Free transit in Vancouver? That would be a dream come true for many, and it’s one that a Vancouver mayoral candidate would push for.
We recently crossed the fifth anniversary of the devastating B.C. heat dome that killed hundreds, and Stephanie Allen, who is vying to become the next mayor of Vancouver, has some thoughts on the past, present and future of the climate reality we all live in.
One of her plans, for the sake of the climate, would be to push the Province for free transit in Vancouver.
Daily Hive Urbanized recently caught up with Allen, a former BC Housing exec, and a candidate who’s running to become the next mayor of Vancouver under the COPE banner.
Allen, who has been a Vancouver resident for about 15 years, was vice president at BC Housing when the heat dome occurred, bearing the responsibility of the organization’s strategy.
“I was caring for my 85-year-old mother, who, as an elderly person, was very, very vulnerable during the heat,” she said.
“I was also witnessing the disproportionate impact on people who live in SROs, social housing and supportive housing buildings.”
Allen touched on the fact that there was a disproportionate amount of death occurring in spaces like those.
“So it affirmed my commitment to fight for renters, to fight for disabled people and vulnerable people who are carrying the heaviest burden of climate impact and climate change.”
We asked Allen about the recent climate policy changes, including Prime Minister Mark Carney scaling back national efforts, and on a municipal level, the City of Vancouver ditching some of its initiatives.
“It’s devastating to see what’s happening, to see these decisions being made. They have an impact on us morally, spiritually, emotionally, mentally,” Allen said.
If elected with a COPE majority, Allen plans on reversing course on some of those decisions, including reinstating the sustainability department. As mentioned, Allen would push the B.C. government to make transit free.
“We really have to press the Province to make transit free. Let’s get people out of their cars.”
Vancouver transit riders were actually just hit with a fare hike on Canada Day.
Jumping into mayoral race not an easy decision
COPE/Supplied
We asked Allen about the decision to step into the race.
“Definitely a tough decision. It was a joint decision with my partner and I.”
She explained that the reason it was a difficult decision for her would be the same as for anyone else deciding to step into the spotlight and stand for a vision.
“But when COPE approached me, and we discussed kind of where we are right now in our trajectory as a society, as a culture, locally, globally, as well, we discussed how important it is right now to have courage in this moment to tell the truth about our political and economic systems.”
We also asked Allen what her Vancouver experience has been like over the past 15 years.
“There’s so much to love about Vancouver, and so much that I enjoy about my life here,” she said, adding that Vancouver’s where she met her husband.
She explained she loves Vancouver for all the same reasons most residents do. The beautiful nature, the food and arts scene, and walkable neighbourhoods, among others. But she has also seen the other side of the coin when it comes to things like the cost of living and affordability for many Vancouverites.
Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, we won’t have to wait too much longer to see what the future leadership of the city looks like, as the election takes place this October, just over three months away.