COPE unveils 2026 Vancouver platform with library funding, tenant protections, and a public audit
COPE published its 2026 municipal platform on September 28, promising to fully fund city libraries, restore the Renter's Office, triple the empty homes tax, and audit the current mayor's term.
Announcement. A campaign, a party or the City chose to say this. voche.me reports it as their claim. Read the original report on dailyhive.com.
COPE published its 2026 Vancouver municipal platform on September 28, 2026, setting out commitments for its candidates running for City Council, School Board, and Park Board. Daily Hive Vancouver reported the platform on the same day.
The party says it would fully fund the city's libraries so they are open seven days a week, restore the Renter's Office, triple the empty homes tax, create a climate defence strategy, and fund a universal breakfast and lunch program for schools. Each of these is a commitment in COPE's own platform document; the party has not published a cost breakdown for any of them.
Sean Orr, COPE's City Council candidate running for re-election, is quoted by Daily Hive: "We need a city that funds our libraries and public services, protects tenants, builds affordable housing, and protects people from climate events."
The audit proposal
The platform also calls for what COPE describes as a "people's audit" to review and report on Mayor Ken Sim's term in office, identify what COPE characterises as violations of the public interest, and support Vancouver city workers. This is COPE's own political framing; no independent body has announced such a review, and the platform does not specify who would conduct it or under what authority.
No mayoral candidate
COPE is not fielding a mayoral candidate. Stephanie Allen, who had been the party's mayoral candidate, withdrew earlier in September. COPE says it is supporting Green Party of Vancouver mayoral candidate Pete Fry. Three other progressive parties have aligned behind Fry in the mayor's race.
The slate
COPE's four City Council candidates are Sean Orr, Chloe Leslie, Devyani Singh, and Solomon Yi-Kieran. On School Board, the party is running Suzie Mah, Melanie Cheng, Gwen Giesbrecht, and Derrick O'Keefe. On Park Board: Tamiko Suzuki, Sacia Burton, Jamie Han, and T'uy't'tanat Cease Wyss.
Voters can read COPE's full platform and candidate profiles at /parties/cope. The election is October 17, 2026; voting locations and advance dates are at /where-to-vote.
Questions this story answers
What is COPE's 2026 Vancouver platform?
COPE published its 2026 municipal platform on September 28, 2026, as reported by Daily Hive Vancouver. The party says it would fully fund the city's libraries so they open seven days a week, restore the Renter's Office, triple the empty homes tax, create a climate defence strategy, and fund a universal breakfast and lunch program for schools. These are COPE's stated commitments; the party has not published a full cost breakdown for each item. The platform also includes a call for a public audit of the current mayor's term.
Is COPE running a mayoral candidate in 2026?
COPE is not running a mayoral candidate in the 2026 Vancouver election, according to the Daily Hive report published September 28, 2026. COPE's original mayoral candidate Stephanie Allen withdrew earlier in September. The party says it is supporting Green Party of Vancouver mayoral candidate Pete Fry. You can read Pete Fry's profile at /candidates/pete-fry and COPE's party page at /parties/cope.
What does COPE say about the empty homes tax?
COPE's 2026 platform, as reported by Daily Hive on September 28, 2026, says the party would triple the empty homes tax. The platform does not specify the current tax rate or the target rate; the figure of 'triple' comes from COPE's own platform document. COPE has not published an independent estimate of the revenue impact. Voters can see COPE's full platform at /parties/cope.
What did Sean Orr say about the platform?
Sean Orr, COPE's City Council candidate running for re-election, is quoted in the Daily Hive report from September 28, 2026, saying: 'We need a city that funds our libraries and public services, protects tenants, builds affordable housing, and protects people from climate events.' Orr is one of four COPE council candidates alongside Chloe Leslie, Devyani Singh, and Solomon Yi-Kieran. You can read his profile at /candidates/sean-orr.
What is the Renter's Office that COPE wants to restore?
COPE's 2026 platform says the party would restore the Renter's Office, a City of Vancouver office that previously provided support and information to renters. The platform does not specify when the office was discontinued or what services it would provide on restoration. The commitment is COPE's own stated position, as reported by Daily Hive on September 28, 2026.
Which candidates is COPE running for City Council?
COPE is running four candidates for City Council in the October 17, 2026 Vancouver election: Sean Orr, Chloe Leslie, Devyani Singh, and Solomon Yi-Kieran, according to the Daily Hive report from September 28, 2026. You can read their profiles at /candidates/sean-orr, /candidates/chloe-leslie, /candidates/devyani-singh, and /candidates/solomon-yi-kieran.
Which candidates is COPE running for School Board and Park Board?
According to the Daily Hive report from September 28, 2026, COPE is running Suzie Mah, Melanie Cheng, Gwen Giesbrecht, and Derrick O'Keefe for School Board, and Tamiko Suzuki, Sacia Burton, Jamie Han, and T'uy't'tanat Cease Wyss for Park Board. Their profiles are on the candidates section of this site.
What is the public audit COPE is calling for?
COPE's 2026 platform, as reported by Daily Hive on September 28, 2026, calls for conducting what it describes as a 'people's audit' to review and report on the current mayor's term, identify what it describes as violations of the public interest, and support Vancouver city workers. The audit is COPE's stated political proposal; no independent body has announced such a process. This is the party's own framing of its position.
When and where can voters cast their ballots?
Vancouver's municipal election takes place on October 17, 2026. Advance voting is available on dates before that, and you can find voting locations and registration information at /where-to-vote. The COPE candidates named in this story are running across City Council, School Board, and Park Board races.
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