The local branch of the Green Party officially launched its civic campaign last Friday.
It didnt get a big media splash.
Probably because I was the only reporter who showed up to the front steps of city hall to speak to council candidate Adriane Carr, park board incumbent Stuart Mackinnon and realtor Louise Boutin, who is seeking a seat on the school board.
Got to say it was a welcome change to not be part of a media scrum or surrounded by media handlers. Also, the candidates didnt have any prepared speeches, which was refreshing. So what do they stand for?
For Carr, its creating affordable housing.
She said the efforts of Vision Vancouver/COPE and the NPA to get more affordable housing built in the city has failed. Carr pointed to the Vision-led Short Term Incentives for Rental Housing program.
While she agreed the program has led to the construction of housing, whats not being reported is how much the so-called housing costs to rent. Less than a 400-square-foot apartment going for over $1,000, she said, referring to a development on Beach Avenue. Plus theyre being plunked in neighbourhoods totally out of sync with the zoning that is there, which is making local people very upset.
As for the NPA-initiated Ecodensity program, which allows for the construction of laneway houses, Carr again said the housing being built is expensive to rent, never mind buy.
Carrs solution is to provide incentives such as tax breaks to developers to build rental housing that is actually affordable.
Weve got to go to senior levels of government and get them to change some laws that will entice developers to invest in intentional rental housing, she said. There was a tax law changed federally that use to reward developers. I talked to people in the real estate and development industries, theyd like it if that tax law was put back in place.
For years, the Greens have been compared to COPE in terms of policies and its beliefs. But Mackinnon said hes proven the Green Party is distinct from others, citing a position he took at the park boards last meeting. Park board policy has always been no alcohol allowed in public spaces. The park board, with only Mackinnon voting in the negative, now allows booze to be served on golf courses.
He fears the bylaw change could eventually allow booze to be sold on public beaches. This is bad public policy, he said.
Boutins interest in seeking a school board seat is the need to put more emphasis on seismically upgrading schools and providing more after school daycare in the schools.
To me, its absolutely needed because of affordability, she said, noting many parents both have to work to cover monthly costs. What better places than the schools to offer the childcare and the before and after care they need so that they can work and feel safe that their children are safe.
The Greens estimate their budget will be $10,000 to $20,000 for the campaign, which is slightly less than the $2 million each the NPA and Vision are expected to spend.
Talk about green.
Twitter: @Howellings
