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November 8, 2002
Politicians and philosophers
Forum participants say poverty and safety are top issues for city.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Candidates for Vancouver's civic election Nov. 16 say this campaign
season has been relatively civil and a political forum at the Jewish
Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) seemed to confirm the
notion.
The all-candidates' meeting, a slight divergence from the regular
fare of the Philosophers' Café series, included representatives
of the three main political organizations running for office in
Vancouver and, though the evening did have its dramatic moments,
it was a muted affair overall.
Provincial government cuts were a recurring theme, since city services
are likely to be stretched to compensate for the reduction in social
services previously funded by the province. The Non-Partisan Association
(NPA), which has ties to the provincial Liberals, argues that city
hall should mind its own affairs and manage the city as best as
the financial situation allows. The Coalition of Progressive Electors
(COPE), which has ties to the New Democratic party, believes city
hall should actively lobby the senior levels of government to restore
funding, crossing constitutionally designated areas of authority
if necessary.
The meeting stayed remarkably close to the issues central to this
campaign. The Middle East situation was never raised, despite the
fact that two of the COPE candidates present, David Cadman and Anne
Roberts, had publicly criticized Israel earlier this year in a newspaper
ad paid for by the Canada-Palestine Network.
The challenges of the Downtown Eastside were paramount at the JCC
meeting, as they have been throughout the citywide campaign.
Ellen Woodsworth, a Downtown Eastside activist and COPE candidate
for council, said the city needs a cold weather strategy that would
see public facilities opened overnight so homeless people do not
freeze to death. She would also like to see more permanent shelters
because, she said, Vancouver has only enough shelter spaces for
two-thirds of the homeless. She called on the provincial and federal
governments to join the city again in funding social housing.
Art Cowie, a former city councillor and MLA who is part of the new
Vancouver Civic Action Team (vcaTEAM), agreed that the senior levels
of government should join the city in providing social housing,
but said the emphasis should be on co-op housing, where residents
feel they have a stake in the property. Under his party, the city
would also provide a place where underage minors could go without
being hassled about what they are doing on the streets.
"We want a 'no ask' policy where we have a hostel for children,"
said Cowie.
Janet Leduc, an NPA candidate for council, said it is ironic that
Canadians have a guaranteed right to health care, but not to housing.
"People off the street can go into the hospital, but they don't
have a home," she said. (One audience member took audible issue
with the idea that health care was there for the asking.)
An emotional mother said her son had been attacked on the street
by a gang of kids he didn't know and that police refused to help.
"They said 'They're teenagers, there's nothing we can do,'
" said the mother. As the incident became more widely known,
she said, other parents approached her, saying the same thing had
happened to their child and police did little if anything.
Two NPA candidates for school board said anti-violence education
must be included at school. Debbie Desroches-Fulton said students
and parents need to be educated about social responsibility. Angele
Desrochers-Rosner, her NPA colleague on the school board slate (and
no relation), said young people need to be taught healthy models
for anger management and respectful behavior.
But council candidates leapt on the opportunity to trot out their
parties' policing credentials.
David Cadman, a COPE council candidate who ran for mayor three years
ago, said he stepped aside because Larry Campbell, who is COPE's
mayoral candidate, had the policing experience necessary to implement
solutions in the Downtown Eastside and to deal with broader criminal
issues, including 63 missing women, hit-and-run vehicle accidents
and gang-style shootings of Indo-Canadians. Campbell's experience
as a police officer and provincial coroner would be an asset, said
Cadman.
VcaTEAM candidates lauded their mayoral candidate, Valerie MacLean,
another former police officer and now on leave during the campaign
from her role as the public face of the Better Business Bureau.
NPA candidates noted they have a council candidate, Vern Campbell,
who is a 30-year veteran of the Vancouver police department.
Candidates stressed, however, that policing is not the first line
of defence; that educating children about socially acceptable behavior
is paramount.
Though the JCC meeting, and the campaign overall, have been civil
affairs so far, the campaign is entering the home stretch, with
just over a week to go. Observers suggest this is the most competitive
election since now-premier Gordon Campbell beat Harry Rankin for
mayor in 1986, beginning 16 years of uninterrupted NPA control of
city government.
Three candidates from each party were invited to the meeting and
there were no incumbent city councillors present. NPA candidates
made the most of the balance of experience and novelty. Peter Ladner,
publisher of Business in Vancouver magazine and a first-time NPA
council candidate, acknowledged his party has been in power a long
time, but said he and colleague Leduc are examples of the influx
of new ideas.
"The slate we're offering up is a great balance of fresh blood
and experience," he said.
But Cadman lashed out at the NPA record, particularly Coun. George
Puil, the longest-serving NPA incumbent councillor and head of the
TransLink board who wasn't present at the meeting. Cadman accused
Puil of "sneering" at the public.
"We experienced a four-month bus strike," said Cadman.
"We've had that experience. We don't need any more of that."
Before the meeting began, Rabbi Yosef Wosk led Havdallah services,
explaining their meaning to candidates and audience members. Dr.
Tom Koch emceed the event with enormous wit.
Election day is Saturday, Nov. 16. Polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(Shabbat ends at 5:09 p.m.) Advance polls are open Nov. 9, 12 and
13. For more information, call the city election office at 604-873-7681
or see the city's Web site at www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/election2002/electindex.htm.
Pat Johnson is a native Vancouverite, a journalist and
commentator.
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