Podcast – Cambie Report

E3-58 A bold strategy Cotton

Cambie Report — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:03:33 +0000

Ken Sim taks a page from Danielle Smith’s books and decides we need to vote on some things, facts be damned. Will it be enough to save him from the polls? Stewart Prest fills in on this one.

Links

Check out Stewart’s Substack: Politics, Explained

Council adds plebiscite question to Vancouver Election Ballot

1/3 of the Vote Could Suffice in Vancouver’s Mayoral Election – Research Co.

Mario Canseco: Sim leads Vancouver mayoral race, but field remains wide open, poll says

Vancouver Pallas Poll: Sim’s Favourability Underwater, Over a Third Still Undecided

Remembering the deadly day when a Russian freighter rammed BC Ferries’ Queen of Victoria – Vancouver Is Awesome

E3-92 Ephemerality

Cambie Report — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 20:48:00 +0000

A busy council agenda but not before they break early for the summer. Ken Sim flip flops on the park board once more while making vague threats against the province. Metro Vancouver’s CAO is out and Richmond’s speeds are slowing.

Links

Photo credit: Tannoy at Wikipedia

E3-128 The credulous mayor

Cambie Report — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:43:31 +0000

The left remains fractured as the VDLC backs William Azaroff and OneCity. Ken Sim and ABC face scrutiny over reversing the natural gas ban, blocking Vision Zero speed reductions, dismissing code of conduct violations and shuttering a proposed Yaletown overdoe prevention site. But at least we have the World Cup coming to town!

In Surrey, the police chief was fired. The mayor of Port Moody faces challenges from the left and right. And Richmond schools debate ribbons.

Links

Stephanie Allen named COPE candidate in crowded Vancouver mayoral race | CBC News

VDLC endorses Azaroff and OneCity slate

Former OneCity council candidate Armor Valor joins Vancouver Liberals

Vancouver passes mayor’s motion to pause emissions tracking, ban on natural gas heating in new homes | CBC News

Vancouver council backs away from reducing speed limits on major roads | CBC News

Vancouver mayor decries ‘misinformation’ after saying he uses 11 AI agents to do work | CBC News

Overdose prevention site in Vancouver’s downtown core not reopening: minister | CBC News

Vancouver mayor won’t be sanctioned for harassing, personally attacking councillor

B.C. government modelling predicts hosting FIFA will produce lasting benefits. History tells a different story | CBC News

Doug McCallum calls for investigation into Surrey police chief firing | Maple Ridge News

Paul Lambert launches bid to become Port Moody mayor

Metro Vancouver enters Stage 3 water restrictions as snowpack melts a month early – BC | Globalnews.ca

Elementary school track meet changes spark backlash in Richmond, B.C.

Richmond school district seeks feedback on gender-neutral, no-ribbon track meet

Vancouveratta Vancouver International Festival | The Canadian Encyclopedia

E3-184 The math doesn’t add up

Cambie Report — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:21:54 +0000

Vancouver’s centre-left has reached a unity deal that ensures they can still split the vote. Elections BC releases the parties annual reports, giving us a glimpse into everyone’s financial situation. Candidates are lining up to be mayor in New West, Surrey and West Van. Vancouver council agrees to play nice, while Ken Sim wants to fund community centres and Major League Baseball without raising your taxes. The BC Government wants councils to be nicer to one another and give councillors parental leave. North Van says no to chlorine production and we look at Vancouver’s drink history.

Links

E3-204 We called Councilor Orr and Apologized

Cambie Report — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:38:26 +0000

Ken Sim maybe told people Sean Orr is a drug dealer based on a dodgy photo but he’s really sorry. Candidates are announcing their intention to run for election. Some housing is going ahead, some isn’t and Vancouver impedes on Maritime Law.

Links

E3-240 A parcel of Ps

Cambie Report — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:11:39 +0000

William Azaroff wins the OneCity mayoral nomination and his first act is a “progressive primary” ultimatum to COPE and the Greens. The Liberals pick up another candidate and nominations for council seats are underway. Lucy Maloney wants councillors to attend in person, the Olympic Village school is further delayed, Langara Gardens is going ahead, and so is a city-owned development on the Main Street McDonalds. The City’s Auditor General has two damning reports.

Links

Pete Fry announces candidacy for mayor

William Azaroff chosen as OneCity Vancouver’s mayoral candidate | CBC News

William Azaroff

Progressive Primary – OneCity

COPE responds

The Greens respond

Vancouver Liberals add park board commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky to team

Run with Vote Vancouver

Team For A Livable Vancouver To Run Candidates For Mayor, Council, School And Park Board In This Fall’s Election

Mayor Ken Sim Announces Re-Election Bid, Vows to Keep Fighting for Vancouver

Former MLA launches Imagine Surrey mayoral run and city councillor slate | Urbanized

Former MLA Mike Starchuk enters 2026 mayoral race in Surrey | Vancouver Sun

Imagine Surrey

Vancouver councillor wants to ‘eliminate double standards’ on remote work at city hall

Residents, parents address city hall over proposed Olympic Village school

Langara Gardens: 2,600 new homes approved by Vancouver City Council for Cambie Corridor site

Approved Science World rental towers could raise $700 million for City of Vancouver | Urbanized

Vancouver’s auditor general criticizes city over lack of paper trail for lost developer amenities | CBC News

Vancouver missed out on millions as land deals were struck without proper strategy: report

Park Board seeking new permanent attraction for Stanley Park Train site | Urbanized

Vancouver council approves increase of slots from 600 to 900 at downtown casino

Coquitlam Mountie fired over vulgar messages in group chats – CTV News

Richard Marpole – Wikipedia

This Week in History: 1920 The CPR’s Richard Marpole dies | Vancouver Sun

Bill Miner – Wikipedia

E3-261 Greenlight the Green Mayoral Candidate

Cambie Report — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:13:01 +0000

We’re back and this time intend to stay back as this election is shaping up to be chaotic with Ken Sim seeking re-election, Pete Fry launching a bid for mayor and the Vancouver Liberals getting their first caucus members in 90 years. Sim is praising his zero percent property tax increase budget but city employees are not happy. Council can agree on one thing: Headlights are too damn bright. Housing looks shaky but we are building on industrial land. And the dump will continue to take your trash.

