Q| For me, the greatest issue in Vancouver still, is the lack of a representative, responsive and answerable government. As long as we have an at-large elected mayor and council driven by small-p party politics we will have a city designed by and for the power brokers. I know the answer but I still ask, will we ever see representative government in Vancouver? We would not accept at-large government at a provincial or federal level yet we still find it acceptable at a municipal level.

A| Vancouver was governed under a ward system from 1886 to 1936. You are no doubt aware there have been several recent attempts to re-introduce a ward system in the city of Vancouver, the most recent in 2004.

Retired BC Supreme Court Justice Thomas Berger was commissioned to produce a report on electoral reform. In his final report, Berger recommended the city be divided into 14 wards.You can click here to view his report.

Following Berger's report the city put the following question to voters:
"Are you in favour of, or are you opposed to, abolishing the at-large system and electing members of City Council by a ward system?"

22.6 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots. 46 per cent voted in favour of ward system. 54 per cent voted against.

The push for a ward system came largely from COPE and other left-leaning political organizations.

Opposition to adopting a ward system was led by, among others, Mayor Sam Sullivan. Sullivan has never revealed how much was spent on the campaign or who contributed to the campaign. Under the rules governing disclosure, he is under no obligation to disclose his funding sources because the vote was a referendum and not an election.

The most common argument in favour of an at-large system in Vancouver is that it makes the mayor and all ten councillors responsible for all of the city. (Critics will counter it has the opposite effect because no one is directly accountable to neighbourhoods.)

The a common argument in favour of a ward system is that since they are locally elected, each councillor is directly accountable to their neighbours.

Critics of the ward system will argue it is divisive, more susceptible to corruption, and pits neighbourhoods against each other for scarce resources.

There is no move afoot currently to hold another referendum on wards in the city.

Posted January 5, 2008 08:54 AM

Q| Stephen,
Do you think S.Sullivan is (geez,I want to say stupid) silly enough to believe that he must run again? Surely the NPeeA will dump him?Is there hope that the NPA is on it's way to the bin of,useless politicians,never again to be represented on Vancouver Council?
Sigh......

A| Mayor Sullivan has always been clear about his intention to seek a second term.

So far no one has emerged from within the ranks of the NPA as a possible challenger.

Many people were disappointed with Carole Taylor's announcement she will not be seeking the mayor's seat.

But all indications were that Taylor was prepared to run as
an independent, and would not have challenged Sullivan for the NPA nomination.

Sullivan is a prolific fund-raiser, and so far has raised roughly 250-thousand dollars for his party, and an equal amount for his personal re-election fund. Raising money is especially important in an at-large electoral system, since candidates must campaign across the entire city.

There has been much speculation that councillor Peter Ladner would challenge Sullivan, but it really is nothing more than speculation at this point.

Both supporters and critics of the mayor have told me Sullivan should never be counted out - - regardless of who his opponent might be.

Posted January 2, 2008 06:46 PM