---
title: "COPE candidate questions ABC sign locations, renews empty homes tax dispute"
description: "COPE Vancouver council candidate Sean Orr is questioning where ABC Vancouver has placed campaign signs, and is renewing his party's criticism of a 2023 council vote that returned $3.8 million to developers."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/cope-abc-empty-homes-tax-signs-october-5"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:01:13.250Z"
---

COPE Vancouver council candidate [Sean Orr](/candidates/sean-orr) sent an email last week questioning where ABC Vancouver had placed its campaign signs, and renewing his party's criticism of a 2023 council vote on the empty homes tax, Daily Hive reported on October 5.

In the email, Orr asked supporters whether they had "noticed ABC signs popping up in strange places? Empty apartments, publicly funded senior homes, abandoned lots with a redevelopment sign up, or in a public space?" He wrote that "empty lots and apartments are voting [Ken Sim](/candidates/ken-sim) and ABC because he keeps them empty." These are Orr's allegations. The Daily Hive article did not independently verify the specific locations.

ABC Vancouver responded that all signs are placed with permission. "ABC's lawn signs go up with the permission of property owners and supporters, and we follow the city's rules on election signage," a party spokesperson told Daily Hive.

## The empty homes tax dispute

Alongside the sign allegation, Orr's email returned to a longstanding criticism of a 2023 City Council vote on the empty homes tax.

In 2023, the ABC majority in City Council voted to keep the empty homes tax at 3%, rather than raising it to 5% as Mayor Kennedy Stewart had proposed. ABC Councillor Mike Klassen introduced an amendment creating a new exemption for new, unsold homes that are vacant. City Staff had recommended keeping the rate at 3% with the amendment, but had not recommended applying the exemption retroactively to 2022. Klassen's amendment included 2022, which meant the council vote resulted in $3.8 million being returned to developers. The empty homes tax funds affordable housing projects and is intended to discourage owners from leaving homes vacant.

On housing policy, ABC's spokesperson told Daily Hive the party's approach "has been to fix the process so more homes get built faster. That means cutting red tape, speeding up approvals, and making it easier to build the homes people need, including rental and affordable housing."

## What COPE says it would do

Orr's email set out his party's position. COPE would enforce the empty homes tax, close loopholes, and phase in increases to 9%, he wrote. The party would also "incentivize development without displacement by taxing vacant lots and cracking down on land-banking for profit." These are COPE's stated commitments.

## For voters

Both parties are now on the record with their positions on the empty homes tax. If housing policy is a factor in how you vote, you can compare party positions at [/parties/cope](/parties/cope) and [/parties/abc-vancouver](/parties/abc-vancouver). Voting day is October 17. Advance voting is open now.

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