Green Party of Vancouver puts forward four city council nominees for November election
Two chairs of local resident associations are part of a slate of four candidates seeking nominations with the Green Party of Vancouver for the civic election this fall.
In addition to current city councillor Adriane Carr, the other members of the council slate expected to be confirmed by party members are Pete Fry, who is the chair of the Strathcona Residents Association, Tracey Moir, chair of Oakridge-Langara Area Residents, and retired lawyer and social justice advocate Cleta Brown.
“I really believe strongly that a council table that is dominated by one particular party…that has the power through its numbers to basically ram through its own decisions without incorporating the concerns of people, the good ideas that come forward from the public, into the council chamber, that this is bad for democracy,” Carr said at a news conference in front of city hall today (March 31).
“And I think our polling has confirmed that that’s exactly the way Vancouverites feel. Two thirds of Vancouverites are saying that they feel Vancouver would be better off if no one single party dominated city hall.”
Polling commissioned by the Green party in January also ranked issues including affordable housing, homelessness and poverty, transportation, and current levels of development as top of mind for Vancouver residents, Carr noted.
“What I saw at the council table over the last two and a half years has absolutely confirmed for me that these are issues that we absolutely have to solve, and it’s not just because we want to be a civil city, but it’s because it links in…to everything,” she said in an interview.
Fry, who sat on the local area planning committee for the Downtown Eastside, called the neighbourhood the “canary in the coal mine”.
“I think we have to take serious stock of what’s happening with affordability in the Downtown Eastside as this new local area plan moves forward,” stated Fry, who is the son of Vancouver-Centre MP Hedy Fry.
“There’s a great deal of crisis, there’s issues that we need to address. The issue of affordability and the issue of homelessness is so prevalent in our society, and it’s not just about putting somebody in a shelter; it’s about actually getting homes for people.”
Brown said that in addition to street homelessness, Vancouver has a “hidden homelessness” problem.
“Particularly amongst women, senior citizens, families, abandoned youth,” she added. “They may not be sleeping under bridges, but they don’t have adequate or permanent homes.”
In addition to issues like housing, Carr said Vancouver residents can also expect to hear about the theme of democracy from Green candidates this fall.
“There are so many cases where I just look back and remember meeting after meeting where people came and said just change it just this little way, or add this in, or what is the information about impact on schools or on transit…these are legitimate questions, and people deserve to get solutions from city council that address those questions,” she told the Straight.
The four city council nominees have been endorsed by a screening committee, and are scheduled to be confirmed as candidates by party members at a meeting on May 4.
Comments
11 Comments
Boris Moris
Mar 31, 2014 at 7:37pm
The Greens should just end the pretense and join the NPA. Misery loves the company of like minded desperados.
Bruce
Mar 31, 2014 at 9:51pm
So, there are four nomination slots. And up for "nomination"/confirmation by the membership are three seemingly hand-picked people.
"Carr said Vancouver residents can also expect to hear about the theme of democracy from Green candidates..."
Uh-huh. "Democracy", says Ms Carr.
I've heard it said by some unkind persons that they suspect Ms Carr has a disorder with the initials NPD. But I'm sure they're just jealous.
A guy
Mar 31, 2014 at 10:35pm
Oh god... "Residents Association" chairs. Anti-change advocates.
Green is the new Red
Apr 1, 2014 at 7:20am
Just what the city needs: more regulation happy clueless socialists.
What about Rosemary?
Apr 1, 2014 at 10:18am
Why does this article mention that Pete Fry is the son of Hedy Fry but omit that Cleta Brown is the daughter of Rosemary Brown?
S. Richard Hayes
Apr 1, 2014 at 11:10am
Who has massive monitory support from outsiders? Mmmm, ain't the Greens.
Arthur Vandelay
Apr 1, 2014 at 11:52am
So far as I can tell from their first term agenda, the Greens only substantial policy position is being against density. That is like the supposedly enviro-friendly NDP when they were against the carbon tax. Sometimes you adversaries come up with ideas that make sense ... you don't have to be like Mikey and hate everything. Ms. Carr's guiding principle is self-promotion and little to do with the environment. I see no need for more of this.
Jordana
Apr 1, 2014 at 11:28pm
Great to see more Greens running. So far they've done things differently. Let's hope they keep at it. And maybe all the parties can if there's a little diversity in council.
James G
Apr 3, 2014 at 7:49am
@ Art Vandelay
While I agree that the differences between Vision and the Greens are inconsequential on policy, what you object to with the record of Councilor Carr is in fact her appeal.
Whether like Mr. Vander Zalm, you call it "sizzle with the steak" or go back to the ancient Romans with their bread and circuses, the public likes spectacle. Remember just recently when there was a Provincial election where one of the main parties simply refused to fight back? The lack of interest from the public turned to contempt and then dismissal and defeat (although there were many other factors).
Ms. Carr has created interest in her approach and I suspect it has guaranteed her a return to City Council. Plus her name starts with "C" and that is always a help in our antiquated at-large municipal election.
As for the others, nothing like rubber-stamping the image of the Greens as the comfortably concerned playing activist. Not that the children of successful political figures don't have a role and it could hardly be 'up the workers' after a silver spoon beginning. At the same time, even successful activists have the right to want their children to have better lives, so do we blame their next generations from having their own minds or careers? It's the conundrum of dynasties.
It would be a good thing for Vancouver if Vision to lose it's majority, so perhaps some of these people will be part of that. It won't be with my vote but good luck to them and all candidates in November.
A M Haaretz
Apr 4, 2014 at 3:45pm
Tracey Moir might be a Trojan Horse. This self-proclaimed founder of OLAR (Oakridge-Langara Residents Association) has no real history. She hides behind a background summary so general, it is unverifiable. OLAR has no place, no known members (other than Tracey Moir), no venue (DTES has a plethora of known members, an address, etc.). Ms. Moir gives the impression of being somebody's Trojan Horse on Council. With a fifteen hundred millions of dollars (billion and a half) riding on some project proposals, it is not hard to imagine the developers-community finding people to work on their behalf from the inside.
As Winston Churchill once said, "It takes a million people to win a war; it only takes one to lose it."
Somebody start drilling down, on these self-appointed saviours.
You couldn't get a job as a housekeeper with Tracey Moir's offered background. And this is somebody with a Business Degree (B.Comm.? M.B.A.???) and national, government and business experience.
Huh?
Duhhhhh?
Bad politicians are not elected by good people who don't vote. They are elected by Media who are too lazy or too cowardly to do the investigative (to investigate is an active verb) reporting required.
The Straight is the best place to begin.
"Hey, Welcome! Where were you born? Where'd you go to school, exactly? What's your employment background, exactly? Where do you live, exactly? Who are the members and executive of OLAR, specifically? Would you give us a copy of your resume, thank you."