Council moves forward on actions to combat homelessness

Mayor hosts roundtable meeting with service providers

Mayor Sam Sullivan has commended yesterday’s decision of City Council to proceed with immediate actions to encourage new social housing development, increase the number of emergency shelter beds for the homeless in Vancouver, and invest in the creation of 44 new social housing units in the former Pennsylvania Hotel in the Downtown Eastside.

The Mayor shared information about the new actions with a group of 20 community organizations and service providers who took part in a roundtable meeting on homelessness in the Mayor’s Office this morning. The group discussed ways in which the City, Regional, Provincial and Federal governments can work collaboratively with community groups and agencies in the inner city to provide emergency shelter and services.

Mayor Sullivan bets on BC Lions to win Grey Cup

Challenges Mayor of Montreal to friendly competition

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan today issued a friendly challenge to Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay in anticipation of the showdown between the BC Lions and the Montreal Alouettes in the 2006 Grey Cup Championship on Sunday, November 19.

“We have agreed that the Mayor of the unsuccessful team must wear the winning team’s jersey at his next City Council meeting,” Mayor Sullivan said. “I’m quite confident that it will be Mayor Tremblay who will be wearing a BC Lions jersey at Montreal City Hall after next Sunday’s game.”

Vancouver needs more accessible and enviro-friendly taxis, Mayor says

Mayor Sam Sullivan is calling upon Council to support an initiative from Councillor Suzanne Anton that aims to put significantly more taxis on the road in Vancouver, as well as improve the sustainability and accessibility of the taxi fleet in the City.

In order to have a significant number of new taxi permits in place by the 2007 tourist season, Councillor Anton is asking City staff and the Vancouver Taxi Roundtable to begin immediately working on recommendations for:

  • Issuing new permits in 2007, as well as recommendations on additional permits from 2008 through 2010, in order to address the current shortage of taxis in Vancouver;
  • Improving the process for issuing the permits, including fees;
  • Increasing the accessibility of the taxi fleet for persons with disabilities, for the new permits issued in 2007 and over the long term; and,
  • Achieving compatibility of the taxi fleet with the goals of the City’s Community Climate Change action plan.

Remembrance Day Ceremonies

The City of Vancouver’s 2006 Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held on:

Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 10:30 a.m.
Cenotaph at Victory Square
West Hastings Street, between Cambie and Hamilton

These ceremonies, which include a wreath laying to honour those who gave their lives in the service of our country, will mark the 61st anniversary of the end of World War Two, and the 88th anniversary of the First World War Armistice.

Council strengthens advisory bodies; establishes priorities to guide citizen input

Mayor Sam Sullivan applauded Council’s decision tonight to improve the City’s advisory bodies, noting that the new framework will increase the role of citizen volunteers, better align their work with City priorities and provide new funds for community outreach.
As part of the changes to advisory committees, Council established the following priorities which will be considered by all citizen advisory bodies as they create work plans for their committees through 2008:

Mayor Sullivan seeks emergency funding to support Vancouver’s homeless population

In advance of a debate regarding a five-point proposal by Councillor Kim Capri to deal with Vancouver’s homeless crisis, Mayor Sam Sullivan is calling upon the Provincial government to provide emergency funding to support our most vulnerable population this winter.

“This is only a first step in helping to meet the immediate needs of the approximately one thousand homeless people wandering Vancouver’s streets on a nightly basis,” says Mayor Sullivan. “Our request for emergency funding to prevent any further SROs from closing in the next six months will go a long way in securing housing for those at risk of homelessness.”

Mayor endorses Councillor Lee’s recommendations to strengthen role of advisory bodies

Mayor Sam Sullivan is planning to support a series of recommendations proposed by Councillor B.C. Lee that will serve to increase the role of advisory bodies, better align their mandate with Council priorities and provide them with additional financial resources to conduct their activities.
“I am proud of what our advisory bodies have done and continue to do in helping to shape City policy,” said Mayor Sullivan. “That’s why I have taken the time to carefully review the recommendations outlined in the May Brown Report and will support Councillor Lee’s recommendations to strengthen the role of our advisory committees.”