Links

Ranking how much Vancouver councillors have distanced themselves from Mayor Ken Sim

Ken Sim ‘pivots’ from park board and bitcoin, pushes safety and affordability in re-election bid | CBC News

Could Pete Fry soon announce a mayoral run?

Green Party of Vancouver endorses Pete Fry for Mayor or Council in 2026 Municipal Election

Ex-ABC Vancouver politician joins new civic party to seek re-election

School Board chair to run for Vancouver City Council in civic election | Urbanized

New civic Liberals party propose amalgamating University Endowment Lands with City of Vancouver

Vancouver City Council approves 2026 Budget with 0% property tax increase

‘Deceitful and unfair’: Vancouver municipal workers’ union files complaint alleging bad-faith negotiation

Vancouver council votes down living wage motion three years after scrapping policy

Vancouver city council calls on feds to address headlight brightness | CBC News

Vancouver mayoral candidate pitches $200-million traffic signal coordination plan | Urbanized

B.C. home prices at risk of 27% jump by 2032 due to delayed construction | Urbanized

Vancouver city council approves massive 2-tower VGH expansion

Going against advice of city staff, Vancouver council approves residential tower on industrial land

City eyes federal and provincial loans to demolish downtown Vancouver viaducts | Urbanized

Vancouver Landfill to stay open until 2050 under new regional agreement

Vancouveratta

Everett Crowley Park – Wikipedia

Vancouver’s Forgotten Monuments TikTok video

E3-281 OneCity’s mayoral candidates

Cambie Report — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 21:03:56 +0000

OneCity Vancouver is in the midst of their mayoral nomination contest, so we spoke to the two candidates: William Azaroff and Amanda Burrows about why they want to lead the city.

Learn more:

E3-366 Interesting races in an interesting region ft Patrick Johnstone

Cambie Report — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:17:37 +0000

Just one year to go until voters across Metro Vancouver go to the polls to elect their next mayors and city councils. New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone joins Ian to preview the races to watch across the region, and whether Vancouver is facing a referendum or not.

Image via Wikimedia

E3-388 A true efflorescence of political parties

Cambie Report — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:51:44 +0000

Did you miss us? We’re back to talk UBCM, the preponderance of parties that will participate in next year’s election, the war of the Langleys and the wizard in the park.

Links

UBCM convention shows drift from ‘compassion fatigue’ to concern over crime and disorder | CBC News

Codes of conduct and transit: UBCM convention sees municipal priorities pitted against provincial power | CBC News

Vancouver city councillor kicked out of ruling party announces mayoral bid | CBC News

Vancouver mayor’s former chief of staff starts new political party

Vancouver Liberals

B.C. Conservatives launch new municipal party before 2025 elections | Vancouver Sun

Former federal Conservative minister to steer B.C. municipal party – Castanet.net

Former Vancouver mayor launching court challenge of B.C.’s ‘at-large’ electoral system

Former Vancouver mayor to challenge B.C.’s voting system in court | CBC News

Fix City Hall

War of the Langleys: governance tensions between township and city mayors spills into the open | CBC News

Langley township mayor sues political rivals over social media accusations | CBC News

This B.C. mayor promised to use $55M in real estate for charity. Now he’s ignored an order to open the books

Richmond, B.C., Mayor Malcolm Brodie won’t seek re-election after 25 years in the role | CBC News

Terrace-born Donny van Dyk is Vancouver’s new city manager

Up to 24 months of full pay for Paul Mochrie, Vancouver’s departed city manager: Documents

Vancouver mayor and ABC councillors broke code of conduct, city integrity commissioner rules | CBC News

Integrity Commissioner Report COVIC-010: Complaint against Mayor Sim and Councillors Sarah Kirby-Yung, Lisa Dominato, Lenny Zh

Concerns over secret meetings ‘politicized,’ Vancouver mayor says

Proposal to suspend work of Vancouver’s integrity commissioner quietly fizzles out | CBC News

Third-party report recommends more independence for Vancouver’s integrity commissioner | CBC News

Release of City of Vancouver Code of Conduct By-law No. 12886 Review and Recommendations

B.C. says it will strengthen oversight of municipal governments | Vancouver Sun

Vancouver park board commissioner under fire for repeated absences: ‘Do you really want this job?’

Why Vancouver’s decision to host a Harry Potter attraction quickly became controversial | CBC News

Bright Nights leaves Vancouver for Surrey, as Stanley Park train remains sidelined

Vancouveratta: The X-Files, Vancouver, and a Legendary Backlash | MONTECRISTO

E3-457 Purest centrism

Cambie Report — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:17:38 +0000

What’s in: Finance reports and new parties.

