Final Voting Day is tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 19. This is  the day when we the people decide who will form the next Provincial Government  for the next five years. Find your assigned voting place on your Where to Vote card, or visit wheretovote.elections.bc.ca.

Latest polls show that NDP Premier David Eby is edging slightly ahead of the Conservative party’s John Rustad (overall, however, the four year change is one of loss for the NDP since October of 2020’s actual vote). BC Elections has reported that a record number of voters — 171,381— cast their ballot on the first day of advance voting, beating the previous record of 126,491 in 2017. It’s been a tight race throughout, with the two provincial leaders sitting virtually neck-and-neck in the polls.

All-Candidates debate draws full house, Oct. 12

If you missed the Oct. 12 all-candidates debate at St. James Community Square, you can watch it now.

The neighbourhood organized debate drew mixed results. Ontario-born Eby seemed tired and was on the offensive as members of the crowd booed him for his government’s failed housing policies. Conservative candidate for Vancouver – Point Grey, Paul Ratchford, held his own despite the event being one of his first in the provincial race. He challenged Eby on his past seven years in office, saying “He pretends to care” as neighbourhoods are being bulldozed. Green Party candidate Devyani Singh was vibrant throughout, telling audience members to “vote for the change you want to see.”

According to Rob Shaw of The Orca, Eby has used the threat of a Rustad win and Rustad’s “hateful vision” of the future to scare Green Party voters into switching their votes to the NDP.

(Some) Candidates respond to UKRA questions

UKRA reached out to each of the three candidates with a series of questions (see below). Ratchford and Singh responded; Eby’s office accepted the questions at first, but failed to send in his answers.

Father of three and a native of Kitsilano, Paul Ratchford says that should he win the provincial election, one of his many goals will be to bring back public consultation to government policy-making.

“Vancouver-Point Grey residents must have a voice in decisions that impact their lives today and for years to come.” said Ratchford.

Ratchford points to the NDP’s fiscal mismanagement, saying he believes BC needs a whole new approach to housing. He criticized one of Eby’s pet projects as a “boondoggle” that “makes no sense.” Ratchford was referring to 1807 Larch St, where the NDP government poured hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies to build tiny 300 square foot condos that rent for $2,750 a month. He is opposed to the provincial bills that force BC municipalities to build high-density towers and costly transportation.

In Vancouver, Ratchford has been involved with groups calling for more reasonable property taxation. Ratchford, 39, holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in New York, and has worked in investment, finance and technology. He is also an accomplished tennis player.

Prof. Devyani Singh, Green  

As an economist and climate scientist, Dr. Singh remains hopeful that we can, with a commitment to the right plans, make a difference to our environment. But she worries about the future of the Vancouver Park Board, which Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC Party are threatening to take over, after 140 years of independence. Premier Eby has said he agrees with the City and will change the Vancouver Charter after the results of the Oct. 19 election.

“Our public parks and beaches are in danger of becoming privatized,” said Singh, pointing out that access to Vancouver public parks could be lost to privatization. She believes the issue of green spaces could be the deciding factor in the Vancouver–Point Grey riding.

Singh wants the public to be consulted on this threat to our ecology and many other policies taken up by the NDP government.

Asked if she supports the provincial housing bills, she responded, “There is no simple answer.” She supports the SkyTrain, but writes that the Bills shouldn’t have been approved without public consultation. New housing has to have proper infrastructure and livable units for the municipality to build it. “Eby’s top-down approach isn’t working,” she said. 

 Q&A

1. Premier David Eby last year introduced a suite of provincial bills that would override municipalities on housing and transportation plans. First, his advisors came up with a list of “Naughty Cities” who were, apparently, not building enough housing in their municipalities. Then came Bills 44, 46, 47, and 18. The bills called for SkyTrain stations that allowed a massive rezoning to take place citywide. Many long-time residents living in our neighbourhood understood they lived in a relatively quiet community and had to make room for others. But as they saw dozens of heritage homes fall, those same neighbours now fear they will be forced out of their homes as the Province continues its mission to densify and increase the costs of both ownership and renting.
   Q: 1. Do you agree or disagree that the Province should be overriding municipalities on land-based issues?
   Q: 2.If you become MLA for the riding, would you push to continue the hyper-densification of the area?

 Devyani Singh

 1. “I do not believe that decisions should be made without input from concerned stakeholders, and also without support for infrastructure and other amenities that will need to go with densification.
While Singh says we need to densify our cities, protect renters and create affordability in housing – how the bill has been forced [through] has not been done with ample consultation.

I will review the bills and work with municipalities and communities to build densification that is appropriate, climate conscious, protects community characteristics, and I’ll do it the right way. As the bills currently stand – I will order a full review if it with experts and community members.”

 Paul Ratchford

 “I dislike all the NDP housing bills, which have failed to deliver housing completions while stripping away local voices and accelerated the demolition of relatively affordable units, replacing them with construction sites and clusters of expensive, shoebox-sized towers. Some matters are best handled at the local level. While it can be unwieldy at times, there are strategic benefits to decentralizing decision making. “

2. Developers are now allowed to build up to 18-20+ storeys in areas around the subway stations, with no consultation from the public. And older, affordable housing is being torn down to make way for new high-rise towers with higher rents.

Q: 1. What is your opinion of the Broadway Plan, which includes 500 blocks from Clark St. in the east to Yew in the west, and from 1st St to 16th Ave? 
Q: 2. Do you agree with this level of densification for Vancouver?

