Vancouver City Council will be making some important decisions this week. Here are three motions and reports on our radar, why they matter, and how you can get involved.
WTC members are invited to join a drop-in Watch Council session ahead of the council meeting. Virtual drop-in sessions will take place on Monday, June 10th at 7pm and Tuesday, June 11th at 12:30pm. These sessions provide an opportunity to learn more, share your views, and receive support if you’d like to take action. While there is no pressure to write or speak to council, WTC staff can provide insight into the process if you are curious about it and provide coaching for anyone interested in participating.
What's on at Council
Staff Report:
Maintaining Our Homes - Cooling, Snow Removal, and Higher Fines for Landlords
Also known as:
Improving the Effectiveness of the Standards of Maintenance (SOM) By-law
What’s happening:
Staff are recommending changes to rules that establish a landlord’s responsibilities for keeping buildings (including our homes) in safe and healthy condition. These rules are called the “standards of maintenance” and staff recommend:
Increasing fines for landlords who break the rules on serious health and safety issues like working fire escapes, fire hazards, and mold, and allowing the city to step in sooner to do repairs when a landlord refuses.
Advocating for changes to provincial laws that would pave the way for Vancouver to implement a “right to cool” policy in rental homes.
Requiring apartment buildings to post notices indicating where the nearest public cooling centre is during the summer and requiring that windows remain openable to increase ventilation.
Requiring snow to be removed from accessible parking stalls and walkways.
Why it matters:
Too many people in our community are stuck with unsafe living conditions like mold, sweltering apartments, and fire hazards. While these changes are just a start (and the details matter), they’re one step toward ensuring everyone has a safe and dignified place to live.
Important Dates:
Council will vote on these recommendations on June 11. The deadline to sign up to speak is June 10th at 5pm.
Good to know:
This relates to our Hot Pink Paper Campaign ask to protect tenants from heat waves, which all council members committed to.
Learn more: Read the report here.
Motion:
Increasing Vancouver’s Tree Canopy for a Safer, Healthier City
What’s happening: Councillor Boyle and Councillor Carr are proposing a motion to plant 100,000 trees to provide cooling measures in neighbourhoods that are most vulnerable to extreme heat.
Why it matters:
Vancouver Coastal Health found that a lack of tree canopy and other urban green spaces contributed to Vancouver having the highest number of heat-related deaths in BC during the 2021 heat dome. Tree cover is not equitably distributed across the city. Areas like South and East Vancouver – where lower income and more racially diverse communities live – have fewer trees and experience higher temperatures.
Important Dates:
Council will vote on these recommendations on June 11. The deadline to sign up to speak is June 10th at 5pm.
Good to know:
During the 2022 municipal election, Mayor Sim’s party, ABC Vancouver, promised to plant 100,000 trees in areas with fewer trees within their first four years in office.
Learn more: Read the motion here.
Motion:
Anti-racism and Decolonization Education
What’s happening:
Earlier this year, Vancouver’s Integrity Commissioner found that Mayor Sim discriminated against Park Board Commissioner Laura Christensen based on gender & family status by not allowing virtual attendance to a meeting when she was at home with her newborn. In response, council agreed to receive human rights training. Councillor Fry is now proposing this training specifically include anti-racism and decolonization education, including learning about anti-racism’s role in systems of oppression and differentiating decolonization and reconciliation.
Why it matters:
Our elected officials make decisions every day that impact racialized communities – especially Black and Indigenous communities. This is an opportunity for council to strengthen their understanding of white supremacy, anti-racism, and decolonization. It also aligns with TRC Call to Action #57.
Important Dates:
Council will vote on these recommendations on June 12. The deadline to sign up to speak is June 11th at 5pm.
Good to know:
The success of our Hot Pink Paper Campaign ask to apply an equity lens to councillor motions hinges on ongoing anti-oppression training including intersectionality, anti-racism, and decolonization.
Learn more: Read the motion here.
How You Can Get Involved
Call in to speak:
Sign up online to speak at a council meeting over the phone (or go in person to City Hall). The deadline to request to speak is 5pm the day before the meeting. Check out WTC’s resource on How to Speak to Council.
Send an email:
Email council members to share your views on an agenda item.
Emails can be sent to: ken.sim@vancouver.ca, rebecca.bligh@vancouver.ca, christine.boyle@vancouver.ca, adriane.carr@vancouver.ca, lisa.dominato@vancouver.ca, pete.fry@vancouver.ca, sarah.kirby-yung@vancouver.ca, mike.klassen@vancouver.ca, peter.meiszner@vancouver.ca, brian.montague@vancouver.ca, lenny.zhou@vancouver.ca
Attend a WTC Drop-in Session:
Join WTC members at one of our drop-in sessions to discuss the upcoming council meeting and receive support if you’d like to take action.
Comments