Vancouver, BC — ABC Vancouver and Mayor Ken Sim are reaffirming their commitment to protect Vancouver’s parks, ensure accountability in governance, and keep decisions about the City’s green spaces in the hands of Vancouver residents.
Last week, the Government of BC introduced legislation requiring a referendum before any park land transfers could occur as part of ongoing discussions about modernizing Vancouver’s Park Board. The Government of BC also suggested that the City had requested an exemption from this referendum requirement, a claim that is simply not true.
“Let’s be clear, neither I nor City Council have ever asked the province to remove Vancouverites’ say over our parks,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “We were not consulted on this legislation before it was introduced, and had we seen it in advance, we would have made our position clear.”
From day one, ABC Vancouver’s priority has been to modernize how Vancouver’s parks and recreation system is managed, ensuring more resources go directly into improving facilities and services while strengthening the protections that keep our parks public, accessible, and sustainable for generations to come.
“We are focused on accountability and results,” added Sim. “Our residents deserve a system that puts service delivery ahead of bureaucracy and safeguards ahead of politics. I will not support or bring forward a referendum that allows any park land to be transferred without the direct consent of Vancouver residents.”
ABC Vancouver continues to work closely with the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation on shared priorities in the spirit of reconciliation, ensuring collaboration that respects both Indigenous Peoples rights and local democratic accountability.
媒體聯繫:
Sarah Kanakos
Director of Communications, ABC Vancouver
Email: sarah.kanakos@abcvancouver.ca