Election newsReported

What Vancouver's seven civic parties say about the economy

Vancouver Is Awesome compiled economy platform positions from all seven mainstream parties ahead of the October 17 election, covering property taxes, small business, permitting, and job creation.

By voche.me editorsPublished Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 8:59 pm PT2 min read · 2 sources

Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on vancouverisawesome.com.

A commercial street in Vancouver — Vancouver Is Awesome

Vancouver Is Awesome published a side-by-side of all seven mainstream parties' economic platforms on October 7, compiled by reporter Mike Howell from news conferences, press releases and party websites. With ten days until the October 17 election, the comparison covers property taxes, small business support, permitting, and job creation.

The positions span a range. ABC Vancouver calls for a zero per cent property tax increase in 2027 and wants to make city hall permitting faster and rebuild or revamp five community centres. COPE plans to hire 400 unionized frontline workers and create an Industrial Land Reserve to protect the city's remaining industrial land for well-paying jobs. The Green Party of Vancouver commits to keeping property tax increases in line with inflation and opening vacant city commercial spaces to businesses and community organizations. OneCity would allow more corner stores in residential areas and have city staff produce a neighbourhood economy action plan within one year. TEAM would reinstate the Vancouver Economic Commission and diversify the economy beyond real estate development by supporting technology, life sciences and film sectors. Vote Vancouver calls for a small business concierge to guide permit applications, and plans to compete for major events. The Vancouver Liberals would create a Vancouver Economic Development Agency as an independent organization focused on attracting investment and head offices, and implement a Buy Vancouver strategy using the city's nearly $800 million in annual purchasing to support Canadian businesses.

All seven positions are the parties' own claims, compiled by Vancouver Is Awesome from party materials. None of these commitments has been independently costed, audited, or verified. A voter comparing platforms on the economy, housing, public safety and other topics can read each party's full profile at /parties. Advance voting is open through October 10 at locations listed on the City of Vancouver's website.

Questions this story answers

What does OneCity say about the economy?

OneCity's economic platform includes modernizing home-based business rules to create legal pathways for residents to run low-impact businesses from home, and allowing more corner stores and small neighbourhood shops in residential areas. The party wants to streamline permits for pop-up shops and markets in vacant storefronts and have city staff report back within one year with an Enabling the Neighbourhood Economy Action Plan. These are OneCity's own stated positions, as compiled by Vancouver Is Awesome.

What does Vote Vancouver say about the economy?

Vote Vancouver's economic platform calls for creating a small business concierge to help businesses navigate permits, regulations and city processes. The party also wants to use better technology and simpler processes to cut delays in permit decisions, scale Vancouver as a hub for technology companies, and make child care part of Vancouver's economic strategy by creating new facilities on underused city land. These are Vote Vancouver's own stated positions.

What does ABC Vancouver say about the economy?

ABC Vancouver's economic platform calls for a zero per cent property tax increase in 2027, faster permitting, rebuilding the Vancouver Aquatic Centre with a 50-metre pool, and revitalizing Granville Street and its pedestrian zone. The party also wants to establish a new era of cooperation with major events and a new funding model for them, and to remove pay parking at beaches and community centres while mandating a city-wide universal parking app. These are ABC's own stated positions.

What does the Green Party of Vancouver say about the economy?

The Green Party of Vancouver's economic platform includes rebuilding or revamping five community centres for $400 million, starting a second phase of revamps with another five in the next capital plan, and delivering the River District community centre. The party also commits to open vacant city commercial spaces to people and organizations that can put them to use, and to keeping property tax increases in line with inflation. These are the Green Party's own stated positions.

What does TEAM for a Livable Vancouver say about the economy?

TEAM's economic platform includes reinstating the Vancouver Economic Commission and diversifying Vancouver's economy beyond real estate development by supporting sectors including technology, life sciences, critical minerals and mining, film and digital media, and tourism. The party wants to cap property tax increases at inflation and justify them, and to lower property taxes for family doctors' offices. TEAM also calls for a $4-million revitalization fund for neighbourhood shopping streets. These are TEAM's own stated positions.

What does the Vancouver Liberals party say about the economy?

The Vancouver Liberals' economic platform includes implementing a Buy Vancouver, Build Canada economic strategy that would use the city's nearly $800 million in annual purchasing to support Canadian businesses and prioritize mass timber and wood-frame construction. The party wants to create a Business Navigator Service to give small businesses a single point of contact through the permitting and licensing process, and to create a Vancouver Economic Development Agency as an independent arm's-length organization focused on attracting investment and head offices. These are the Vancouver Liberals' own stated positions.

What does COPE say about the economy?

COPE's economic platform calls for hiring 400 unionized frontline workers to deliver services to residents. The party wants the City of Vancouver, park board and library to stay certified living wage employers and to require every city contractor, including janitorial, security and food services, to pay a living wage. COPE also plans to create an Industrial Land Reserve to protect the city's remaining industrial land and an Artist Land Reserve in four locations across the city, cutting property taxes there by half. These are COPE's own stated positions.

Which parties want to cut or freeze property taxes?

According to Vancouver Is Awesome's compilation of party platforms, ABC Vancouver calls for a zero per cent property tax increase in 2027, and TEAM for a Livable Vancouver calls for capping property tax increases at inflation. The Green Party of Vancouver also commits to keeping property tax increases in line with inflation. COPE's platform focuses on living wages and services rather than a tax freeze. All three positions are the parties' own stated commitments, not independently verified projections.

When and where can I vote in the Vancouver municipal election?

Voting day is Saturday, October 17, 2026. Advance voting is open now through October 10 at locations across Vancouver. You can find voting places on the City of Vancouver's website or at voche.me under Where to Vote. Party platforms on the economy and other topics are compared at voche.me/parties.