Mayoral candidates debate transit, housing at Vancouver event

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      Affordable housing, homelessness and transit were a few of the issues that had Vancouver mayoral candidates facing off during a debate in downtown Vancouver today (October 26).

      Mayor Gregor Robertson, COPE's Meena Wong, the NPA's Kirk LaPointe, and independent candidate Bob Kasting launched into hearty debate at Christ Church Cathedral on frequent election topics including a subway for the Broadway corridor, proposed pipeline expansion, and campaign finance reform.

      Each of the candidates also weighed in on a question from an audience member about why there are just two advance polling stations east of Main Street. 

      "If we’re so proud of our advance polling system, if we’re so desperate in our way to get more people mobilized to vote in this campaign, why didn’t we have dozens of these all over the city?" questioned LaPointe.

      Kasting said that he would have more advance voting stations in place, while Wong called the situation "unbelievable" and asked Robertson whether he'd promise more polls in the east side of the city.

      "Vision did write to the chief elections officer and ask for that to be changed," Robertson responded. "But we do respect that the chief elections officer is responsible for this. It’s certainly not the role of any of us who are candidates to be manipulating an elections process."

      Robertson and LaPointe continued to spar over the topic of rapid transit for the Broadway corridor, with LaPointe contending that the mayor has "alienated" senior levels of government.

      "What is evident is that our mayor made the Broadway subway the single largest priority for transportation when he took office six years ago," stated LaPointe. "We’re sitting here today and there’s been no progress."

      Robertson replied that he was "stunned" to hear the NPA describing a Broadway subway as starting at Commercial and Broadway, rather than VCC-Clark.

      "We can’t have rookie mistakes like we’re seeing the NPA and LaPointe make," he charged.

      Meanwhile, Kasting made light of Vision's criticism of the NPA's stance on where the "phantom subway" would begin, and Wong reiterated COPE's proposal for a $30-a-month universal transit pass.

      "There is a transit issue right now that needs to be solved," said Wong.

      Kasting stated that for the cost of a subway line for the Broadway corridor, the city could fund a streetcar grid.

      "The question is, what's better for Vancouver—is it a fancy set of towers along the stops as you go towards UBC, or is it a grid that's actually going to get people around?" said Kasting.

      Robertson and LaPointe debated each other directly on a series of other topics, including the issue of housing affordability.

      The mayor said during the last term, he saw the NPA vote against over 500 units of social housing and more than 1,000 units of rental housing.

      LaPointe conceded that the NPA had voted against housing proposals, but only after seeking amendments that failed.

      Another topic that drew a loud response from the crowd of over 400 was the contentious Point Grey Road bike lane.

      "It’s not a bike lane, it’s a gated community," LaPointe said to applause, adding that the NPA have vowed to review the road closure after the election.

      Another mayoral debate is scheduled for Saturday (November 1) at 180 Keefer Street. The election takes place on November 15.

      Comments

      14 Comments

      David vs Goliath

      Oct 26, 2014 at 11:17pm

      Being there, the part the caused an uproar was when the mayor was asked about the audio recording with Meggs taking 102k from the union in return for conditions. The mayor mentioned Meggs was not his councillor and sidestepped the issue. Why wasn't this talked about in the article? After getting home tonight and listening to the audio tape there clearly are some promised favours in exchange for money. This I believe, is illegal and should have been reported here

      Fighting for Vancouver

      Oct 27, 2014 at 7:09am

      Meena Wong was impressive, passionate and determined in her comments to Gregor who looked like he was definitely out of his depth! The mayor stated he walked to the debate- now that is rich he is saying in a Bob Rennie provided condo that is three blocks away! Gregor depends on his special friend for his housing is a bit worrisome for most people!

      I watched carefully so I know that Kirk won the debate, he was logical and calm. Meena was the crowds choice for the most spirited campaigner! After six years the rookie is Gregor, time to yank him out and ensure we have a professional team run our city!

      Amazed100

      Oct 27, 2014 at 7:33am

      When governing Vision keeps a tight focus on pushing through monster condo developments for their developer supporters. With the election campaign they have suddenly changed the tune to all sorts of things they have no control over like Kinder Morgan. But if re-elected you can be assured Vision will be return to rubber stamping ever bigger developments, in particular the (Metrotown size) dream projects for their favourite developers on Commercial Drive, the Broadway corridor, the viaducts and Langara.

      OMG

      Oct 27, 2014 at 9:36am

      Just wondering if anyone from TGS thought to ask Meena Wong how she intends to pay for all of these incredible promises.....or would reality just ruin your daydreams? Since Charlie is openly campaigning for her I'm guessing there will never be anything negative reported in these pages. After all, when you label something as 'commentary' then that automatically relieves one of their duty to report facts. Yes, journalism is indeed dead.

      Arachides

      Oct 27, 2014 at 10:10am

      Regarding advance polling and inclusion,
      Prior to the City of Winnipeg's Oct 22-2014 municipal election they utilized 28 advance polling stations city-wide including Winnipeg City Hall,15 community and recreation centres,6 shopping malls,4 universities and colleges, their Indian and Metis Friendship Centre and they even set one up during the Vision Impaired Resource Network Trade Show at the local hotel hosting the convention.
      Mayor Robertson's excuse for the direction and lack of outreach his hand-picked staff chose is unacceptable and he and his party need to held accountable for the strangulation of Democracy in Vancouver.

      NB

      Oct 27, 2014 at 10:54am

      The point grey bike lane its absolutely unacceptable. In no way is it in the best interest of the city, and only makes a rich neighbourhood more pleasant. Fuck you Robertson.

      Martin Dunphy

      Oct 27, 2014 at 11:29am

      OMG:

      Thanks for the post. Commentary serves a useful purpose in journalism. It is how people are exposed to different opinions and varied perspectives on issues of the day. This is very desirable to many readers, especially during an election campaign.
      The fact that certain writers may not be espousing your viewpoints, asking your questions, or stumping for your candidate is no reason to pronounce journalism as "dead".
      Rather, perhaps, it is an indication of a certain degree of intolerance on your part. We will go on publishing commentaries, and you can decide whether or not to read them. Deal?

      Censorship

      Oct 27, 2014 at 11:50am

      Any kind of hard hitting questions or information written here that doesn't jive with The Straight's orientation is automatically not published. I would say that journalism in this publication is not only dead, but a travesty. Meena Wong is just one of those candidates who really has no credibility but to show up at elections and propose policies that are not costed and fail to consider the legal and bureaucratic hurdles that lie in its' path. The commentary you allow here like "fuck you Robertson" clearly shows your bias if you censor even milder though critical comments about Meena Wong.

      Martin Dunphy

      Oct 27, 2014 at 12:32pm

      Censorship:

      Thanks for the comment.
      As stated many times before, the <em>Georgia Straight</em> does not censor comments because of political or ideological content. We do, however, have strict commenting rules about defamation, ad hominem attacks, misogyny, homophobia, off-topic threads, poverty-bashing, racism, and repetition of posts.
      I'll leave it to you to figure out which one(s) of those your post(s) contravened.

      James Garrett-Chen

      Oct 27, 2014 at 1:33pm

      It does my memory proud to see comments like, "where's the money going to come from?" for promises from the left. That was a Social Credit standard! Too bad that decades later, the high spenders have been on the right, or that for decades, no-one asked the Greens for specifics and had to bite their tongues whilst the platitude, "we have to do more for the environment" pretended to be a costed out platform.

      COPE has consistently opposed high spending mega-projects and to find the higher spenders, one must turn to Vision but everyone knows that. It seems that some NPA supporters are starting to sweat ... might there be a real battle for second place developing?