This isn’t an easy election for pro-housing voters, and this post wasn’t easy for me to write.
(Jump straight to the summary.)
We’ve seen downward pressure on prices and rents recently, which is good…but this is mostly driven by two temporary factors: increased rental housing supply from a wave of rental completions (thanks to policies passed by earlier councils going back to Vision Vancouver), and a dip in demand linked to federal immigration cuts and economic uncertainty thanks to Trump, tariffs and /waves vaguely everything else going on.
Because economic conditions have changed, the policies that got those homes approved years ago no longer work today, and new housing starts are collapsing. And we shouldn’t let municipal politicians dictate immigration policy by enforcing housing shortages.
Yet our city leaders frittered away this window. Instead of expanding housing supply to address structural scarcity, municipal politicians have pretended the crisis is behind us…planting the seeds for the next round of price spikes in a still-unaffordable city.
It didn’t need to be this way. Recent polling shows cost of living and housing remain top concerns across British Columbia. The fact that local politicians are avoiding housing in this campaign speaks to cowardice, not voter priorities.
A Quick Personal Disclaimer
Before my recommendations, a quick transparency note: I sought a nomination with OneCity Vancouver this election. It didn’t work out. I threw my hat in the ring because I believed Vancouver was ready for bold action on housing, and I still believe that. I wanted to be out there making sure that housing was an issue and that we were talking about real solutions, not just the usual posturing and finger pointing.
I can’t pretend that experience doesn’t affect my perspective on this race. But I want to be upfront about that as I share my thoughts.
The Mayoral Race
Ken Sim & ABC: A Turn Toward NIMBYism
Ken Sim and ABC started off their time in power talking the talk on housing supply, even if they lacked ambitious land-use reforms. Unfortunately, their track record has turned decidedly NIMBY. My guess is that following their by-election drubbing, ABC moved to shore up their base by courting conservative TEAM voters. Since then, they have voted against the Villages Plan, a West End hotel, social housing on Hastings Street, and more.
On top of that, Sim has made road safety a wedge issue…by taking the side of more dangerous streets. He is promising to roll back traffic calming measures, which yes, is a bizarre position for a party claiming to care about public safety. (For details on ABC’s record here, see Vision Zero’s report card.)
Pete Fry: Not a Viable Alternative for Housing
If your top priority is to vote against Ken Sim, well hey I get it. But that being said, I’m a pro-housing advocate, and I feel I have an obligation to not sugar coat things.
Ken Sim’s main challenger, Pete Fry, is also terrible on housing.
Pete Fry fundamentally does not get it on housing. I really do not think he remotely understands the role of the housing shortage in causing our affordability crisis.
During his term, Fry actually voted against more social housing and below-market rental homes than Ken Sim. And that’s actual no votes–Fry also voted “abstain” on social and below-market housing more than Sim too! Fry voted against transit-oriented rental housing at the old Denny’s site on West Broadway (sandwiched between two future Skytrain stations). He’s voted against low-rise apartments in Kitsilano. He killed the Commercial Drive bike lane, opposed the Villages Plan alongside ABC, and entered council opposing the DCL waivers that originally spurred rental construction after decades of stagnation.
I cannot in good conscience recommend voting for Pete Fry for housing voters.
Better Options: Kareem Allam or Rebecca Bligh
- Kareem Allam: While his platform relies heavily on broad “streamlining” language without explicit land-use reform commitments, Allam is the only mayoral candidate actively talking about housing supply and the necessity of keeping young people in the city. I like that he talks about rejecting incrementalism and taking big swings, because that’s what this city needs.
- Rebecca Bligh: Her housing record has some ups and downs, but the ups are important. She stuck her neck out to support the 7th and Arbutus supportive housing project. She also demonstrated strong personal conviction when she resigned from the NPA in response to its far-right turn, long before her colleagues followed. I admire that integrity and think pro-housing advocates could work with her as mayor.
City Council
1. Vote OneCity First
OneCity is the only party committed to bringing back a version of the Villages Plan and expanding apartment zoning across Vancouver. While I wish their slate included more demonstrated pro-housing believers, their platform is clearly far ahead of any other party on housing. Electing as many OneCity candidates as possible is the single best move for pro-housing voters.
2. Armor Valor (Vancouver Liberals)
Outside of OneCity, I also support Armor Valor. Having gotten to know him during the nomination process, I know he brings hard work, labor roots, and an important South Vancouver perspective that council needs (and all too often lacks).
3. Do NOT Vote for Stephanie Smith (Green)
My strongest anti-endorsement goes to Green candidate Stephanie Smith. She is actively opposed to the pro-housing movement, opposed a motion to make social housing easier to build (and was so proud of that she named her social media accounts after her speaking number—yes, that’s what “spkr.118” refers to), and recently released a video pushing conspiracy theories about local YIMBY advocates. She is widely believed to have been behind one of the most toxic twitter accounts in local politics (she’s who Justin McElroy is talking about here). Her election would directly harm housing progress in Vancouver and make this a less affordable city.
Please, do not vote for Stephanie Smith.
4. The Rest of the Ballot
Beyond OneCity and Armor Valor, the field is bleak.
COPE is still pretty bad on housing. Sean Orr voted against an important zero-displacement rental project at Broadway and Commercial, and also sided with ABC to vote against the Villages Plan. I was recently at a candidates’ forum where he avoided saying he supports zero-displacement rental apartments in low-density areas that included a below-market component, which is the lowest hanging fruit of housing reform. But COPE has made real progress on active and public transportation compared to previous iterations of the party. I recommend left urbanist voters lean COPE over Green.
Other than that, vote strategically to fill out your ballot—or leave the remaining votes blank.
5. Park Board & School Board
I recommend voting for all OneCity candidates.
Summary Voter Sheet
- Mayor: Kareem Allam OR Rebecca Bligh
- City Council:
- Vote for all OneCity candidates
- 131. Lucy Maloney
- 113. Iona Bonamis
- 146. Frances Bula
- 100. Jarrett Hagglund
- 149. Caitlin Stockwell
- Vote for 125. Armor Valor (Vancouver Liberals)
- DO NOT VOTE for Stephanie Smith (Green)
- Fill remaining however you wish or leave blank
- Vote for all OneCity candidates
- Park Board & School Board: Vote for all OneCity candidates
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