Vancouver mayor vows 0% tax hike in 2027, $400 million for new community centres | Daily Hive

Vancouver mayor Ken Sim promises another 0% property tax increase in 2027, commits $400 million to new and improved community centres

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim during his April 7, 2026 address to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. (Greater Vancouver Board of Trade)

In a speech that blended personal reflection with policy defence and announcements, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim used his fourth annual address to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade to argue that the municipal government is emerging from a period of instability and entering a phase of more disciplined rebuilding.

Speaking to an audience of business leaders today, he framed the city’s trajectory as a deliberate reset — one focused on restoring safety, improving affordability, and rebuilding confidence in both the City of Vancouver and the broader economy.

He emphasized a narrative of transition — contrasting what he described as a troubled past under previous municipal administrations with what he called a renewed, pragmatic direction.

“When we took office in 2022, Vancouver was facing some serious challenges. Encampments were growing across the city, in parks, and throughout the Downtown Eastside. Organized crime was on the rise. Residents and businesses were telling us they no longer felt safe. Worst of all, much of this was the direct result of decisions made by my predecessors, some of whom refused to see the impact of their ideologically driven decisions,” he said.

“And certain members on Council want a return to the failed, reckless, and chaotic strategies that allowed these problems to get worse. Meanwhile, City Hall was growing more dysfunctional, larger, and more expensive. Basic services people and businesses rely on fell further and further behind.”

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“Vancouverites weren’t asking for ideology.”

The mayor framed his ABC Vancouver party-led City Council’s work as a deliberate shift away from ideology toward what he called “delivering the core services that make a difference in everyday lives,” he said, emphasizing that “Vancouverites weren’t asking for ideology.”

“I didn’t realize how much politics and bureaucracy would fight change, even if it was for the good. Now you can argue whether or not it was good or not, but I think we all talk about the same things, using different words. Public safety, affordability, vibrant neighbourhoods, I think most people want it, but it’s amazing when you get down to it, how much we had to battle,” he said.

In a notable moment of self-reflection, Sim acknowledged that his administration did not get everything right.

“I underestimated how much things had to change and how long it would take. Some of that was to be expected as a new mayor coming from outside politics. But some of it was a system we inherited that had stopped working long before we arrived at City Hall,” he said.

“I heard the frustration from residents, I felt it too, and I took it seriously. Because leadership isn’t about getting everything right from day one. It’s about learning, adjusting, and delivering. And that’s what we’re doing now. We’ve learned the lessons, and we’ve made some changes, some of the changes needed at City Hall. And now our leaders are focused on delivering good public services Vancouverites deserve and expect.”

He framed ABC’s upcoming re-election campaign in the October 2026 civic election as a choice between continuing current policies or returning to what he described as past failures.

“Do we want to go back to where we were three years ago? Back to the chaotic, failed policies, financial mismanagement of previous municipal governments? Or do we want to continue on a path towards a bright future?” he asked the audience.

“It’s not just being safer. People must also feel safer.”

A major portion of the address focused on public safety, which Sim described as “one of the most fundamental responsibilities” of the municipal level of government.

The mayor outlined several initiatives, including increased funding for police, expanded mental health response teams, and new crisis intervention programs. He pointed to measurable outcomes as evidence of progress.

According to statistics from the Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver saw its lowest violent crime rate in 23 years. Within the Downtown Eastside, violent crime has fallen by 18 per cent, robberies are down by 44 per cent, and structural fires have decreased by 34 per cent.

However, Sim stressed that statistics alone are not enough. “It’s not just being safer. People must also feel safer,” he noted.

He also addressed controversial decisions such as dismantling encampments, framing them as necessary for both safety and compassion.

“Allowing unsafe encampments to grow unchecked isn’t compassion. Compassion means helping vulnerable individuals on shelter get connected with treatment and supported with services they need,” he said.

Sim used the platform to call for greater support and coordination from the provincial and federal governments, particularly around mental health, addiction, and affordable housing. He reiterated what he described as a disproportionate burden placed on Vancouver.

