Vancouver Greens: keep an elected Park Board, reform the Police Board, UNDRIP

GOOD GOVERNMENT · PAGE 47

Government to Government: what the Platform 2026 says

Government to Government is the Green Party of Vancouver's plan for how City Council deals with the other bodies that share power in the city. Its commitments cover the Park Board, the School Board, the provincial and federal governments, the Vancouver Police Board, and the three First Nations on whose unceded lands, the platform says, Vancouver is located. Each of these bodies has powers of its own, so most items here describe how Council would work with them.

The Greens would keep the Park Board independent and elected, with clear authority over parks, beaches, recreation, urban forestry and community facilities. They say any major change to how the board is governed should go to public consultation and respect the voters' choice of an elected board. The Park Board is created by the Vancouver Charter, a provincial law, so only the Province can change it. With the School Board, the party wants joint planning so that council land use decisions match school needs.

Two items criticise the current mayor and council. The platform accuses Ken Sim of blaming other governments and of defying provincial mandates and Charter rights, and promises good-faith work with senior governments instead. It says that under ABC the Police Board has acted as an extension of the mayor's public-safety agenda, and it points to resignations in protest of political interference. The Greens say they would work to restore trust in the board.

The last item is reconciliation. The Greens say they are committed to a working relationship with the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. The party affirms the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). It also wants better outcomes for Indigenous people living in the city, while respecting the leadership of the local Nations.

5 COMMITMENTS

What the party says it would do

1. Protect the autonomy of Vancouver's elected Park Board

   The Greens would maintain an independent, elected Park Board with clear authority over parks, beaches, recreation, urban forestry and community facilities. They would make sure major governance changes go to public consultation and a transparent decision that respects voters' choice of an elected board.

   Who has the power

   Province The Vancouver Charter creates the Park Board and only the Province can change that act, so Council's part is what it asks the Province to do.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 47

2. Work with Vancouver School Board in planning

   The party would set up planning between Council and the School Board ahead of time, so that council land use decisions and urban development match school needs and projections.

   Who has the power

   City, with others Council decides land use and the School Board plans schools, so both elected boards would have to take part.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 47

3. Respectful relations with senior government

   The Greens would work with the provincial and federal governments collaboratively and in good faith. The platform accuses Mayor Ken Sim of blaming other governments and of defying provincial mandates and Charter rights.

   Who has the power

   City Council How Council behaves toward the Province and Ottawa is Council's own choice.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 47

4. Police Board accountability

   The platform says that under ABC the Police Board has acted as an extension of the mayor's public-safety agenda, and it cites concerns about political interference, transparency and procedural fairness, the board's handling of complaints, and high-profile resignations in protest of political interference. The Greens would work to restore confidence in transparent and accountable board operations.

   Who has the power

   Province Under the provincial Police Act, the Province appoints up to seven Police Board members and Council appoints one, so Council cannot change how the board works on its own.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 47

5. Reconciliation In Action

   The Greens say they are committed to ongoing reconciliation and a working relationship with the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations. The party affirms the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and advancing recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and would work to improve outcomes for urban Indigenous people while respecting the rights, priorities and leadership of the local First Nations.

   Who has the power

   City, with others Council sets the city's own approach, and the work is done together with the governments of the three Nations.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 47

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Questions about government to government

ON THE BALLOT

The Green Party of Vancouver candidates behind this