What’s out: Speeding, garburators, disabled housing, Pride, Stanley Park Train and the Mayor’s Gym

Links

Byelection finance reports

Administrative Monetary Penalties Posted Online | Elections BC

Vancouver has a new civic party — the Vancouver Liberals

Vancouver Liberals

30 km/h speed limits coming to local streets in Vancouver

Garburators will officially be banned in Vancouver for a pricey reason

Metro loses legal bid in feud over millions of documents in North Shore poo plant trial

Housing for residents with disabilities put on hold due to lack of parking

Vancouver Pride in peril? Parade will proceed despite losing nearly half its sponsors

Stanley Park Train will be off the rails for 2025 | CBC News

Ken Sim’s gym closes

Vancouveratta – Vancouver’s fractured left cracks again

E3-499 Backing down and loving it

Cambie Report — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 20:41:54 +0000

An emergency motion for a Lapu Lapu Day tragedy memorial event surprises even Filipino BC. The Kitsilano Coalition is happy to see the city concede on the planned supportive housing project. The Vancouver Renters’ Office also isn’t coming back anytime soon. Metro Vancouver and the Langleys debate governance and policing. But with luck, we’ll see a new worker-owned co-op news outlet in the Tri-Cities, Burnaby, and New West

00:55 Strange Developments: Lapu Lapu Day Tragedy Memorial
06:35 Kitsilano Coalition’s Victory Against Supportive Housing
09:20 Vancouver Park Board Controversy
12:44 Vancouver Renter’s Office Debate
15:47 Ken Sim’s Defamation Lawsuit
17:24 Granville Street Entertainment District Plan
27:43 Langley Policing Dispute
32:09 Worker-Owned Co-op News Outlet
34:42 Vancouveratta – Invasive Wall Lizards

Links

Community Update l Tuesday, June 3 — Filipino BC

B.C. Filipino community group upset with Vancouver city council’s sudden Lapu Lapu Day memorial event decision

Have the Doors Closed on New BC Supportive Housing? | The Tyee

Dissolution of Vancouver Park Board on pause: City

Motion to bring back Vancouver renter office defeated in tie vote – CTVNews

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim launches defamation lawsuit against former chief of staff and local businessman

Car-free revival plan for Granville strip approved by Vancouver City Council | Urbanized

Photo ready: City votes to install giant $1M Vancouver sign along waterfront | CBC News

Metro Vancouver has 41 directors. After a governance review, will that change? | CBC News

Under fire for wasteful spending, Metro Vancouver touts award for ‘excellence in financial reporting’

Former Premier Mike Harcourt calls for big changes at Metro Vancouver

Policing ‘divorce’ going ahead between City and Township of Langley – BC | Globalnews.ca

Save Our Local News

Axed local reporters aim to launch first worker-owned co-op news outlet in Western Canada, covering Tri-Cities, Burnaby, New Westminster

Vancouveratta

The wall lizard invasion of Vancouver Island – Macleans.ca

BC Bob | Oopsies | Instagram

E3-530 Byelection: ABC ate shit

Cambie Report — Tue, 06 May 2025 04:20:44 +0000

We mourn with everyone who lost friends and loved ones at the recent Lapu Lapu tragedy. In the coming months, we’ll be sure to follow the ongoing political fallout of the failures that led to this event. In the meantime, support the Kapwa Strong fundraiser.

Looking back at the byelection, it should probably have been quite clear what was going to happen but few (besides Peter Meiszner) would have predicted Vancouver’s elections to be run so poorly. Plus we have a trove of fundraising data from the 2024 annual reports and the VPD are in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Plus we remember the McBarge.

Links

Filipino BC – Kapwa Strong fundraiser

‘Hard to accept’ festival attack suspect was under mental health care: Vancouver mayor – CTV News

City of Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu festival planning called into question compared to other events

High interest and 62% cut in staffing lead to major lines in Vancouver byelection | CBC News

Chief Election Officer declares candidates elected | City of Vancouver

By-election results

Anonymous ballot marking — City of Vancouver Open Data Portal

Vancouver mayor to reflect on resident satisfaction following party’s byelection defeats | CBC News

Vancouver’s byelection a story of big lines, big passion, and ABC coping with a big loss | CBC News

‘We got our butts handed to us:’ ABC Vancouver pledges to learn from byelection defeat – Dan Fumano

What can we learn from the 2024 annual reports – Cambie Report

VPD whistleblower alleges ‘Task Force Barrage’ arrest quotas – BC | Globalnews.ca

Unredacted email from alleged anonymous VPD officer

Vancouver Police Department to be over budget by millions: report

Former Vancouver Police Board member questions budget approval process for $5M crackdown on DTES crime – CTVNews

Vancouveratta – McBarge

Iconic Expo 86 ‘McBarge’ capsizes in Fraser River | CBC News

Justin McElroy : “i had to say goodbye with one drawing and one song” — Bluesky

Abandoned BC Ferry on fire in Mission

E3a-4 People are definitely bringing their D-game

Cambie Report — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 21:19:19 +0000

“I’m sorry” – Ken Sim about five times in the last month.

Also featuring Annette Reilly of the Vancouver Green’s statement.

