Every morning, Vancouver residents wake up to a city that’s noticeably changing. Cranes dot the skyline as new housing rises, small businesses are opening their doors faster than ever before, and there’s a renewed sense of energy in our streets. This isn’t happening by accident – it’s the result of determined leadership and a vision that’s turning promises into tangible progress.
Not afraid to do things differently, Mayor Ken Sim and the ABC Vancouver team are delivering on the promise to create new opportunities and build a world-class city.
The team has made significant progress – With 80% of their ambitious 93-point platform already actioned, they have proved that real change happens when words are backed by action.
But, there’s more work to do.
We’ll continue to budget smarter – let’s reduce the tax burden, create new revenue streams and invest in better services and infrastructure. Last year, close to $30 million in savings was found through cutting costs, modernizing funding and adopting new technologies.
For too long, Vancouver fell behind on infrastructure investments. We’re changing that. Our $3.5 billion Capital Plan means every neighbourhood will see improvements. From roads and sidewalks, to new community centres, parks, playgrounds and pools, we’re investing in the spaces and services that matter most.
We’re making Vancouver a place where things happen – support for sports and cultural events is stronger than ever. We lifted the moratorium on large commercial events in parks and updated policies to make more cultural events possible.
It’s now easier and faster to start and grow a business in Vancouver – because when businesses succeed, our city thrives. Our goal is simple: less red tape, more opportunity.
We’ve reduced business license processing times by 85% and cut commercial renovation permit times by 45%. Small businesses and non-profits have received millions in property tax relief and we’ve removed outdated barriers to support our hospitality sector.
When it comes to housing, we’re tackling this massive challenge head-on. For decades, Vancouver wasn’t keeping pace with the demand for housing, but we’re getting it done. We’re making it easier, faster and more affordable to build more homes in Vancouver.
The results speak for themselves. Rental housing starts have doubled – the highest rate in Canada. 7,000 new rental homes have broken ground since 2023, and another 7,000 are in the pipeline.
Beyond permitting, we’ve unlocked up to 75,000 new homes by modernizing view cone guidelines, enabling multiplex housing, boosting density near transit and removing outdated parking minimums in key areas.
But in order to build a strong city, you need a safe city.
That’s why one of the first things ABC did was fully fund the Vancouver Police Department for the first time in 15 years and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services for the first time in 8 years. They pledged 100 new officers and delivered 175.
Beyond policing, we’re investing in mental health supports, creating stronger partnerships with community groups and focusing on cleaner streets, better lighting and more active public spaces to deter crime.
The Downtown Eastside deserves better than decades of well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective approaches. It’s time for a new direction, one that prioritizes recovery, inclusivity and public safety.
That’s why ABC is calling for Mandatory Care, a model that provides people with the compassionate care they need when they can’t seek it themselves. We also need federal support, especially on meaningful bail reform and securing our ports to prevent the flow of illicit drugs into our communities.
This isn’t just about policy—it’s about restoring dignity to our most vulnerable neighbours and safety for all residents.
As we look ahead, Vancouver is on the cusp of some pretty incredible events that will showcase our city and open up unprecedented opportunities for all of us. We want to continue making it easier for world-class events to happen here.
In just a couple months, Vancouver is hosting Web Summit – one of the world’s biggest tech events. That means global attention, thousands of visitors, more opportunities for our tech sector, a huge boost to our hospitality and service industry, and close to $100 million in economic activity.
And, next year Vancouver plays host to the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup. It’s about seizing these new opportunities and having the right team at City Hall to get things done.
On April 5, Vancouver will elect two new city councillors. Your vote isn’t just about filling two council seats – it’s about keeping the momentum going and building on progress.
We are stepping up to serve our community and have the experience needed to bring fresh ideas and new solutions to the table.
Together, with Mayor Ken Sim the ABC Vancouver team, we can make our city the best it can be.
Learn more: abcvancouver.ca/byelection
– Jaime Stein and Ralph Kaisers, ABC Vancouver candidates for City Council.