COPE’s Sean Orr Gets It

On June 3, 2025, Vancouver’s ABC-dominated City Council moved a motion which will do away with public hearings for all developments deemed consistent with the City’s official development plan.

Only COPE’s Sean Orr voted against this very undemocratic motion. Vancouver Green’s Pete Fry abstained. OneCity’s Lucy Maloney voted in favour.

As is far too usual for City bylaw changes, too little time was provided for true public input to this motion. Staff’s presentation of their 15-page background report only took minutes, and as Randy Helton from CityHallWatch described in his write up of the history behind the proposal, he was the only resident who called in to speak to the motion.

Helton explained that while he was on hold on the phone, he was suddenly cut off by Acting Chair Rebecca Bligh, who then mistakenly said that he was not on the line. She called for the vote shortly after.

The reported purpose of this motion was to align the City’s zoning procedures with new requirements under the Vancouver Charter, ratified by the Province through Bill 18, a draconian measure stipulating, among other conditions, that Vancouver’s City Council must not hold a public hearing if:

(a) the by-law is consistent with an official development plan,

(b) the sole purpose of the by-law is to permit a development that is, in whole or in part, a residential development, and

(c) the residential component of the development accounts for at least half of the gross floor area of all buildings and other structures proposed as part of the development.

It is notable that while the City has started working on its official development plan, it doesn’t expect to present that plan to Council until June 2026. Clearly there was no need to rush the new development approval procedures.

Sean Orr was the only city councillor who truly recognized what was at play. The motion was not really about streamlining housing development approvals. It was about the fundamental democratic right of all citizens to have their voices heard and to be truly listened to by City Council.

As you may know, I served on Vancouver City Council for two terms, beginning in 1999. I have a great deal of experience in how development policies work best.

Rezoning proposals that are exposed to open and transparent public hearings at which all potential shortfalls and negatives are highlighted produce better projects in the long run. By listening with an open ear to all residents who take time out of their busy schedules to become familiar with the proposal and to speak to it, City Council becomes that much better informed and can approve rezonings with amendments as needed to address public concerns and recommendations.

Truth be told, many Vancouver City Councillors cannot be bothered or do not have an appetite to listen to the public, particularly about residential developments and rezonings. It seems they think only they know best.

It is a sad fact that too many politicians pander to the public while seeking votes, and then completely ignore or even knowingly vote against the interests of this same public after being elected.

Sean Orr, in his lone vote against this motion, clearly demonstrated that he understands that no matter how valid and deserving a project is, it must be exposed to public scrutiny and that City Councillors have a duty to listen and respond to input from residents.

Sean Orr gets it.

Daily atmospheric CO₂ [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]

Latest daily total (June 13, 2025): 430.44ppm

One year ago (June 13, 2024): 426.90ppm