Vancouver councillors to debate mayor's controversial motion to freeze new supportive housing
Social Sharing
Vancouver city councillors are set to debate a controversial motion from Mayor Ken Sim on Wednesday that would freeze new supportive housing as part of his broader plan to revitalize the Downtown Eastside.
The mayor says Vancouver has 77 per cent of Metro Vancouver's supportive services, including housing and shelters, yet only about 25 per cent of the region's population, and that pausing construction would allow the city to "focus on renewing and revitalizing the current aging housing stock."
He says an updated area plan for the Downtown Eastside, once described as Canada's poorest postal code, would "encourage a mix of housing, businesses, and services" to break the cycle of hyper-concentrated social services in the neighbourhood.
Advocates have opposed Sim's motion, saying it comes at a time of increased homelessness in Metro Vancouver. Last month, 150 residents and advocates gathered at a townhall to voice their concerns, and the motion took centre stage at a fundraising event this past weekend.
WATCH | Leaked memo draws pushback over draft plans for Downtown Eastside:
Leaked city memo details controversial plans for Downtown Eastside
22 hours ago
Duration 18:56
Downtown Eastside charities and some city councillors are expressing concern after a leaked city memo revealed controversial plans for the neighbourhood. Among its proposals, the memo suggests fast-tracking private development and moving Indigenous people back to their home nations. Council is set to discuss a pause on supportive housing at a meeting Wednesday.
Speaking to CBC News Wednesday, Sim again defended his plan.
"I think we can all agree, if anyone's walked through the Downtown Eastside or if anyone's walked through an SRO that's crumbling — which, is they're unlivable, they're rodent-infested, garbage and feces thrown across the place, they're not safe — I think they'd agree that we need to do something."
He said the city will continue to build supportive housing that is set to be ready in the next six months, but "we're going to put a pause on any net new housing because we need the region to step up."
Amanda Burrows, executive director of the Vancouver non-profit First United, said while Vancouver has a large share of Metro Vancouver's supportive services, those services are not enough overall.
She also said a majority of Vancouver's homeless population are Vancouver residents.
"I think we have an obligation to respond to this crisis with more supportive housing," she told CBC's The Early Edition.
Sim responds to leaked memo
As revealed in a leaked draft city memo from last October, first reported by The Globe and Mail, Sim has a broader plan to change the Downtown Eastside.
The memo called for fast-tracking private development approvals in the neighbourhood, including using "spot rezoning" when necessary — a process that allows individual properties to be rezoned outside the city's broader planning strategy.
But Sim said on Wednesday that the city would not support spot rezoning. He said the memo included various ideas and spot rezoning "didn't make the cut."
The memo also proposed a "re-unification roundtable" to explore ways to return Indigenous residents to their home nations, stating that "many members of the Indigenous community have expressed a desire to live in their home Nations."
Margaret Pfoh, CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, said nearly half of Vancouver's homeless population is Indigenous. She said reunification may not be possible for everyone and that the plan doesn't absolve municipalities from their responsibilities.
Sim said the city would consider helping both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people return to their original communities, but insisted that this is not about moving people out of the Downtown Eastside.
"Health outcomes are better when you are in your community," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
8 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor, June 14: ‘American tourists … without exception they expressed sorrow and embarrassment at their President's behaviour toward Canadians'
Re 'It's time to rein in Canada's runaway Crown corporations' (Opinion, June 7): While there is a 5-per-cent share for the CBC's English television, there is also the 23.4-per-cent share for French television, 14.6 per cent for English radio and 24.8 per cent for French radio. Last year, 65 per cent of Canadians used at least one of the CBC's services in a typical month. Forty years ago, the CBC's parliamentary appropriation was about $1.09-billion. Last year, it was $1.44-billion. When adjusted for inflation, that's a 50-per-cent cut. During the same period, Canada's population has grown by 54 per cent. Not exactly a 'runaway corporation.' The CBC has lost audience share in part because of fragmentation caused by digital platforms. This is most pronounced on English television, where the CBC competes with U.S. programming. It would be naive not to expect consequences from the dramatic reductions in the CBC's grant. The CBC is not perfect. Let's make it better, not rein it in. Tony Manera Former president, CBC; Ottawa Re 'Canada's national archives need more than just a facelift' (Opinion, June 7): Contributor Charlotte Gray has done us the important service of revealing the impoverished state of our national collection of historical documents at Library and Archives Canada. At this time of national reckoning and rediscovery, Canadians need knowledge of their country more than ever, especially since Canadian history has almost vanished from school curricula. Mark Carney's ambitious plans for rebuilding Canada should include new resources for this vital institution to do its job. Roy MacSkimming Perth, Ont. Re 'The Hockey Canada trial shows how we need to be talking to young men' (Opinion, June 7): The toxic behaviours of many men is disturbing. Whether a result of cultural norms, familiar influences, online activities or patriarchy, I'm uncertain. But I'm certain that calling out noxious behaviours and using laws to enforce aggrieved acts should coincide with educated discussions about fair treatment for all. Men, including young men, should know better. Gregory Enright Hamilton Many years ago, in my late 20s, I was on a bus in Vancouver, sitting in the back half along with a group of young men. They were high-school-aged and talking loudly and performatively. I don't recall the details, but it had toxic male overtones that made me uncomfortable. I wondered how they could talk like that right in front of me. Eventually