Tag Archives: City of Vancouver

Community, Environment

Vancouver mayor plans to eliminate city’s climate and sustainability department

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city’s sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes in his proposed “Zero Means Zero” 2026 budget. 

Canada’s National Observer learned about the planned cuts from sources familiar with internal conversations; the information was then corroborated by opposition city councillor Pete Fry. Opposition councillor Lucy Maloney confirmed that council had received a proposal for cuts to the city’s planning, urban design and sustainability departments but no further details. Under the alleged proposal, Vancouver would gut its entire sustainability and climate team and move staff to other departments, lay them off or see some quit outright. 

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Health

Canada’s billion-dollar border gamble won’t end the drug crisis

Editor’s note: Approximately 0.2% of fentany entering the UnIted States comes from Canada (10 pounds in 2024), the rest comes from Mexico. 98.5% of the US border patrol’s encounters with migrants are on the US-Mexican border – gleaned from a CNN report using US Government sources.

By Richard Young Megaphone Magazine, Local Journalism Initiative

In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of heavy tariffs, Canada has appointed former RCMP deputy commissioner Kevin Brosseau as the country’s first “fentanyl czar.” 

This role, created to address concerns over fentanyl trafficking across the northern border, aims to ease tensions and avert a potential trade war.

In a statement about the appointment, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Brosseau is being asked to work closely with U.S. counterparts and law enforcement agencies to “accelerate Canada’s efforts to detect, disrupt and dismantle the fentanyl trade.”

The idea that fentanyl is being manufactured on such a large scale right here in the province of B.C., considering the volume of it, is a surprise to many communities. There has been an assumption that the deadly drug was primarily coming from China and Mexico.

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Community

Proposed Campbell River Bylaw Amendment for Nuisance Lighting

On January 9, 2025, Campbell River’s City Council gave first and second readings to a public nuisance amendment bylaw intended to prevent floodlighting, spotlighting and directional lighting from shining beyond the properties they protect onto residential areas. Council is giving the public to respond in writing before making a decision. 

Bylaw Services Manager (SM) Karl Read pointed out that it has been a year since Paula Burque asked the city to remedy this matter. 

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Community, Waste

Green Goals, Hidden Harms

By Amy Romer, Megaphone Magazine, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Vancouver has built its reputation on ambitious environmental goals, aiming to become one of the greenest cities in the world. Yet, the rise of the green economy has brought unforeseen challenges for street vendors who rely on the trade of second-hand goods. 

The Binners Project is a Vancouver-based social and circular-economic initiative that supports marginalized people who collect and return recyclable materials, otherwise known as “binners.” For the past two years, the project has operated a low-barrier street market, currently at 305 Main St. in the heart of the Downtown Eastside. 

Binners Project Director Sean Miles says he’s witnessed the harm of policies such as the city’s twice-daily street sweeps that blaze through East Hastings seven days a week.

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Disaster

City of Burnaby prepares for possible Trans Mountain disasters

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Burnaby is preparing for a series of unlikely but potentially disastrous accidents stemming from the Trans Mountain pipeline system.

An animated video, released Sept. 5, depicts three hypothetical, fiery scenarios that could arise at the Burnaby Mountain tank farm and Westridge Marine Terminal. The city plans to carry out a full emergency exercise in 2027 to prepare for these worst-case scenarios.

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