Links

Vancouver byelection: Seven candidates from five parties make their pitch

Vancouver sees 2,876 ballots cast on first day of advance voting for byelection

Byelection candidates question ABC Vancouver’s debate absence

‘Oops’: Vancouver mayor apologizes for series of recent slip-ups

Vancouver municipal council by-election candidate forced to apologize for e-mail outreach to police officers

A Police Union Leader’s Controversial Run for Vancouver Council | The Tyee

Audio leaked of Vancouver byelection candidate discussing running mate – BC | Globalnews.ca

Ken Sim Bitcoin video (Bitcoin)

ABC Vancouver’s ‘repudiation of the rule of law’ shows gap in B.C.’s municipal oversight, Ombudsperson says

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim gets booed at Juno Awards | News

Candidates for Vancouver Municipal Party Say They Attended Multiple Events with Conspiratorial Far-Right Groups By Accident

Policies/platforms

Vancouveratta

Bure once helped pull off the ultimate Vancouver Canucks April Fools’ prank | Sports

E3a-11 Hear from the candidates

Cambie Report — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:27:41 +0000

We turned the mics over to the candidates for the Vancouver byelection so you can hear directly from them.

Featuring Lucy Malone (OneCity), Colleen Hardwick (TEAM), Sean Orr (COPE), Jaime Stein (ABC) and Theodore Abbott (TEAM). Unfortunately, we didn’t receive clips from Ralph Kaisers (ABC) or Annette Reilly (Greens) by our deadline.

E3a-38 Not a core value fit

Cambie Report — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 23:08:13 +0000

With 38 days until the Vancouver by-elections, we delve into the DUI allegations against Mayor Ken Sim, which were reportedly dismissed by police investigations. We discuss Task Force Barrage, a new initiative targeting organized crime and public safety. As well: Rebecca Bligh and is out of ABC, Adam Palmer is out of the VPD – the latter by choice. ABC announces its byelection candidates. And, Surrey withdraws from the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy, community newspapers close and our Vancouveratta.

Links

E3a-58 The mayor is a petulant child

Cambie Report — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:38:40 +0000

Byelection candidates, supportive housing pause, Metro Van boycott and the Delta Police spark an international incident.

Links

E3a-72 Democracy isn’t free

Cambie Report — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 06:34:56 +0000

Two byelections at the same time folks. With Vancouver’s longest-serving councillor, Adriane Carr, stepping down and Christine Boyle’s election to the BC Legislature, Vancouver needs two new councillors. We look at the race and everything else that’s happened recently.

Links

E3-709 Summer and Chip Wilson Day

Cambie Report — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 22:59:02 +0000

Two-years of Ken Sim, Crab Park residents evicted, some upcoming byelections, Burnaby affordable housing requirements axed, New West mayor chastised and Surrey gets its first weed store.

Links

Q&A: Ken Sim reflects on two-year anniversary as Vancouver mayor

Chip Wilson Day

Vancouver’s CRAB Park residents left with few options as eviction looms | CBC News

13 local politicians were elected to the B.C. Legislature. Not all are giving up their municipal roles | CBC News

Christine Boyle announces resignation from Vancouver city council

Burnaby eliminates affordable rental requirement in low-income neighbourhood

New West mayor’s all-expenses paid trip to Dubai breached ethics rules: Commissioner

Green light: Surrey council approves 12 new pot stores across the city

Metro Vancouver approves 25.3% increase to regional tax bill in 2025

Metro Vancouver sells land set aside for Bowen Island Campground

Paradox Hotel Vancouver – Wikipedia

E3-721 The Wild West of Fucking Procedure

Cambie Report — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 05:54:33 +0000

Sarah Kirby-Yung is mad at Rebecca Bligh. Pete Fry is mad at Ken Sim. Everyone is acting like children. It’s the council we know and love. But at least with a majority, they passed most everything they wanted (for better or worse). And at least Vancouver’s mayor hasn’t been deemed likely to leak confidential documents via Staples print centres again.

Links

E3-741 A feather made of helium

Cambie Report — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 05:46:11 +0000

ABC backtracks on the city’s integrity commissioner, while ending City Hall lighting for (foreign) national holidays. Burnaby signs a gag order with TransMountain. Police in the region are over budget and saying some wildly bigoted things. A quirky by-election in Harrison Hot Springs. The Park Board’s existential plea, legal battles over tree removal in Stanley Park, and the return of the ghost train serve as the lighter notes.

Timestamps and Links

01:20 Integrity Commissioner Controversy

‘Pause the pause’: ABC Vancouver reversing course on integrity commissioner freeze

04:46 City Hall Lighting Policy Changes

Vancouver council limits groups from lighting up city hall, Burrard Bridge

09:39 Public Opinion on Mayor and Council

Majority of Vancouverites feel Mayor and city council are out of touch: CityNews poll

12:22 VPD Budget Overrun and RCMP Accountability

17:07 Victoria Citizens Assembly on Amalgamation

Victoria-Saanich amalgamation report begins after years of delay

20:29 Burnaby’s Gag Order with Trans Mountain

Burnaby barred from ‘negative public communications’ about Trans Mountain under $20M deal – BC | Globalnews.ca

22:57 Vancouver Park Board’s Fight for Existence

Vancouver Park Board votes to remain an elected body

26:01 Stanley Park Tree Removal Lawsuit and SCC Rejects Vancouver’s SRO Vacancy Control Appeal

30:47 Harrison Hot Springs By-Election

Harrison Hot Springs elects new mayor, councillor in byelection | CBC News

33:25 Stanley Park Ghost Train Returns

Stanley Park Ghost Train to ride again in October

34:48 Vancouveratta: BC’s First General Election

E3-765 Lisa Southern is not an airplane

Cambie Report — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 23:48:16 +0000

Pete Fry foils Ken Sim’s effort to put the Integrity Commissioner’s office into a medically-induced coma. The Park Board releases a legal opinion suggesting a mid-term abolition may be unconstitutional. Surrey wants a Charter. A North Van chemical company runs an astroturf campaign. The People’s Park defeats the fire station. And lots of housing – and little parking – coming to Vancouver’s east end.

