OneCity on city spending: living wage, water meters and early pipe repairs
OneCity says it would continue the city's UNDRIP Action Plan, test any service cut against a Public Services Protection Test, recertify the City and School Board as living wage employers, fix pipes before they break, introduce water meters and share services across the three boards.
A PLAN TO FIX THE BUDGET & MAKE YOUR VOTE MATTER
Public Dollars for Thriving Communities: what the Our Plans says
The second group in OneCity's September 29, 2026 budget plan is about what city money is spent on. The party says it would continue the city's UNDRIP Action Plan, which puts the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into city practice. The party says City Council adopted it unanimously. Before any cut, contracting out, privatization or reduction in service, the city would apply a Public Services Protection Test. The City and the School Board would be certified again as living wage employers, meaning they pay at least the wage set for living in the area.
Two items deal with water. The party would fix and replace old pipes and other core infrastructure early, with public timelines, which it says would let the city borrow at lower cost and spend less later. It would also introduce water meters, which it says would lower utility costs for average residents and make the largest users, such as owners of mansions, pay more. The last item would coordinate shared services agreements between City Council, the Park Board and the School Board. Council controls the city budget and utilities. The living wage and shared services items need the School Board and Park Board as well.
6 COMMITMENTS
What the party says it would do
Supporting & Continuing the UNDRIP Action Plan
OneCity would continue the work to carry out the UNDRIP Action Plan, which the party says the City of Vancouver adopted unanimously.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council directs city staff and decides how city plans are carried out.
Protecting Against Service Cuts
The party would adopt a Public Services Protection Test before any cut, contracting out, privatization or service reduction, so money delivers value to communities.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council approves the budget and decides how city services are delivered.
Restoring the Living Wage
OneCity would recertify the City and the School Board as living wage employers, so the workers who keep the city running can afford to live in it.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Council sets city pay policy, but the School Board is a separate employer that must decide for itself.
Repairing Pipes & Potholes Before They Break
The party would fix and replace old infrastructure early through preventive maintenance and public timelines, which it says would let the city borrow at lower cost and spend less later.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council approves the capital plan that pays for pipes and roads.
Making Waterhogs Pay
OneCity would introduce water meters to lower utility costs for average residents and make big users of water, such as mansion owners, pay their share.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city runs its water utility and Council sets its rates.
Aligning City Council, Park, and School Boards to Deliver Services
The party would coordinate shared services agreements so key services can be supported by every board, run more efficiently and reach as many residents as possible.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Council, the Park Board and the School Board are separate elected bodies, so each would have to agree.
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT
Where the power sits for this chapter
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about public dollars for thriving communities
Does OneCity support water meters for Vancouver homes?
Yes. OneCity says it would introduce water meters to lower utility costs for average residents and make the largest water users, such as mansion owners, pay their share (OneCity budget and ballot plan, September 29, 2026).
Would OneCity make the City of Vancouver a living wage employer again?
Yes. OneCity says it would recertify the City and the School Board as living wage employers. The School Board is a separate employer, so it would have to agree for its own staff (OneCity budget and ballot plan, September 29, 2026).
What is OneCity's Public Services Protection Test?
It is a test OneCity would apply before any cut, contracting out, privatization or reduction of a city service, to check that public money delivers value to communities. The page does not set out the test's rules (OneCity budget and ballot plan, September 29, 2026).
What would OneCity do about old water pipes?
OneCity would fix and replace old pipes and other core infrastructure early, through preventive maintenance and public timelines. The party says this would let the city borrow at lower cost and spend less later (OneCity budget and ballot plan, September 29, 2026).
Does OneCity support the UNDRIP Action Plan?
Yes. OneCity says it would continue the work to carry out the city's UNDRIP Action Plan, which the party says City Council adopted unanimously (OneCity budget and ballot plan, September 29, 2026).
ON THE BALLOT
The OneCity candidates behind this
Sources
Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it.
- OneCity Announces its Plan to Fix the Budget & Make Your Vote Matter SAYS SO ITSELFOneCity · published · checked