too timid on rescinding duplexes

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Tim Louis

On Thursday the 15th of November, council voted on a motion put forward by the NPA’s Colleen Hardwick to rescind the previous council’s motion passed in September to blanket rezone all single-family lots in Vancouver for duplexes. It’s rare that … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, City Hall, COPE, developers, gentrification, Green Party, homelessness, NPA, Planning, Vancouver, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , | 1 Comment

My tips for new city councillors

Posted on November 18, 2018 by Tim Louis

Of Vancouver’s 11-member city council —10 councillors and the mayor — only two have any previous experience on city council. The remaining nine are all brand new to their roles. So I have a few tips I’d like to offer … Continue reading →

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COPE’s Jean Swanson is off to a great start

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Tim Louis

Vancouver’s new city council was sworn into office Monday, November 5 at an invitation-only ceremony held before their first council meeting. But COPE’s lone city councillor, Jean Swanson, had already been hard at work. She served notice of motion a … Continue reading →

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The COPE election victory in context

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Tim Louis

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — COPE is back! Last Saturday was election day and for the first time since 2011, COPE had candidates elected not just to Vancouver’s city council, where Jean Swanson came in … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, Canadian politics, City Hall, COPE, developers, gentrification, Metro Vancouver, People Power, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vote October 20 — don’t let others decide for you!

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Tim Louis

This coming Saturday, Oct. 20 is municipal election day. I’ve already voted at the advance poll so that I’m free to volunteer for the candidates I’m supporting on election day. Who am I supporting? For me, it was a very … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, City Hall, COPE, Green Party, People Power, sustainability, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vancouver Park Board, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Support “shop local” when you “vote local”

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Tim Louis

With “for lease” signs popping up everywhere in Vancouver’s commercial districts, it’s become crystal clear just how difficult the situation is for our city’s small businesses. Online retail is part of the reason so many small businesses are closing shop. … Continue reading →

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Out the door for Vision — and good riddance

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Tim Louis

At long last, Vision Vancouver is about to be swept out the door by the electorate, as it rightfully should be. Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, COPE, First Nations, Green Party, NPA, People Power, Vancouver, Vancouver election, Vancouver Park Board, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Out the door for Vision — and good riddance

View cone demolition – another nail in the coffin of affordable housing

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Tim Louis

Yesterday, Vision Vancouver approved the application for a tower adjacent to BC Place Stadium. The application is from BC Pavilion Corporation or PavCo, the provincial Crown corporation originally created to manage the Expo 86 site. The tower, one of three … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable housing, British Columbia, City Hall, developers, gentrification, Heritage, homelessness, National Housing Strategy, NPA, Planning, Vancouver, Vancouver election, viaducts, Vision Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on View cone demolition – another nail in the coffin of affordable housing