Housing, migration, demographics, ethics, spirituality .... Columnist at Vancouver Sun / Postmedia News https://xitter.cf/t.co/W0APwSK7HV
Vancouver, British Columbia
Joined November 2008
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DouglasTodd retweeted
It is not a declaration of war.
I’m not sure when both the right and the left decided to start throwing these terms around but it’s irresponsible, dangerous, and not productive in the least.
I watched @TheRealKeean talk about going to war, now I’m seeing Grand Chief Stewart Phillip do the same.
This is legislation, and it must reflect the expectations of voters - that’s how democracy works. British Columbians voted for the BC Conservatives and part of their campaign was to repeal it, and citizens voted for it.
If after an election, you don’t like the result and the policies - you shouldn’t start viewing that as a declaration of war.
It’s democracy in action.
If my members voted for a new Chief, with a different vision, I don’t get to call that an act an act of war - I respect the results and seek to work with the new leader on their path.
B.C. First Nations chief warns ripping up DRIPA is a ‘declaration of war’
globalnews.ca/news/12121663/…
DouglasTodd retweeted
I'm old fashioned but I don't think journalists should be telling people ("joking") to go kill themselves
real talk @BradMBradford, you ran a hell of a race. it’s prob hard to not have really dark thoughts but please know you are alone and you should give into them
DouglasTodd retweeted
Teacher's unions are harder to fight when they're not froth-mouthed ideologues. Anyway, here's a BCTF publication that told teachers to use outdoor education as a tool to smash "cis-heteronormative assumptions" in kindergartners. nationalpost.com/opinion/fir…
The BC teachers union president issued this statement today 🥴
"I recognize that with the outcome of a Conservative government, many of us may be feeling disappointed, scared, or deeply concerned about what might come next.
I know these results may be particularly concerning for Indigenous, racialized, and 2SLGBTQIA+ members. You are not alone."
Analyst @SteveSaretsky lists 11 major real-estate rules brought in by David Eby.
"Despite all of these changes, it’s hard to argue that housing for the average person is any more affordable today. Although these changes did kill the luxury market," Saretsky says.
"However, make no mistake, the housing bear market is certainly not over just because David Eby is gone."
Here's the list:
#bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre
stevesaretsky.substack.com/p…
The removal of CEO Jimenez comes a few months after Joy MacPhail stopped being chair of the board.
Her time ended after she decided to buy new ferries from China.
Power unravels so quickly. #bcpoli
vancouversun.com/opinion/col…
NEW - @BCFerries has fired CEO Nicolas Jimenez.
The surprise move, described by the board as part of a "revitalization review," comes 2 days after the BC election in which @Dave_Eby - who had close ties to Jimenez - was defeated by @LDoerkson and the @Conservative_BC
"Despite his cerebral style, legal training & stern demeanour, David Eby has always been a political juggler, a solo performer who kept throwing more balls in the air when catching a few would have been more impressive."
Via @geoffmeggs, John Horgan's former chief of staff.
Agreed: An irritating lack of follow through.
#bcpoli
geoffmeggs.substack.com/p/la…
“John Horgan delegated, David Eby dictated,” as one insider who served both leaders described it, via @VaughnPalmer.
A talented guy over-reached, turned autocratic and let a lot of people down.
#bcpoli #vanpoli
vancouversun.com/opinion/col… via @VancouverSun
"In the end, it was Eby fighting Eby—his record, his narrative & the fatigue of defending both in a terribly timed election to save a job he no longer seemed to love."
Mostly speculation, but others are expressing @kirklapointe's view - that Eby was not liking being premier.
#bcpoli
My take on the B.C. election result for @TheHubCanada: thehub.ca/2026/10/25/why-dav…
Yes, municipalities will likely get some of their autonomy back on zoning and planning.
Vancouver's 'new' council, however, is expected to forge on with ultra-high density.
#bcpoli #vanre #vanpoli
BC friends. Looks like local planning is back on the table after yesterday:
Grok: What did the bc conservatives say about repealing bill 44???
The BC Conservatives have consistently opposed Bill 44 and said they would repeal (or get rid of) it.
Bill 44 (Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2023) is the NDP law that requires most municipalities to allow small-scale multi-unit housing (typically 3–6 units) on lots that were previously limited to single-family homes or duplexes, with limited local ability to say no.
Key statements
2024 (under John Rustad): Rustad explicitly said “We are going to get rid of Bill 44” and described the provincial mandates as an “authoritarian approach by… a hardcore socialist government.” The party’s 2024 platform promised to repeal Bill 44 (while allowing municipalities that wanted the changes to continue them) and to shift more zoning authority back to local governments. He also said municipalities that preferred to keep single-family zoning should be free to do so.