PR  “I am troubled by a trend of complete disregard for local voices regarding the future of our neighbourhoods. As for what David Eby may or may not be thinking, I wouldn’t care to speculate. Of course, I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss this with him at a local candidates’ forum, but I suspect we won’t see much of him in this riding.”

DS  “As the plan stands currently, I see multiple issues with it and would like to see major amendments to it IF it were to continue. As you mention, there is affordable housing being torn down for what will likely be luxury towers, with no renter protection, no proper plan for affordable housing, lack of green spaces etc. All this needs to be addressed. As I have stated there is a right and wrong way to densify. The way it is currently being pushed is not in alignment with many experts when it comes to climate, equity, protection for renters, affordability, access to open spaces and well-being. I will ensure we continue to build and densify [while] meeting all requirements…and [see] that it’s done with community and municipality consultation.”

 3. Residents who could once speak to Councillors on land development issues are now banned from giving their input on zoning and specific housing developments. This move, put in place by the NDP government (Bill 18), has resulted in cutting out the voices of residents who have been referred to as “NIMBYs” by promoters of high densification.
Q.What would you do to allow residents to have greater say in their own neighbourhoods?

DS  ” I feel having community consultation for projects is also a municipal issue, but I do believe there needs to be proper consultation with all stakeholders before projects are undertaken, and I will ensure that this happens, when elected.

PR  “Bill 18 is emblematic of the NDP’s top-down governance approach, which I do not support. The NDP’s housing policy has been a complete failure. Rents have soared, taxes have increased, and housing completions have stagnated. Meanwhile, entire communities are being bulldozed. Claiming to care about affordability while simultaneously destroying relatively spacious, inexpensive units and replacing them with smaller, more expensive housing makes no sense. Additionally, I’m concerned about the link between special interest groups such as Abundant Housing Vancouver, MST Development Corporation, and the government. Tom Davidoff, one of the Premier’s advisers and backers, has consistently used his taxpayer-funded position to promote new and additional taxes, as well as a top-down approach to housing governance, which has destructive consequences for local residents.”

4. As residents of Point Grey, we hear stories every day about forest fires and other catastrophes plaguing our climate.
Q: Can you clearly state your position on climate change?

 PR  “My perspective can be summed up as follows: The climate is changing, humans are having an impact, and it is not an existential threat. In a province where people are struggling to pay for housing and food, we cannot tax people into poverty. Abundant low cost energy is fundamental to human flourishing, and we must continue to innovate regarding the sources of energy we use both locally and globally. With respect to wildfires, I’d like to see us improve forest management. I appreciate that John Rustad comes from a forestry background and has significant expertise in this area.”

DS  “As a climate scientist I am BIG on climate action. That is what got me into politics in the first place – to take action that the government is unwilling to. I would direct you to look at the BC Green platform to see how we actually plan to take action compared to the other 2 parties who either deny it as an emergency or greenwash. Platform link is https://bcgreens2024.ca/2024-platform/ We believe it to be an emergency, we will take meaningful action and we will ensure a thriving and living planet.”

 5. David Eby has been on a crusade to construct low-barrier housing at 7^th and 8^th at Arbutus St. against the wishes of many who live in the area. 
Q. How do you feel about the location of the building, and any other issues that have been raised about the plan?

DS  “I believe we need more low-barrier social housing across Vancouver and BC. But I also feel we need to pay attention to where these are being built, who the residents will be, what impact it will have on residents and the community.”

 PR  “Vancouver-Point Grey residents must have a voice in the developments that impact their lives today and for years to come. Congregating people with mental health and addiction issues into 129 single units of low-barrier SRO-style housing at 7th & Arbutus St., with a drug consumption site directly across the street from St. Augustine School and a toddler park, makes no sense for local residents, at-risk individuals, or anyone else.”

6. The plan to build a subway extension from Arbutus to UBC is divisive in our neighbourhood. While many have said it doesn’t make sense for the subway to stop at Arbutus, others have complained about the high cost of building it at taxpayers’ expense.
Q: Do you support the UBCx? If yes, why? If no, why not?

 PR “Of course, special interest groups like MST Development Corporation would benefit massively from a subway extension from Arbutus to UBC, but does it work for Vancouver-Point Grey and, more broadly, for British Columbians? Do the numbers add up when we already face high taxes, a fiscal crisis from mismanagement, and anemic economic growth? I have not seen a solid business case made for the extension.”

DS  ” I support the subway to UBC. It will reduce huge amount of travel time for students who live out from UBC. However, as the densification plan stand with the Skytrain (Broadway Plan which I mention above I have issues with) – I do not approve it. That will need to be amended. But the Skytrain needs to be built to allow easier travel, affordability and well-being of the over 70,000 students at UBC.”

7. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has asked David Eby to change the Vancouver Charter so the City can take over the Park Board. Eby has agreed.
Q: Do you agree with the Premier’s decision to eliminate this 140-year-old institution?

 DS  “I am absolutely AGAINST the dissolution of the Park Board. I want it to stay and if we need to remove it then let people decide through a referendum. Moreover, all our non-designated parks and beaches can be sold to rich developers if we get rid of it. Finally, I do not think the Vancouver charter should be allowed to open with just a simple majority of council voting for it – it should be unanimous as it is the basis on what Vancouver is built. I believe in protecting our open spaces – please see my answer on this from the debate from Saturday night (see link above, Oct. 12 debate).

 PR “John Rustad has said the NDP must hold a referendum if they want to dissolve the Vancouver Park Board. He has also stated that people voted for the Park Board Commissioners. They deserve to have a voice — and a vote — in what happens here.  agree with this.”