Transit is a public good that we must treat like such. It is essential for connecting people to the city they live and work in. OneCity has clear policy points on transit, and i wholeheartedly support our previous platform pieces. Ultimately, Ken Sim and ABC have not made transit better: we still need safer walking and cycling infrastructure, we need better bus service, we need improved late-night transit.

We talk about a city where people can thrive, and to make that happen we need to make transit more accessible. OneCity has already laid important groundwork here by championing free transit for youth, low-income transit access, and building more housing near transit. I think we need to build on that vision and be even bolder.  

We need to work with the groups already doing the research and work around this topic, we need to be active partners in moving ahead on our city’s transit needs. 

That means fighting for free transit for everyone under 18 across Metro Vancouver, providing free transit for youth aging out of care, expanding low-income transit passes, and investing in reliable frequent transit in every neighbourhood. More bus lanes, safer bus stops, better late-night service, and making sure transit stations are connected to childcare, housing, public washrooms, and community spaces.

We need to call on Translink to shift their spending from fare evasion, policing of which costs far more than is recovered. Our calls should include a shift to fare access that works for everyone, including expanding low-income and youth passes so people can ride without being criminalized for poverty.

Drug-use related crises are about access to safe supplies, services and health care. Vancouver has understood this before, we listened to the experts and the community and we implemented policies that saved lives. And then the crisis changed and our responses fell behind.

Right now, people in our city aren’t dying because they use drugs, they’re dying because the supply is poisoned. We must expand supervised consumption so people have a safe place to go in every neighbourhood, where they can have their drugs tested, where they can use safely if that’s what they need, and where they can access services, including voluntary treatment and detox . If people are lined up outside of these sites, then that is only a sign that we need more.

It feels like we have been left to handle this crisis on our own, and community leaders are burning out while waiting for leadership that has the courage to support their work. We need all levels of government to come back to the table. The evidence is clear: safer, regulated supply will save lives. A safe place to use eases the strain on our health care system. And it cannot go without saying: we have to invest in supportive housing with care built in. The four pillar approach didn’t fail, it wasn’t adequately supported to keep up with the immense scale of the crisis.

Reconciliation is a decision we must make every day. All of us in this debate are able to step into leadership roles with privileges that give us the space to be heard, that give us grace when we make mistakes, and we have been trusted with power in decision making. We have a responsibility to use that privilege to build stronger relationships with the nations we are connected to. 

In Vancouver, indigenous leadership is crucial to how we get to enjoy our city. We have been seeing whales return to our harbour because of the habitat protection initiatives led by Squamish Nation. We are seeing important housing projects being completed because of the partnerships with the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations. These are examples of what happens when Indigenous leadership is respected and empowered.

I am committed to continuing to strengthen these relationships at City Hall, through supporting indigenous-led housing, cultural visibility and celebration, and ensuring Indigenous leaders continue to be invited to the table when decisions are made.

Vancouver City Council has lost touch with labour. Organized labour should be treated as a partner, welcome at our table as we discuss how we make Vancouver a place where everyone can thrive. Labour has done incredible work at engaging their membership on issues that matter and advocating for their needs; they have information that they are ready and willing to share as we look at affordability in this city, housing, a shifting technological landscape and struggles within healthcare. 

It’s critical that we show labour that they are valued participants in these conversations, not just a group to appease.

I believe in sustainable growth in every community. We need to look at the amenities in the surrounding area to see if they can keep up with such growth. We know that the key to sustainably growing our housing supply is to increase our low- to mid-density housing supply across the city. These shifts are more affordable for all, and ensure we don’t massively displace residents who are already building connections in their neighbourhoods. High-density towers have a place in Vancouver, but we need to thoughtfully engage in the conversation of what the neighbourhoods need.

With a current mayor wanting to see Vancouver invest in bitcoin - an environmentally catastrophic endeavour, it’s easy to see how we’ve lost sight of being a green city. Climate leadership is a core value for many Vancouverites and it’s not hard to get back on track: we need to make it easier to get out of cars by helping develop lifelong transit users by expanding affordable transit to youth and low-income users, accelerating bus lanes, supporting safer bike infrastructure and investing in rapid transit; we should be retrofitting existing buildings, and tie our climate goals into new developments.

From the OneCity City Council Debate, my first motion:
“I am committed to inclusive and accessible services for all in Vancouver. We aim to be a world-class city and right now, we fall short. Across the city too many people struggle to find a safe, reliable washroom when they need one. Safety and belonging means everyone should be able to move through the city with dignity, and that no one has to think twice before handling a basic human need like going to the washroom.

Building on Councillor Fry’s previous motion, my first motion would be to direct staff to prioritize an implementation plan to expand Vancouver’s network of public washrooms, developing a city-wide strategy to invest in more 24-hour, fully accessible and gender-neutral washrooms in parks, transit corridors and commercial districts. This motion would include a report back timeline to ensure we don’t lose momentum on such an important topic.”