2026 campaign (under Lorne Doerkson): The platform does not name a full statutory repeal of Bill 44 in the summaries available, but it strongly emphasizes local control. It states that “Where the density goes and what it looks like needs to be a decision of local government and local residents, not bureaucrats in Victoria.” Doerkson said in the leaders’ debate that “there is no way that David Eby or anybody else in Victoria should be demanding what municipalities build where and how.” The platform focuses on aligning zoning with official community plans and working with municipalities rather than imposing provincial mandates.
Candidate and party messaging during the 2026 campaign (including from Stan Sipos) stated that “The Conservative Party has made it clear that Bill 44 will be repealed” and that local governments and communities should decide density, not Victoria.
In short, the party’s longstanding position has been to end the province-wide forced upzoning rules in Bill 44 and restore greater municipal autonomy over land-use decisions. Existing rules stay in force until the legislature passes new legislation.
In this month of civic & provincial elections, here's a note on how N. America’s leading liberal-left magazine has B.C. in its crosshairs.
@TheAtlantic is apprehensive about how B.C. leaders have advanced the public use of toxic drugs, an Indigenous court decision & physician-assisted suicide.
In the past year The Atlantic - which has a circulation of 1.1 million, predominantly highly educated readers - has published 3 feature articles that have been critical, in no uncertain terms, of the leadership that B.C. and Vancouver have taken on key “progressive” public policies.
B.C., particularly Vancouver, featured prominently in the Atlantic’s latest article in September, under the headline, “The Cities that Said Yes to Drugs. Policies that gave addicts clean needles and places to use drugs were intended to reduce harm. They created a ‘zombie apocalypse.’”
The B.C. NDP government’s approach to Indigenous land claims also came in for harsh analysis in a long article in December, headlined ‘Good Intentions Gone Bad: How Canada’s “reconciliation” with its Indigenous people went wrong.”
That’s on top of how, 12 months earlier, British Columbians’ pioneering role in MAID was the subject of a piece titled, “Canada is Killing Itself. The country gave its citizens the right to die. Doctors are struggling to keep up with demand.”
Given that B.C. accounts for not much more than 1% of the population of Canada and the U.S., the province’s policies are attracting outsized attention from The Atlantic, which is known as a liberal-centre-left publication, aimed at intellectuals.
The magazine frequently rebukes President Donald Trump and Republicans. But the articles spotlighting B.C. signify its senior editors worry some progressive experiments can go too far.
#bcpoli
This is sadly, tragically true.
@AngusReid exposes this nasty, painfully over-used political tactic, which is contributing to many quality people avoiding public service.
This obsession with the details of what a candidate may or may not have said is one reason why parties are finding it so difficult to attract candidates. The perfect candidate will have nothing on the record concerning their views on various religious groups., abortion, LBGTQ+, indigenous relations, etc.
Especially pathetic since in today’s government, so-called backbenchers have basically no influence whatsoever. Prime Minister‘s and Premiers rule like modern monarchs.
I have often imagined Vancouver weather is basically like that of London.
Had not thought Prince Rupert is much like Berlin.
DouglasTodd retweeted
"Why were my attackers so radically opposed to one of the key rights of a democracy – the right to a fair trial before the verdict?" - @MargaretAtwood theglobeandmail.com/opinion/…
Fascinating to know free-thinking BC Chief Aaron Pete participated in this @HdxAcademy forum on decolonization. #cdnpoli
in Toronto for the @HdxAcademy conference, great panel with @wokal_distance, @FrancesWiddows1, and @Aaronpete_ moderated by @jonkay
DouglasTodd retweeted
As one outside editor observed, this is grad school writing at its worst
along with the other dozen or so wing nuts who demanded that Galloway be smeared as a rapist were fellow taxpayer-salaried academics Julie Rak (@UAlberta ) & (Erin Wunker @DalhousieU). They produced an insane book about it, funded by 6 govt agencies. Your tax dollars at work
At a quick glance there are suggestions of a north-south political divide in Vancouver, more than an east-west.
#vanpoli #vanre
In revealing reporting from the court hallway during the Steven Galloway defamation trial, @bradcran quietly and movingly reveals he learned first of the crucial texts from A.B.'s ex-husband that prove it was impossible Galloway raped A.B.
truthandconsequences.substac…
DouglasTodd retweeted
This might be OK at 3 or 3 1/2 storeys on an RS lot but it is most definitely not OK at 6 storeys. Along an arterial. Yes. But as a multiplex. Absolutely not.
This is Vancouver's very first proposal to build a low-rise, multi-unit residential building on a small single-family lot under the new single-staircase building rules.
A 6-storey, wood-frame building with 24 family-sized units. #vanre #vanpoli
dailyhive.com/vancouver/2150…
DouglasTodd retweeted
#VanRE This basically does away with having to land assemble multiple properties. 🏘️ A single-family detached house in Arbutus Ridge could make way for two dozen family-sized rental homes under its new framework for small apartment buildings with a single exit staircase.
ALT This is Vancouver's first housing project proposal under the new single-staircase building rules.