Vancouver Rundown

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!Vancouver Mayor-elect Pete Fry says he’s looking forward to a productive, working relationship with the newly elected BC Conservative government. Fry says his main priorities are housing, shelter space and health care. The Green Party mayor is backed by a huge left-leaning majority on council while Premier-elect Lorne Doerksen has a super majority in the Legislature.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!BC Ferries has fired its CEO. Only two days after the BC Conservatives swept to power, Nicolas Jimenez has been ousted and the board of directors has launched a leadership transition and revitalization review. Vice President of Planning Brian Anderson has been tapped as interim CEO. The former Crown corporation continues to face a financial crisis and problems maintaining its fleet despite increases in provincial government compensation.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!Premier-elect Lorne Doerksen promises to take a deep look at B.C.’s finances and start working toward a West Coast pipeline. The BC Conservative leader outlined those top priorities in his first news conference after Saturday’s election win with his party earning a super majority with 64 MLAs elected. The NDP - 27. The Greens - 2. David Eby, who called the snap election, will step down as NDP leader. There are strong indications Doerksen will call a fall sitting of the Legislature.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!Fewer British Columbians have voted in the advance polls. Elections BC says voter turnout is down 11 per cent over 2024. That’s a complete reversal from the trend that saw a record breaking 49 per cent jump last time when more than a million people cast a ballot ahead of election day. This time, just over 891-thousand votes have been cast. Provincial and civic election campaigns have overlapped this year.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!Vancouver voters want laws to ban open-air drug use. Close to 70 per cent of those who voted in one of two non-binding city plebiscites favour bolstering local laws to crack down on the use of hard drugs in public places. The other question, asking whether Vancouverites support a facility that includes involuntary care for some people with addictions or mental health issues, also passed by close to the same margin. Both results run contrary to the positions held by Mayor-elect Pete Fry and the majority of his new council.