Links

E3-814 Did a Global News question kill the Park Board?

Cambie Report — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 06:07:48 +0000

Council controversies: Brian Montague’s integrity commissioner review, Vancouver’s rollback on climate action policies, and the city’s purchase of an almost completed market rental building. Delayed suicide prevention barriers on Granville Bridge, TransLink’s funding crisis, and the debate over Vancouver’s view cones. Cities try to meet the deadline to pass multiplex bylaws, except West Vancouver. City council and the park board battle over bike lanes in the West End. And we dig into a heavily redacted FOI on when Ken Sim decided to move to abolish the Park Board.

Links

01:57 Integrity Commissioner Review
05:05 Climate Action Report and Natural Gas Debate
09:47 Granville Bridge Suicide Barriers Delayed (see also re debris)
Vancouver to get new dedicated bus lanes on these key routes
13:43 TransLink Funding Crisis and Potential Cuts
21:08 View Cones Debate
26:43 City Purchases Market Rental Building
30:36 Ken Sim’s Quick Fix for Kits Pool
33:37 Bike Lane Battle: Park Board vs. Council
36:06 FOI Requests and Park Board Abolishment
FOI fight
43:01 Provincial Housing Compliance and West Vancouver’s Defiance
45:55 Surrey’s Push for a City Charter
48:33 NIMBYs Oppose New Fire Station
50:56 Vancouver’s New Sign and Historical Homages
53:45 Farewell to AM 730 Traffic Radio

Outro audio credit: TikTok @unCOUVER

E3-842 Cribs city hall

Cambie Report — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 20:23:41 +0000

Ken Sim expropriated a City Hall boardroom for a personal gym because that’s what winners do. Meanwhile, the cops are using their extra budget to tackle the chaos that is people watching the sunset from the beach. Mandatory upzoning is progressing, with some notable squeaky wheels that are playing chicken with the province. And a new audit is being launched into the ill-fated North Shore Waste Water Plant.

Links

Pete Fry’s tweet of the gym

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim explains why he turned a boardroom into a gym

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim defends converting city hall room into a gym

Here’s how many times Vancouver’s mayor has been absent from a vote at council

$80K staff position added to Vancouver mayor’s office | CBC News

Carol Reardon tweet on Sim math

Blair’s tweet of cops clearing the beach

Vancouver police English Bay beach sweep prompts questions

Mayor Ken Sim out as Vancouver Police Board chair | CBC News

Surrey policing transition saga over, mayor accepts judicial review

More than 4,000 homes built for people, thousands more on the way through housing targets

Vancouver to allow more density at all SkyTrain stations beyond legislation | Urbanized

Vancouver council votes to densify upscale Shaughnessy neighbourhood

Vancouver scraps minimum parking requirements citywide – BC | Globalnews.ca

Cities ask for more time to comply with B.C.’s zoning laws | CBC News

B.C. rejects Burnaby petition for exemption to new transit-oriented development rules

Burnaby defies new BC housing transit-oriented area laws

Bylaws passed: Port Moody, Coquitlam (for TOAs only), Richmond, Surrey, Delta, Chilliwack

Public toilet plan doesn’t pass the sniff test for some New West residents

TransLink announces $90M cost-cutting plan to address funding gap | CBC News

City reverses plan to spend $6M for expanded Burnaby elementary school gym

Metro announces independent review of ballooning North Vancouver sewage plant cost – North Shore News

Vancouveratta

The Vancouver Stock Exchange: A Legacy of Fraud and Money Laundering Part I

The Vancouver Stock Exchange: A Legacy of Fraud and Money Laundering Part II

E3-869 Surrey as performance art

Cambie Report — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 05:47:51 +0000

At some point Brenda Locke should get tired of losing, but today is not that day. It does inspire us to think of Surrey as a grand collective delusion that we’re all experiencing. Importantly though, voting isn’t speech and the constitution still doesn’t recognize municipalities.

In Vancouver, Council wants to keep property taxes low, there are squabbles at the Park Board but maybe we can sell off naming rights to our parks to solve our budget woes (spoiler: we can’t). Ken Sim will continue to operate on vibes, however. Throughout that, Vancouver is behind on its housing targets but it has plenty of company from municipalities still grumbling about the province forcing them to upzone all residential zones.

George Harvie is still in hot water over travel expenditures, Port Moody mulled a lobbyist registry, Langley City is banning daycares and Coquitlam nearly banned joy.

And you should all go save the WISE Hall.

Links

E3-893 Small Petty Bullshit

Cambie Report — Wed, 08 May 2024 23:20:03 +0000

No fun city? Unless you want to gamble. Surrey policing drama. Mayors behaving badly.

