---
title: "COPE unveils 2026 Vancouver platform with library funding, tenant protections, and a public audit"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/cope-platform-september-28"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:01:16.962Z"
---

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](/candidates/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](/candidates/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](/candidates/sean-orr), [Chloe Leslie](/candidates/chloe-leslie), [Devyani Singh](/candidates/devyani-singh), and [Solomon Yi-Kieran](/candidates/solomon-yi-kieran). On School Board, the party is running [Suzie Mah](/candidates/suzie-mah), [Melanie Cheng](/candidates/melanie-cheng), [Gwen Giesbrecht](/candidates/gwen-giesbrecht), and [Derrick O'Keefe](/candidates/derrick-o-keefe). On Park Board: [Tamiko Suzuki](/candidates/tamiko-suzuki), [Sacia Burton](/candidates/sacia-burton), [Jamie Han](/candidates/jamie-han), and [T'uy't'tanat Cease Wyss](/candidates/t-uy-t-tanat-cease-wyss).

Voters can read COPE's full platform and candidate profiles at [/parties/cope](/parties/cope). The election is October 17, 2026; voting locations and advance dates are at [/where-to-vote](/where-to-vote).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.