The left slate, running no mayoral candidate
COPE, the Coalition of Progressive Electors, is running 12 candidates for Council, Park Board and School Board, and no mayoral candidate. Its published platform commits to a mansion tax, buying apartments as public housing, and free transit.
WHO THEY ARE
About COPE
COPE stands for the Coalition of Progressive Electors. It is running 12 candidates: 4 for City Council, 4 for Park Board and 4 for School Board. It is not running a mayoral candidate.
It is one of two parties on this ballot contesting three races but not the mayoralty; OneCity is the other.
The platform published on the party website on September 22, 2026 is its April 2025 by-election platform, not a 2026 platform. We have recorded it as such throughout, with its date attached, because the commitments in it were written for a different election.
COPE states that it rejects donations and gifts from developers and big business, and says it returned three $1,000 cheques from Concord Pacific in 2022.
THE TEN ISSUES
Where COPE stands
Every party on this site is covered on the same ten issues, so nothing is hidden by leaving a subject out. 9 of 10 have published policy behind them.
| Issue | Published position | Commitments |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | COPE’s published platform would tax properties above $5 million at 1% to fund ending homelessness, buy apartments as permanent public housing, close the vacancy loophole and stop demovictions. | 7 |
| Homelessness and drugs | COPE ties its homelessness commitment directly to a funding source: a 1% tax on property values above $5 million. | 3 |
| Public safety | COPE would prioritise pools, recreation and social infrastructure over policing, and support peer-assisted care teams that respond to mental health crises without police. | 3 |
| Transport | COPE would work toward fully funded free public transit, restore bus routes 17 and 25, and support protected bike lanes. | 3 |
| Parks | COPE would strengthen the independence of the elected Park Board and make more than 100 parks it describes as temporary into permanent ones. | 3 |
| Schools | COPE is running four School Board candidates and campaigns on defending public education, with library funding and food programmes alongside. | 2 |
| Taxes and budget | COPE would establish a lobbyist registry, defend the Integrity Commissioner’s independence, and states it rejects donations from developers and big business. | 4 |
| Climate | COPE’s published platform would expand free transit to everyone under 18, rejoin the Sue Big Oil lawsuit, restore bus routes 17 and 25, and exceed IPCC emissions targets. | 6 |
| Culture | Not yet researched | — |
| Child care | COPE would expand affordable child care in Vancouver, specifically $10 a day spaces. | 1 |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
9 questions about COPE
Is COPE running a candidate for mayor?
No. COPE is running 12 candidates for City Council, Park Board and School Board, and none for mayor.
What does COPE stand for?
The Coalition of Progressive Electors.
Is the platform on COPE’s website its 2026 platform?
No. On September 22, 2026 the platform page held its April 2025 by-election platform. We have kept that date attached to every commitment taken from it.
What is COPE’s mansion tax?
A property tax of 1% on the value of a home above $5 million, which COPE says would fund ending homelessness. A home assessed at $6 million would be taxed 1% on the $1 million above the threshold.
Where does COPE stand on policing?
It would prioritise pools, recreation and social infrastructure over policing, and fund peer-assisted care teams that respond to mental health crises without police.
Does COPE take developer donations?
It states that it always rejects donations and gifts from developers and big business, and that it returned three $1,000 cheques from Concord Pacific in 2022. That is the party’s own account. Elections BC filings are where to check it.
What does COPE say about the Park Board?
It would strengthen the independence of the elected board and make more than 100 parks it describes as temporary into permanent parks.
Does COPE support free transit?
Yes. It would expand free transit to everyone under 18 and work toward a fully funded, free-to-ride system. Fares are set by TransLink, not the city.
Where can I see COPE’s campaign finances?
Search the Elections BC local elections disclosure system for Vancouver. The 2026 filing is due by about mid-January 2027.
Sources
A source marked SAYS SO ITSELF is the party's own material. It proves what the party claims, not that the claim is true.
- COPE home page SAYS SO ITSELFCOPE · checked
- COPE platform (April 2025 by-election platform, still published September 2026) SAYS SO ITSELFCOPE · published · checked
- Who is running: official 2026 candidate list City of Vancouver · checked
- Local elections disclosure statement search Elections BC · checked
- Elector organizations: registration and financial reporting duties Elections BC · checked
- Making a campaign contribution Elections BC · checked
Compare COPE with the other ten parties
Every party is covered on the same ten issues. The comparison pages put them side by side, one issue at a time, with the source next to each position.