Links

John Coupar runs for BC Conservatives

Vancouver mayor cautious about organizing Canucks watch parties | CBC News

Vancouver mulls viewing area for ’amazing’ Canucks’ fans | The Province

Roxy Fever…the Podcast! (@roxyfever) / X

Investigations Initiated into Potential Contraventions of the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act

Vancouver council considers ‘modifying’ moratorium on gambling expansion

Date set for Surrey Police Service to take over from RCMP: Farnworth

Bombshell hidden provincial report confirms SPS costs to skyrocket by $750M | City of Surrey

Surrey Police Deloitte report

Surrey mayor’s ‘withdrawal of service’ complaint about SPS officers called ‘hurtful’

B.C. judge refuses to seal documents alleging RCMP bullying against Surrey police

UPDATE: RCMP union says its officers can’t work under Surrey Police without federal law changes

Delta council votes to remove Mayor Harvie as Metro chair

Jas Johal on George Harvie

Thread on Kamloops mayor

Kamloops council reverses mayor’s suspension of CAO | CBC News

Kamloops mayor says sex photo incident on ‘list’ of reasons he suspended top city official

B.C. mayor stripped of budget, barred from committees over Indigenous residential schools book

The First International Store – Starbucks Canada

E3-919 Charts on a podcast: It’s all about the money

Cambie Report — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 21:45:51 +0000

Christine Boyle defeats Andrea Reimer in the battle of Little Mountain, meaning we’re likely headed to a council byelection later this year. Last year’s annual report fundraising gives us some insight into how well each party might do. Surrey meanwhile, doesn’t want money. Vancouver will be saying goodbye to public hearings. An overdose prevention site draws controversy, as do new rules around sheltering in parks. The City hopes to go to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Olympic Village school is finally coming. And Vision Zero wants you to take a brick to cross the street.

Links

E3-950 Unforced errors

Cambie Report — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 04:33:25 +0000

The municipal becomes the provincial as two friends-of-the-pod compete in the race to replace an outgoing MLA. Mike Klassen asks the city for money for a Junos trip, Ken Sim asks a park board commissioner for forgiveness and the MST Nations are going to ask the province for everything. We also get into BIA expansion controversies, calls to make the red Vancouver sign permanent, and the history of neon signs in Vancouver.

B.C. NDP nomination battle brewing between former and current Vancouver city councillors

Vancouver councillor withdraws application for city cash to cover Junos trip with mayor

Integrity investigation finds Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim discriminated against Park Board commissioner

Vancouver Host First Nations support Park Board dissolution

Letter from MST nations

Dan Fumano: Vancouver park board abolition not coming before B.C. election, Premier Eby says

Community associations ask B.C. not to eliminate Park Board

Dan Fumano: Psychedelics are illegal — and Vancouver police say criminal charges could be coming

Richmond, B.C., council approves drug consumption site motion | CBC News

Richmond won’t seek approval for drug consumption site: mayor | CBC News

A supervised consumption site for Richmond, B.C., was ditched. Why are critics still so furious?

24-07 BCPS announces appointment of Special Prosecutor Gordon

West Vancouver mayor Mark Sager suspended from practicing law for two years after admitting misconduct – North Shore News

3 code of conduct complaints filed against Port Moody councillor during first year in office

Mount Pleasant BIA expands despite objections

B.C. municipality to debate whether it should continue to exist | CBC News

City Council to consider installing a permanent “VANCOUVER” sign | Urbanized

Neon Vancouver Ugly Vancouver — MOV

Neon in the City — MOV | Museum of Vancouver

This Week in History, 1927: Neon signs light up Vancouver

E3-982 We elected fifth graders

Cambie Report — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 19:31:53 +0000

Park board abolition, budget task force and naming rights, car-free gastown and more.

Links

E3-995 Join the Movement

Cambie Report — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 23:00:27 +0000

Denis Agar, founder of Movement, a transit advocacy nonprofit organization, discusses the challenges and solutions for improving transit in Metro Vancouver. We cover the issues with the 49 bus route, the need for bus lanes and other transit improvements, the importance of community engagement, the funding challenges faced by TransLink, the potential of real estate development as a funding source, and the strategies for addressing different levels of government. The conversation discusses the challenges and funding contingencies in implementing transit plans, particularly in the context of the bus rapid transit (BRT) 10-year plan. It highlights the need for increased funding for bus service and the importance of public involvement in transit advocacy.

Links

TransitMovement.ca
Our repeat Vancouveratta on the 49 plaques

E3-1044 The break up on your behalf service

Cambie Report — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 22:29:25 +0000

Ken Sim proposes abolishing the Park Board, shocking half of the ABC Park Board caucus who are now in open revolt. Can the right decisions be made for the pettiest of reasons? Ken Sim also saw the City Hall walls and wanted them painted…with the Rolling Stones logo. New regulations from the province dictating how cities need to implement the coming upzoning laws are giving city planners nightmares but that’s a good thing. Cops and West Van mayors seem to rely on loose interpretations of facts (allegedly). And we have some holiday drink recommendations.

Links

E3-1058 Manufactured wood arcologies

Cambie Report — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:33:28 +0000

BC’s new housing laws mean major shakeups for city councils but maybe that’s a good thing since we are in a housing crisis. Plus cities try to make themselves useful in the meantime. Except Surrey and especially except Harrison Hot Springs.

Links

E3-1080 Pray Holborn doesn’t alter the deal further

Cambie Report — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 18:57:19 +0000

Social housing at Little Mountain continues to be the most aggravating story in the City of Vancouver, and it just got worse. Boyle wants red light and speed cameras in the city, but ABC wants further study. The cops are using their political capital. The Park Board is protecting golf courses. The city wants to save Britannia Community Centre but possibly eliminate the Beach Ave bike lane.

Further afield, Metro plows ahead with development fee increases, Richmond goes all in on cars and Port Coquitlam does an about face on a “controversial” daycare.

Links

E3-1100 Frustration after frustration after frustration

Cambie Report — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 21:07:31 +0000

Surrey sues the province, who’s about to crush them with legislation. Vancouver seeks a new city planner to build the homes Ken Sim is hoping his new plan will allow, if he’s not too busy filing complaints against political rivals. Burnaby allows laneway houses but misses out on federal funding as Metro Vancouver’s new development fees are too high. And Port Moody council approves a new development despite a marathon of controversy.