another man, probably around 40 years old, went and sat with them. He spoke quietly with them for the rest of the ride. I don't know what he said, but they quieted down and listened. I thanked him after we had gotten off the bus. It took awareness, concern, thoughtfulness, responsibility and perhaps some bravery to speak to the young men. I hope it made a lasting impression on them, as it did on me. Are there still men who would do that today? I hope so. Tuula Talvila Ottawa Re 'A river cruise with our American frenemies – what could go wrong?' (Opinion, June 7): I have had only positive encounters with American tourists. On my recent holiday to Milan and Lake Como, my identical twin sister and I met many Americans from a variety of states. Without exception they were friendly, kind and respectful. Without exception they expressed sorrow and embarrassment at their President's behaviour toward Canadians. Earlier in February, we had a similar experience on a two-week prepaid holiday to Florida. Without exception, Americans from all over approached us expressing their discomfort and regret with Donald Trump's actions. One family from Florida even invited us to join them for lunch. We reciprocated with polite gratitude, feeling proud and thankful that we live in such a wonderful country. Elaine Snider Toronto Our recent travel experience in the United States could not have been more different from this tale of woe. We have enjoyed an annual trip to a beach in North Carolina for more than 20 years. We did think twice about going this May, but had prepaid for our condo so off we went. Clearing U.S. customs at Toronto Pearson International Airport was efficient and ended with the agent saying, with a smile, 'Enjoy your trip.' When it came up naturally during interactions with North Carolinians, we did not disguise our citizenship. A typical, fairly illustrative interaction was with a woman in the grocery checkout line. When she heard our accents and we answered her question about where we were from, she said, 'Well, welcome, y'all. We are so glad you're here.' Martin Birt Uxbridge, Ont. We recently returned from a two-week cruise around the British Isles and along the Norwegian coast with about 900 other passengers, most of whom were American. The many U.S. travellers who we met over meals and other activities were uniformly gracious and apologetic regarding the actions of their President and his administration. We met none of the 'ugly Americans' as depicted. While we won't travel to the United States while the Trump crowd is in control, personal contacts with Americans abroad or here should not be discouraged. Richard Mosley Ottawa I had a similar experience on a transatlantic crossing during Donald Trump's first term. At dinner on the first night, an American next to me, on learning I was Canadian, started berating me on the evils of Canada's system of socialist health care. I replied with the usual statistics most Canadians know: health care per capita is much less costly in Canada than in the United States; health outcomes are significantly better on our side of the border; essentially every Canadian has coverage while millions of Americans are still uninsured. My neighbour pointedly ignored me for the rest of the meal. The following evening, he moved to another table. We met many sympathetic Americans on this and other trips. I guess we had bad luck in encountering a prototypical 'ugly American' this once. Sadly, there seem to be many more of them as we suffer through Mr. Trump's second term. Charles Magill Ottawa Re 'Bruce Flatt has some advice for investors: One day this will all be forgotten' (Report on Business, June 7): 'In the long run, we are all dead.' –John Maynard Keynes, 1923. Capitalism: Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Paul Childs Edmonton Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@
Toronto Star
15 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Anishinabek Nation chief says he briefed OPP on protests against fast-track bills
OTTAWA - A regional chief for Anishinabek Nation says he briefed Ontario Provincial Police Thursday on what to expect when First Nations take to the streets to protest provincial and federal legislation aimed at fast-tracking major projects. Scott McLeod said he was invited by an Indigenous relations coordinator to brief officers at the OPP's Orillia headquarters on why First Nations oppose the legislation and why they see the bills as a violation of treaties with the Crown.
Global News
16 hours ago
- Global News
Danielle Smith pitches B.C. on pipeline project, saying it benefits ‘all Canadians'
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is making a pipeline pitch directly to British Columbians. Smith told Global News that Canada needs to take advantage of this moment of national unity to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats. 'When you look at the potential for a million barrels a day at today's prices, that's about 20 billion dollars worth of value,' Smith told Focus BC. 'It doesn't just go to Alberta, it benefits all Canadians.' Smith is leaning on the Team Canada approach but does acknowledge that there still need to be work to address Indigenous concerns. 'We hear the environmental concerns and that is why it is good to have Indigenous partners so we can reroute the route, and deal with issues on the ground,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 'I know a few things need to be modified, but we can get to yes.' 2:01 Pipeline dream: Alberta premier makes pitch at Global Energy Show There is still no proponent for the pipeline project but the previous iteration of a pipeline to the coast destroyed the relationship with then Alberta Premier Alison Redford and then B.C. Premier Christy Clark. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Smith said the difference this time is the vision to export the material out of Prince Rupert, rather than Kitimat, where navigating tankers is harder. 'Let's go to a port that is already shipping goods, that is ice-free year-round,' she added. B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix says the province is opposed to the new pipeline and instead, Alberta should focus on building out the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, which already cost taxpayers more than $34 billion. Story continues below advertisement 'We still need to get some work to get value for that pipeline,' Dix said. 'We have been supportive of that now that taxpayers have paid for it. The idea that taxpayers would subsidize a project that has no proponent makes no sense to us.' Watch the full interview with Smith above.
