Vision Vancouver is looking for candidates to field in the election this year.

According to party co-chair Sheena Sargeant, the decision of Mayor Gregor Robertson and a number of councillors not to seek new terms in October 2018 presents an “opportunity to make space for new people”.

However, a Vancouver pollster has grave doubts about the continued viability of Vision.

Barb Justason, principal of Justason Market Intelligence Inc., said that the failure of Vision to deliver on promises to address homelessness and housing affordability has ruined the party’s credibility.

“It is a damaged brand,” Justason said about Vision in a phone interview with the Georgia Straight.

According to Justason, it’s up to those who are going to be left to decide whether or not it’s time to fold up the Vision tent.

“There would always be a possibility of rebranding without changing the name [Vision Vancouver], and without coming up with a new party, if you got a major change … in the political personnel behind it,” she said.

However, Justason also noted that a rebranding may not be enough to save Vision.

“There is a lot of baggage there at this point,” Justason said.

A city staff report presented to council on October 4, 2017 noted that there were 1,576 homeless people in 2008, the year Robertson and Vision captured city hall.

By 2014, when Robertson won his third term, the number of homeless people has increased to 1,803.

Based on the last count in 2017, the ranks of the homeless have grown to 2,138.

A staff report prepared for a council meeting on November 28, 2017 talked about the gravity of the housing affordability crisis.

“Vancouver is in the midst of a housing crisis, with serious impacts on residents and the city’s health, diversity, and vibrancy,” according to the report. “Housing prices in Vancouver have far outpaced local incomes leaving middle and low income households behind.”

Vision has also failed to deliver on its target to make Vancouver the “Greenest City” in the world by 2020.

“Ten years is a long time,” Justason said about Vision’s reign over the city.

Justason also said that elected Vision politicians who are going to face the electorate again this year are “going to live with the fact that promises that were made … weren’t met”.

“I think everyone is going to be carrying [the Vision baggage], and would have to find to reposition themselves,” Justason said.

Meanwhile, in a mass email, Vision co-chair Sargeant said that the ruling party will “kick off a new era”, with executive laying down soon rules of the nomination of 2018 candidates.

The Vision co-chair also mentioned the launch of a “renewal process” as the party prepares for the election this year.

“Thinking of running for Council? Come chat with me about it. Want to run for School Trustee? Come share your ideas of how we can continue to defend public education,” Sargeant wrote in the mass email. “Or just join us for a drink and share your ideas about the continued future of Vancouver as a progressive city.”

Vision is inviting interested individuals for meetings on January 30, February 6, and February 13 in various public spots in the city.