Links

City of Surrey launches court proceeding to halt police transition (City announcement with petition)

Surrey launches policing review in B.C. Supreme Court | CityNews Vancouver

Minister’s statement on Surrey policing | BC Gov News

City of Vancouver parts ways with chief planner

Vancouver council approves ‘missing middle’ motion allowing up to 8 homes per lot – BC | Globalnews.ca

Dan Fumano: Vancouver Mayor Sim and ABC majority pledge housing action

Ken Sim housing motion

Vancouver City Council to consider review on how view cones impact housing

100 Cops, Not Even 10 Nurses | The Tyee

Dan Fumano: Vancouver council eyes loosening rent limits to boost construction

Ken Sim Tried to Stop a Councillor From Talking. Will It Happen Again? | The Tyee

Vancouver mayor’s 2nd conduct complaint against city councillor upheld

Integrity Commissioner Report COVIC-005: Complaint against Councillor Christine Boyle

Christine Boyle spent $7K to defend complaint from Ken Sim – Vancouver Is Awesome

Dan Fumano: Major Vancouver labour group changes direction, throws support behind one party

Development Cost Charge Revisions | Metro Vancouver

Feds postpone housing funding for 2 of B.C.’s biggest cities amid concern over development fees | CBC News

Federal housing minister’s ‘fiasco’ flip-flop on housing funds puzzles B.C. mayors

‘A significant step forward’: Laneway housing legalized in Burnaby

Burnaby council says no to Metrotown city hall after public backlash

When is a tour actually a meeting, a Port Moody councillor wants to know. But the rules aren’t entirely clear

MLA’s Coronation Park letter surprising and ‘disappointing,’ responds developer – TriCities Dispatch

MLAs letter shows lack of understanding and lack of respect, Mayor writes – TriCities Dispatch

Burns Bog – Wikipedia

E3-1149 Density is necessity

Cambie Report — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 20:43:55 +0000

The latest threat to neighbourhood character: Young children.

Also: Paying people to speak at public hearings, selling off school board land, staffing the mayor’s office, banning Hookah shops, developing Coquitlam and Burnaby.

Links

E3-1184 Government by complaint

Cambie Report — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 20:41:08 +0000

We can’t have nice things: We can’t have a spa, we can’t have the polar bears, we can’t have a mural, we can’t have the RCMP in Surrey, we can’t have temporary modular housing and we can’t have water. But we can have a beer at Khatsalano.

Links

Vancouveratta

We also can’t ever have perfect audio quality – apologies for the bit of echo in here, we reduced as much as we could.

E3-1198 Who among us

Cambie Report — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 20:13:52 +0000

Surrey policing drama, disqualifications, ethics issues, car-free pilots and mean girls.

Links

E3-1250 Trapped in John A Macdonald’s fever dream

Cambie Report — Thu, 18 May 2023 05:32:01 +0000

A jury convened by a Coroner’s Inquest has deemed the death of Myles Gray to be a homicide, seven years after he was dead following an altercation with Vancouver Police. But this is only the latest in a long history of challenges for policing in Vancouver. Meanwhile, the province has recommended Surrey continue transitioning to the Surrey Police Service and Brenda Locke refuses to read the reasons why.

Vancouver Council opts to make Gastown car free but also wants to give developers a big cheque. Burnaby is still figuring out the Alternative Approval Process and considering moving city hall.

And the Park Board mulls a goose cull.

Links

E3-1283 A rathaus of mayor brains

Cambie Report — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 22:51:31 +0000

Ken Sim clears Hastings Street and has thoughts on housing. Brenda Locke stands by her interpretation of a meeting.

Links

E3-1298 Vancouver the group art project

Cambie Report — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 21:04:56 +0000

The Globe and Mail’s exclusive claims China attempted to interfere in Vancouver’s 2022 election and councillor Lenny Zhou is in the crosshairs. The Broadway Plan is up for a series of votes, ABC wants grant recipients to be nicer and a roundup of other recent news.

Links

Photo credit: Flickr/chispita_666

E3-1322 Community Charter obscura

Cambie Report — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 22:25:15 +0000

Vancouver passes a budget that “sucks” and kills the Living Wage. Progress Vancouver admits to breaking election financing laws. And the City is clearing tents and considering a new hotel.

Meanwhile, Burnaby is running an “alternative approval process” for a green waste facility, Surrey cops allege conflicts of interest and Harrison Hot Springs appeals to the Inspector of Municipalities to fix its council.

Mission school board has banned an extremist group from future presentation and Coquitlam council applauds pro-LGBTQ+ students.

And how you can be in the City of Vancouver’s Book of Freedoms.

Links

Vancouver passes new budget with 10.7% property tax increase | CBC News

Text of ABC budget amendment

Why can one Metro Vancouver municipality keep property taxes much lower than others?

