ABC Vancouver has launched a civic-election platform promising a 2027 property tax freeze, expanded recreation facilities and changes to parking fees ahead of Oct. 17, 2026 voting.
The Story
ABC Vancouver, the party led by Mayor Ken Sim, has released its platform for Vancouver’s civic election on Oct. 17, 2026, outlining proposals spanning City Council, the Vancouver Park Board and the Vancouver School Board.
The platform presents a mix of commitments the party says are already approved and new promises it says would be pursued if returned to office, with ABC campaigning under the slogan “Let’s Keep Vancouver Moving Forward.” The party also frames its plan around closer cooperation among the three elected bodies that govern key local services.
On the finance and cost side, ABC’s central municipal pledge is a zero per cent property tax increase in 2027, described as a second consecutive annual property tax freeze. It also proposes eliminating residential parking permit fees.
The party further calls for removing paid parking at beaches and community centres. In describing which locations would be affected, ABC points specifically to Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks Beach, and says the change would apply to all community centres.
ABC also includes operational changes tied to parking and municipal administration, proposing a new parking smartphone app that could be used citywide, alongside efforts to speed up permits and reduce administrative costs.
Public safety is a prominent element of ABC’s platform. It proposes banning the use of hard drugs in public spaces and simplifying the process for police to seize those drugs. The party also says it wants at least 100 involuntary care beds in Vancouver.
Drug enforcement and site-location rules also appear in the plan, including a proposal requiring provincial drug consumption sites to be located away from public schools and parks, along with additional commitments tied to oversight of non-profit organizations and “good neighbour agreements” for public housing properties affected by street disorder.
ABC’s platform also ties several public-safety and planning ideas to civic voting questions already approved earlier in the year. Last month, ABC’s majority in City Council approved two non-binding advisory plebiscite questions for the Oct. 17 election, one asking whether voters support turning a portion of the old St. Paul’s Hospital campus or a similar site into a care facility with involuntary and voluntary care beds, and another asking whether voters support new enforcement measures against hard drug use in public spaces.
A major infrastructure component of the platform is titled “Restoring Vancouver,” with ABC citing $400 million for community centre improvements that it says have already been approved through the City’s 2027–2030 capital plan. The party identifies Dunbar, Kerrisdale, Hastings, Roundhouse and Kensington as five priority community centres for rebuilding or upgrades, and says another five centres would be addressed in the following capital plan. It also pledges to fulfill the River District Community Centre.
Recreation and aquatic programming feature across both the City and Park Board portions of the platform. ABC says it would build new aquatic centres in the Sunset and Marpole neighbourhoods and provide Vancouver with a new 50-metre lap pool. It also proposes a covered public pickleball facility that could operate year-round, along with expanded recreation and youth programs, and it highlights family commitments including more pools, rinks and available ice time.
For dog owners, ABC says it would double the number of dog parks and expand off-leash areas with the goal of providing access in every neighbourhood, while also seeking more attention to park maintenance such as mowing and cleaning and keeping public spaces free of discarded needles.
Beyond aquatic and parks, ABC highlights community-specific priorities such as permanently repairing the Stanley Park Train and making the return of Bright Nights and the Halloween train an “immediate priority.” It also proposes restoring what it calls “open access” at Kitsilano Pool by ending the booking slot session system in place since the pandemic.
For children and schools, ABC says it would implement the Joe Fortes Learn-to-Swim program, describing it as already approved by City Council. The party says the first three levels of lessons would be free for children aged three to 12, while lesson capacity would be increased so more children could participate. It also says Park Board and School Board candidates would work together to introduce swimming instruction during school hours.
On education staffing and funding, ABC’s school-board platform calls for teaching assistants in every classroom, with more assistants and specialized support staff for students with different learning needs, as well as additional staff training and classroom resources. The platform also proposes retaining the School Liaison Officer Program and strengthening cooperation among police, schools and families.
ABC says it wants school funding directed to Vancouver schools by arguing that provincial school taxes collected in Vancouver should be used within the district. It cites that the provincial government is expected to collect about $659 million in school taxes from Vancouver in 2026, while the Vancouver School Board received approximately $598 million in provincial grants for its 2025–26 budget, framing the difference as roughly a $60 million shortfall.
The party also lists economic and downtown initiatives, including attracting more technology companies and jobs and continuing improvements to Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver by advancing the pedestrian zone over the long term. It also proposes a new funding model for major public events that it says face rising costs and reduced support from corporate sponsors and the federal and provincial governments.
ABC says further details are expected to be unveiled on Sept. 28, when it plans to launch the second part of its platform called “Raising Vancouver,” including a pledge to double the 2,000 new childcare spaces, create a fund for playground improvements, and expand after-school programs.
The campaign’s rollout also includes a description of its early organizing activity. ABC says that as of Sept. 18 it had raised more than $2 million from over 4,000 donors since January and knocked on 67,285 doors since early July, and that it attended 308 events including 17 pop-ups, organized 80 meet-and-greets and sent out 1,147 lawn signs during September.
The platform’s scope—from parking fee changes at local beaches and community centres to investments in community centres, new aquatic infrastructure and school-based swimming—positions the election as both a services and funding debate for Vancouver voters, with public safety and the role of involuntary care also set to be tested through plebiscite questions alongside the broader policy agenda.
← More stories