Newly elected councillors lay out budget review and policy reversals as first priorities
Sean Orr, Annette Reilly, Lucy Maloney and Mike Klassen spoke to CTV News about what they plan to do when the new Vancouver council takes office in November.
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Four of the ten newly elected Vancouver city councillors told CTV News on October 20, 2026 what they plan to do when the new council takes office in November. The councillors are Sean Orr (COPE), Annette Reilly (Green Party of Vancouver), Lucy Maloney (OneCity), and Mike Klassen (ABC Vancouver). CTV News reporter Isabella Zavarise reported the story.
Budget review and living wage
Orr, who received 83,038 votes in the October 17 election, the highest total of any council candidate according to CTV News, told the outlet that reviewing the city budget will be one of his first acts after inauguration. "We didn't see a lot of transparency in the last budget," he said. "It wasn't line-by-line. So, we need to go in and look at that."
Orr said he will also move a motion to restore the city's living wage policy. The previous ABC-led council scrapped that policy in January 2026, according to CTV News.
Renters' office and co-op leases
Reilly told CTV News she wants to bring back programs the previous council closed. The renters' office was shut down in 2023; the equity office closed in 2025. Reilly said reinstating them is on her list. She also said she wants to speed up permits for childcare spaces and work on renewing leases for housing co-operatives. "That's something I'd like to focus on right away," she told CTV News.
Both Orr and Reilly said they support reversing the current council's ban on net-new supportive housing. Maloney (OneCity) said the same, according to the report. A reversal would need a council vote.
Police budget and community outreach
Orr told CTV News he expects some cost savings in the Vancouver Police Department budget. He said he also supports the Green Party's plan for a Community Response Outreach Workers Team, which would send trained outreach workers, rather than police, to non-emergency calls about homelessness, public intoxication, and mental health crises. "Getting mental health off of the plate of the police," Orr said.
Mike Klassen on a changed role
ABC's Klassen is the only councillor from his party on the new 11-member council after the election saw COPE and Green candidates win four seats each. He told CTV News he looks forward to working with his colleagues across party lines. He said, according to CTV News: "I recognize that my role this term will be different, but I'll seek common ground wherever possible while ensuring Vancouverites have a strong, independent voice at City Hall."
Maloney said Vancouver residents "have clearly expressed their desire for a progressive majority working collaboratively" and that she is committed to results by drawing on diverse perspectives.
Voters who want to track whether these stated plans become actual council decisions can follow each elected person at /tracker, where this site records promises and the official votes or decisions that follow.
Questions this story answers
What is Sean Orr's first priority as a city councillor?
CTV News reported that COPE city councillor Sean Orr said reviewing the city budget will be one of his first priorities after inauguration in November 2026. Orr said the previous council's budget lacked transparency and was not broken down line by line. He also said he will move a motion to bring back the city's living wage policy, which the ABC-led council scrapped in January 2026. You can follow his commitments at /candidates/sean-orr.
What does Annette Reilly plan to do on Vancouver city council?
Green Party councillor Annette Reilly told CTV News she wants to reinstate programs that the previous ABC-led council closed, including the renters' office (closed in 2023) and the equity office (closed in 2025). She also said she wants to champion renewing leases for housing co-ops and speed up permitting for childcare spaces. Reilly said she also supports reversing the ban on net-new supportive housing. You can follow her commitments at /candidates/annette-reilly.
Will the new council reverse the ban on net-new supportive housing?
CTV News reported that Sean Orr (COPE), Annette Reilly (Green), and Lucy Maloney (OneCity) all said they support reversing the ban on net-new supportive housing. The ban was put in place by the previous ABC-led council. Together with mayor-elect Pete Fry, these three parties hold a majority on the 11-person council. Voters can track whether a council vote happens at /tracker.
What is COPE's mansion tax proposal?
According to CTV News, COPE's platform includes a one per cent tax on homes valued at over five million dollars, with the revenue directed to public housing. Sean Orr told CTV News that COPE believes there is significant wealth in Vancouver that can be redistributed. This is a COPE proposal; the new council would need to vote on it before it becomes city policy.
What is the Community Response Outreach Workers Team?
CTV News reported that Sean Orr said he supports the Green Party's plan to create a Community Response Outreach Workers Team (CROW) to respond to non-emergency calls about homelessness, public intoxication, and mental health crises. These calls would be handled by outreach workers rather than police. The team does not yet exist; it would require a council vote to establish. Voters can track this commitment at /tracker.
What did Mike Klassen say about being the only ABC councillor?
ABC Vancouver's Mike Klassen, the only councillor from his party on the new council, told CTV News that he looks forward to working constructively with his colleagues regardless of political affiliation. He said, according to CTV News: 'I recognize that my role this term will be different, but I'll seek common ground wherever possible while ensuring Vancouverites have a strong, independent voice at City Hall.' You can follow his activity at /candidates/mike-klassen.
When does the new Vancouver city council take office?
CTV News reported that the new council's inauguration is set for November 2026. The official results of the October 17 election must be certified before the new council is formally sworn in. Once inaugurated, the new councillors can begin introducing and voting on motions.
What did Lucy Maloney say about the new council?
OneCity councillor Lucy Maloney told CTV News that Vancouver residents have clearly expressed their desire for a progressive majority working collaboratively. She said she is committed to delivering results that residents expect by drawing on diverse perspectives within the new council. You can follow her commitments at /candidates/lucy-maloney.
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