City of Vancouver backs away from living wage pledge after council vote in closed meeting | CBC News

Statement on City of Vancouver’s decision to withdraw as Living Wage Employer

Working for a Living Wage Report

Defeated Vancouver mayoral hopeful Marissen accepted an illegal loan for Progress Vancouver campaign – Economy, Law & Politics

Progress Vancouver financing report

Vancouver’s efforts to remove DTES tent city residents “a violation of human rights”: advocate

32-storey hotel with 578 rooms and rooftop destination restaurant proposed for downtown Vancouver (RENDERINGS)

Have your say: Burnaby residents can vote on removal of parkland for green waste facility

Burnaby asks voters to decide on removing 21 acres of parkland

Alternative approval process for local government – Province of British Columbia

City opens feedback opportunity for park dedication removal | City of Burnaby (forms here)

Surrey Police Union requests ethics probe into councillor | CityNews Vancouver

Surrey Council Code of Conduct Bylaw, 2020, No. 20020

Chaos at council: Harrison Hot Springs politicians beg for help | Fraser Valley Current

BC school district bans anti-LGBTQ group from presenting at board meetings – Campbell River Mirror

‘You had us at hello,’ Coquitlam mayor tells Best students for Pride flag, event – Tri-City News

Freedom of the City | City of Vancouver

Freedom of the City honorees prior to 2010 | City of Vancouver

Photo credit: flickr/Taylor McBride

E3-1337 This City Council could’ve been an email

Cambie Report — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 22:06:33 +0000

Elections BC has released the financial reports from the 2022 municipal elections and we can see how efficient each party’s spending was. Meanwhile, the staff report from the Climate Emergency Action Plan is pretty bleak and ABC opted to slash the climate justice charter from its further implementation. This prompted a question of whether ABC is predetermining outcomes of council votes (probably), which is better than in New West where they just have too many votes.

Back in Vancouver, successful votes mean social housing near the Italian Cultural Centre and the end of the single use cup fee. It also means the end of the Stanley Park bike lane – at least until another round of consultations is completed on installing a permanent lane. Until then, feel free to join Critical Mass once again on the last Friday of every month.

The cops and nurses plan turns out to be just cops. Langley SkyTrain is on track. And Surrey homeowners will pay more but not 55% more.

And in schools, Vancouver removes a racists’ name, Coquitlam students want pride events and Chilliwack residents want to ban books.

In our Vancouveratta, Cultus Lake sure is nice.

Links

E3-1357 Happy News Years

Cambie Report — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:21:20 +0000

Whether Gregorian or Lunar, Happy New Year.

We’re back to look at missing middle initiatives in Victoria and Vancouver. Plus what’s hot and not for ABC. Surrey won’t have an answer on policing anytime soon. And Kennedy Stewart is in the news once more.

Links

E3-1401 ABCs of party discipline

Cambie Report — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 22:30:13 +0000

Motions are passing unanimously at council but marginally more controversially at Park Board. The planning department is a mess, as is policing south of the Fraser. And sculptures!

Links

Boyle nonprofit housing motion passes

Vancouver City Council approves exploring expediting social housing up to 12 storeys

Text of the Klassen amendment

Hardwick abstained from speaking

CAC motion passes

Vancouver Park Board approves immediate removal of Stanley Park Drive bike lane

Thousands of Vancouver housing units in limbo in tug-of-war between developers, city planners – The Globe and Mail

City of Vancouver must reconsider controversial Chinatown development application, court rules

Court ruling

In defense of the “gentrification building”

Surrey council votes to scrap police transition, B.C. public safety minister responds

Surrey policing: ‘Power politics’ at play in final decision, says criminologist

Langley, the township, is interested in breaking up with Langley, the city, on RCMP costs | CBC News

New Langley Township council looks to throw out predecessors’ plans

Port Moody mayor fined $200 by Elections BC over campaign’s phone-call promotions

West Vancouver mayor issued citation by Law Society of B.C. over handling of will | CBC News

Kamloops mayor recuses himself from entire council meeting in ‘surprising’ move | CBC News

Security company says Kamloops mayor directed presence to his auto dealership

Colin Basran investigated

Housing on the way to support people living on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside | BC Gov News

Vancouver elementary school renamed wek̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm in Musqueam name gifting ceremony | CBC News

Move the East Van cross?

217.5 Arc x 13 | Vancouver Biennale

E3-1415 Shrub of reasonable doubt

Cambie Report — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 05:11:25 +0000

Doug McCallum is a free man, having been found not guilty of mischief. Ken Sim began his stint as Mayor of Vancouver with a trip to Qatar to watch the world cup. But he was back in time for budget debates, where he questioned the revenue generating possibilities of the library. There’s lots more coming up at council, the regional boards see some shakeups and UBC and Translink want to build houses.

Vancouveratta

E3-1436 Scaly Faced Motherfucker

Cambie Report — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 05:40:50 +0000

Everyone is on trial this week as Doug McCallum is in court, the VPD put themselves in the hotseat attempting to press the case against social spending in the DTES and council faces its first tests.

E+1 SimCity

Cambie Report — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 03:29:26 +0000

Ian and Matthew react to the results of the 2022 Vancouver municipal election and check in across the environs.

2022 Election unofficial results – chart view

53 Years Ago, Vancouver’s Very Own Fool Turned This City Upside Down | MONTECRISTO

E-2 Surrey you must be joking

Cambie Report — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 06:11:28 +0000

One final look at the election with just under two days until we have the results. We dig into Surrey a bit more and then look at the other interesting races to follow.

Rushed this one out the door so apologies for any audio quality issues.

Image via Wikimedia

E-8 The Endorsement Show

Cambie Report — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 23:24:07 +0000

A recap of how the campaigns have gone and who we think deserves a vote in Vancouver.

Link mentioned: Vancouver Police Union breaks with tradition and endorses ABC Vancouver for municipal election | CBC News

E-16 The North

Cambie Report — Sat, 01 Oct 2022 21:02:16 +0000

Ian’s on vacation so Brent Richter from North Shore News joins Matthew to break down the state of the races in the North Vancouvers and West Vancouver.