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November 15, 2002
Vows to fight hate crime
Mayoral candidate's meeting emphasizes agreement.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
The three main candidates for mayor of Vancouver are in agreement:
Hate crimes are a social evil. Though this motherhood response was
predictable, it was also emblematic of general agreement on almost
every issue facing voters, who go to the polls tomorrow (Nov. 16).
Areas of difference between the candidates stem mostly from stylistic
approaches and emphasis, rather than fundamental policy positions.
As the campaign wears on and the candidates tire, even the differences
of style become muted, as evidenced at an all-candidates meeting
Nov. 8, sponsored by Canadian Jewish Congress and other ethnocultural
groups.
Even on the contentious issue of the Downtown Eastside, the three
contenders – Larry Campbell of the Coalition of Progressive
Electors, Jennifer Clarke of the Non-Partisan Association and Valerie
MacLean of the Vancouver Civic Action Team – were in vocal
agreement. Their differences amounted to strategic approaches. Clarke
said that the city must get approval from senior levels of government
to implement some aspects of the city's plan to reduce the social
impacts of drug use, while Campbell argued the time for talking
has passed and action must begin immediately.
A primary worry of CJC is what amounts to the effective elimination
of the provincial Hate Crimes Team. Though the team remains in existence
on paper, most funding has been eliminated. Among the resources
gone is a seconded police officer from the Vancouver police force.
The issue provided an opportunity for all three parties to trot
out their policing credentials, a parade that has become a popular
part of this year's campaign. Both Campbell and MacLean are former
police officers and Clarke's NPA has a 30-year veteran Vancouver
police officer, Vern Campbell (no relation to Larry Campbell), on
its council slate.
Larry Campbell said hate crimes "go to the core of our community
and society," and pledged that, while there is not money for
everything, allocations must be made more sensitively.
"When cuts are made," he said, "you don't cut the
core issues.... We shouldn't be lessening the enforcement on this,
we should be increasing it." He called for more cross-jurisdictional
co-operation and more emphasis on confronting Internet-based hate
propaganda.
Clarke acknowledged that she was not aware that funding had been
cut for hate crimes projects, but said elimination of hate crimes
should be a top priority.
"Hate crimes of any kind [must be] not only discouraged, but
stopped," she said. She pointed to the Vancouver police department's
deliberate effort to recruit multilingual officers and singled out
the gay community's "Bash Line," which has been set up
to record hate crimes against gays and lesbians. (Clarke was apparently
unaware that police reaction to the Bash Line is currently a point
of deep contention among members of the gay community, who say statistics
and incidents assembled through volunteer labor are being ignored
by city police.)
MacLean said her party would make a civic commitment to restoring
resources against hate crimes.
The three candidates similarly laid blame for housing problems at
the doorstep of senior governments. Though the city has continued
to build social housing over the past several years, the federal
government withdrew from funding more than a decade ago and the
provincial government has similarly withdrawn since the Liberal
party took power.
Clarke pointed out the innovative efforts the city has employed
to encourage construction and retention of affordable housing, citing
the north shore of False Creek as an example where the city extracted
agreements from developers to provide affordable housing as part
of their projects.
"Mixed neighborhoods are healthy neighborhoods," said
Clarke, citing the city's stated policy of integrating mixed-income
citizens into emerging neighborhoods.
Campbell said he would travel to Ottawa to encourage the federal
government to return to the social housing market and he added he
would legalize secondary suites in the city and offer more bonuses
for developers to include affordable housing units. But he warned
the crowd not to expect miracles on the housing front.
"I'm not sure we can ever make it adequate," he said.
"It's not easy, I don't want to mislead you."
MacLean cited housing as another area where senior governments have
balanced their budgets on the backs of municipalities.
"Here we go again," she said. "Another problem that
the province has downloaded on the city."
The meeting, which took place at the main branch of the Vancouver
Public Library, was an understated affair. Like most meetings of
candidates this campaign season, candidates remained polite and
even- tempered. The genteel meetings belie the antipathy that exists
below the surface, which is betrayed in increasingly vitriolic media
advertisements. While the parties – the NPA and COPE, at least
– air the other's dirty laundry on the airwaves, the candidates
remain civil. Indeed, the three seemed tired and admitted the campaign
was taking its toll. MacLean said she prefered to sit throughout
the meeting because her legs were sore from campaigning. Campbell
had the flu and Clarke, though competent, lacked the energy she
often exudes.
In addition to CJC, the event was sponsored by SUCCESS (United Chinese
Community Enrichment Services Society), the Vancouver Multicultural
Society and the Vancouver Public Library. The event was moderated
by Tony DuMoulin, vice-chair of CJC, Pacific Region.
Pat Johnson is a native Vancouverite, a journalist and
commentator.
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