Will Vision Welcome Citizen Involvement?
Posted October 31st, 2008
Leading up to the Nov. 15 election, the Minute will highlight the policy solutions of the three major parties on affordable housing, citizen engagement and transportation. In this installment, Vision Vancouver outlines their plans for boosting citizen involvement in the city.
The Public Mood: In 2005, less than 32 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the civic election. The recent federal election and provincial by-elections set records for lowest turnouts ever.
The Vision Slogan: Building strong, safe, inclusive communities.
Vancouver Facts: It's been four years since the city failed at its attempt to overhaul its electoral system, based on the Vancouver Electoral Reform Commission's recommendations. Between elections, the city provides a patchwork of opportunities for citizens to engage with city hall, from public hearings to full-blown community consultations but are citizens being heard? In the last civic budget consultation, 89 per cent of businesses and residents called for maintaining or increasing funding to the parks board, yet Vancouver's parks and recreation system has seen its overall budget reduced by $3 million over the past 12 years.
The Vision Solution: Vision Vancouver will establish a civic engagement unit that will lead and co-ordinate public consultation for major public initiatives, including Listening to Vancouver, an annual series of consultations and workshops where the public can share ideas, and guide our city government. In addition, Vision will work to step-up civic participation by multi-cultural communities, refugees, and non-citizens in the democratic process. While Vision's platform is silent on reforming the at-large system, it would advocate changes to provincial legislation to establish campaign spending limits, disclosure rules, and donation limits for individuals, unions, and businesses by 2011. Click here for details.
Leading up to the Nov. 15 election, the Minute will highlight the policy solutions of the three major parties on affordable housing, citizen engagement and transportation. In this installment, Vision Vancouver outlines their plans for boosting citizen involvement in the city. The Public Mood: In 2005, less than 32 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the civic election. The recent federal election and provincial by-elections set records for lowest turnouts ever.
The Vision Slogan: Building strong, safe, inclusive communities.
Vancouver Facts: It's been four years since the city failed at its attempt to overhaul its electoral system, based on the Vancouver Electoral Reform Commission's recommendations. Between elections, the city provides a patchwork of opportunities for citizens to engage with city hall, from public hearings to full-blown community consultations but are citizens being heard? In the last civic budget consultation, 89 per cent of businesses and residents called for maintaining or increasing funding to the parks board, yet Vancouver's parks and recreation system has seen its overall budget reduced by $3 million over the past 12 years.
The Vision Solution: Vision Vancouver will establish a civic engagement unit that will lead and co-ordinate public consultation for major public initiatives, including Listening to Vancouver, an annual series of consultations and workshops where the public can share ideas, and guide our city government. In addition, Vision will work to step-up civic participation by multi-cultural communities, refugees, and non-citizens in the democratic process. While Vision's platform is silent on reforming the at-large system, it would advocate changes to provincial legislation to establish campaign spending limits, disclosure rules, and donation limits for individuals, unions, and businesses by 2011. Click here for details.