The provincial government has tabled legislation that will help determine the future of the Vancouver park board, but it will be through a referendum.
B.C. tabled legislation Thursday (Oct. 9) that proposes amendments to the Vancouver Charter that would provide authority to Vancouver city council to dissolve the park board. However, that can only happen if a majority of eligible voters in Vancouver approve the dissolution through an assent vote.
A release from the province says this proposed legislation will ensure Vancouver residents have a direct say in the future governance of Vancouver parks.
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation was established in 1889 as an independent body to oversee and manage parks in the city.
However, Vancouver city council passed a resolution in December 2023 to ask the province to dissolve the park board and transfer all the board's powers, assets and obligation to council.
Municipal Affairs Minister Christine Boyle told reporters Thursday that it's the province's priority to ensure that a significant change to park governance is legally sound and that it's well supported, while balancing local leadership and public input.
Boyle said it would be up to the city's mayor and council to decide when a referendum will be held, noting that she did reach out Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim on Wednesday to alert him about her government's proposed legislation.
"It could be in the spring, it could be concurrent with next fall's general municipal elections," said Boyle, who was a former Vancouver city councillor from 2018 to 2022.
Asked if the provincial government would help foot the bill for a referendum, Boyle said the province won't be taking on those costs. She added that from a financial standpoint, it makes more sense to hold the referendum during a general election.
"But again, that's not for us to decide."
It's up to Vancouver city council to decide if and when it holds the assent vote and passes the bylaw. If it's successful and receives a majority of the valid votes – 50 per cent plus one – then city council can adopt a bylaw to dissolve the board.
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said the people of Vancouver need to make those decisions about the park board, adding he hopes the process is laid out and clear.
"When it comes to the legislation that is being brought forward, it says that it's required to have the assertion of the electorate, which I'm assuming means a referendum."
He said that because the board is such a long-standing institution that has been part of Vancouver for a long time and because Vancouver has "some of the greatest gems of parks anywhere in the world," that it should be up to the residents.
