---
title: "Vote Vancouver commits to city-owned affordable housing and keeping park board independent"
description: "The Ubyssey asked each Vancouver party to lay out its positions. Vote Vancouver's council and park board candidates say city-owned land should be used for affordable homes and that the park board must stay independent."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/vote-vancouver-council-park-board-platform-october-14"
last_updated: "2026-10-17T19:03:21.893Z"
---

Vote Vancouver's six city council candidates and two park board candidates say the city should build permanently affordable homes on land it already owns, extend SkyTrain to UBC, and keep the Vancouver Park Board elected and independent from city hall. The Ubyssey reported the party's positions on October 13, 2026, as part of a series asking each party running in the October 17 election to lay out what it stands for.

## Housing: city-owned land for permanently affordable homes

The party's housing plan centers on publicly owned land rather than the private development market. Council candidate Rebecca Hasdell told The Ubyssey: "We see an enormous opportunity to be using city-owned land to build more public homes on public land."

The party says new buildings on city land should include not-for-profit childcare spaces. Vote Vancouver is running [Rebecca Hasdell](/candidates/rebecca-hasdell), [John Boychuk](/candidates/john-boychuk), [Steve Jedreicich](/candidates/steve-jedreicich), [Keerit Jutla](/candidates/keerit-jutla), [Bhavna Solecki](/candidates/bhavna-solecki), and [Geoff Teoli](/candidates/geoff-teoli) for council.

## Transit: SkyTrain to UBC and free rides for youth

Vote Vancouver's council candidates say they support completing the SkyTrain extension to UBC, making transit free for riders under 18, and starting a seasonal free bike valet service. They also propose an electric passenger ferry linking Vancouver to Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast. These positions come from the party's candidates, as reported by The Ubyssey, and have not been independently costed.

## Park board: stay elected, stay independent

The party's park board candidates, [Stephen Menon](/candidates/stephen-menon) and [Summit Wannamaker](/candidates/summit-wannamaker), say they want the Vancouver Park Board to remain an elected body with its own authority. Wannamaker told The Ubyssey: "The Vancouver Park Board should remain independent and should never have to face being cut by city council."

The question of whether to keep the park board came up repeatedly in this campaign after the current council moved to reduce its powers.

## Context: Vote Vancouver's origins

Rebecca Bligh founded Vote Vancouver in September 2025, according to The Ubyssey. She had been removed from ABC Vancouver's caucus in February 2025 for voting against that party's positions on natural gas bans and supportive housing. She is now running for mayor under the Vote Vancouver name.

## Before you vote October 17

Polls are open from 8 AM to 8 PM on October 17. You can read full profiles of all Vote Vancouver's candidates at [/parties/vote-vancouver](/parties/vote-vancouver). If you do not know your voting place, check the City of Vancouver's tool at vancouver.ca before you leave the house.

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