The mayor argued that this imbalance is unsustainable for the City of Vancouver’s resources and taxpayers, and called for a more fair regional approach.

“Today, Vancouver has roughly 25 per cent of Metro Vancouver’s population, yet we’re home to more than 75 per cent of its supportive housing,” he said.

“Make no mistake, Vancouver will always step up to help people in need. But we can’t be the only city doing far more than our share.”

“Increasing [housing] supply is helping ease pressure on the market.”

With the economy, Sim emphasized efforts to make Vancouver more business-friendly, highlighting reforms aimed at reducing municipal bureaucracy and speeding up approvals, with business license applications now seeing average processing times cut by 85 per cent and commercial renovation permit approval timelines improved by 45 per cent.

Sim placed strong emphasis on vibrancy and global competitiveness, linking major events to economic and cultural vitality.

“Vibrancy means creating a city that feels alive, a place where people want to live, work, visit, start a business, and invest in,” he said.

Housing affordability and supply continues to be another central pillar of Sim’s agenda. He outlined continued efforts to accelerate development approvals through his party’s established “3-3-3-1” permitting framework, which represents approval timelines of three days for home renovations, three weeks for single-family detached homes/townhouses, three months for multi-family projects, and one year for high-rise towers. He pointed to early results, including reduced permit timelines and increased rental completions, alongside modest declines in rent.

“We’re beginning to see the signs that increasing [housing] supply is helping ease pressure on the market,” he said.

Promise of a 0% property tax increase in 2027, and $400 million for new community and recreation centres in 2027-2030 capital plan

A key announcement in the speech was Sim’s commitment to maintaining a zero per cent municipal property tax increase for 2027, following the same policy for 2026.

He framed this approach as a response to broader economic pressures on households and businesses.

“Fiscal discipline isn’t about cutting what matters. It’s about focussing on what does. With a $2.3 billion [annual operating] budget, there will always be opportunities to find efficiencies and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly. Right now, as families across Vancouver are making hard choices, governments and businesses everywhere are being asked to do the same thing. Control spending, prioritize core services, and live within their means,” said the mayor.

“We’re seeing other jurisdictions weighed down by record deficits and rising debt costs. Vancouver is choosing a different path, and we’re leading the charge. We’re not using global economic pressures as excuses to reach deeper into people’s pockets. We’ve done the hard work to get our own house in order.”

Sim highlighted the successful efforts to rebuild the City’s emergency financial reserves, which had been significantly depleted following the pandemic.

The mayor also focused the need to reinvest in basic infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, and community and recreation centres. He also used the address as an opportunity to announce a major capital funding commitment of $400 million to build new and renovated community centre facilities in the upcoming four-year capital plan from 2027 to 2030. City Council is expected to deliberate the draft capital plan later this month.

The intention is to achieve five newly rebuilt facilities, which Sim says is “the most ambitious funding package for community centres in the history of our city.”

On Tuesday, Vancouver Park Board commissioners passed a member motion by Vancouver Liberals commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky calling on City Council to set aside over $1.4 billion in the 2027-2030 capital plan for building new and improved parks and recreation facilities, including more than $1 billion specifically for new and improved community, recreation, and aquatic centres.

This follows a troubling review by the municipal government’s independent Auditor General last year, which found that 72 per cent of the City’s community and recreation centres are in poor condition, and called on the City and Vancouver Park Board to collaborate on an accelerated strategy to meaningfully tackle the need for urgent renewal of the facilities.

Sim also positioned Vancouver at a pivotal moment, with global attention set to intensify as the city prepares to host seven matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is now about two months away.

“Now, in just a few weeks, Vancouver will welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe for the FIFA World Cup, the world’s largest sporting event,” continued the mayor.

“Events like FIFA or the Grey Cup, they don’t just fuel excitement. They create jobs, build hotels, support local restaurants, generate real economic activity, and showcase our city on the world stage. They also inspire our young people and create a legacy.”

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