2018 Voters Guide Large Print | English
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Vancouver Voters’ Guide vancouver.ca/vote Advance voting October 10 to 17, 2018, 8am-8pm Election day October 20, 2018, 8am-8pm Randomized Candidate Where to Capital plan Ballot profiles vote Find out Get to know the Learn about Vote at ANY the funding random-order who’s running voting place questions on candidate list on in Vancouver the ballot the 2018 ballot New for you in 2018 Names listed in random order An audio version is on the ballot available at vancouver. Candidates are listed in random ca/vote, reading all order, NOT alphabetical order on voter information except the ballot this year. Get ready: candidate statements. Plan your vote with the online Ì Kids can vote! tool at vancouver.ca/plan- On October 13 and 14, your-vote, or the worksheet in kids can vote in the this guide. City’s special program to Get to know the random encourage kids to vote order list at vancouver.ca/ in the future. See “Kids vote or on the worksheet in Vote” in the table of this guide. contents. Leave time to vote: consider Vote at shelters, drop-in voting in advance from centres and small care October 10 to 17, as wait times facilities may be shorter. We’re expanding mobile Voter information cards are voting to increase voting bundled by last name. access for those with socioeconomic or other Everyone at the same address barriers. with the same last name will get their cards in one Ì Selfie backdrops envelope. will be at all voting locations! Translated, large print, and audio versions of the voters’ Share a selfie to guide are available. encourage others to vote! Guides in Simplified Chinese, Ì Special election Traditional Chinese, Punjabi, promotions French and English are at Free Mobi bike day- community centres and passes, plus try a libraries. Or get a copy by Vancouver-inspired coffee! visiting vancouver.ca/voters- See Special Promotions in guide or calling 3-1-1. the table of contents. Vancouver Voters’ Guide This guide contains information about the City of Vancouver’s 2018 municipal election. Vote in advance from October 10 to 17, 2018, or on election day, October 20, 2018. Table of Contents Why should I vote? 2 What am I voting for? 2 Who does what? 3 Who can vote? 5 Am I registered to vote? 5 When and where can I vote? 9 What if I can’t vote in person? 11 How do I vote? 12 Can I get help to vote? 15 What if English is my second language? 17 Voting places in Vancouver 18 Plan Your Vote Worksheet with Random-Order Candidate List 26 Parties 32 Candidate Profiles – Mayor, Councillor, Park Board Commissioner, School Trustee 33 Capital Plan 2019–2022 183 Capital Plan Borrowing Questions 185 Special election promotions 188 Special Kids Vote program 190 Promote the vote 192 Can’t find the info you need in this guide? Visit vancouver.ca/vote or call 3-1-1. Vancouver Voters’ Guide | Vancouver Election 2018 / 1 Why should I vote? The people you elect for your local government make decisions that directly affect your everyday life. They make decisions about: Ì the types of buildings and homes in your community Ì the roads you drive on Ì the services at your libraries and community centres Ì the police and fire departments that protect you Ì the parks where you play Ì the water and sewers that serve your home, and Ì many other important aspects of city life. You have the power to influence these decisions with your vote. What am I voting for? The City of Vancouver is holding an election in October 2018 for: 1 mayor 10 city councillors 7 Park Board commissioners 9 school trustees Each position is elected at large, meaning each position represents the entire city. Positions are held for a four-year term. Voters will also vote on three questions asking whether the City should borrow funds for some of the major projects outlined in the 2019-2022 Capital Plan. 2 / Vancouver Voters’ Guide | Vancouver Election 2018 Vancouver Voters’ Guide | Vancouver Election 2018 / 3 Who does what? Mayor and council Vancouver City Council is made up of one mayor and 10 councillors. City Council has the authority to pass by-laws that control many things in Vancouver. Through its decisions, Council provides: Ì police and fire services Ì libraries Ì garbage collection and recycling Ì water and sewer services Ì city streets, sidewalks and street lights Ì and more. Council can also makes decisions about: Ì how Vancouver’s land is used Ì property taxes Ì whether to buy and sell property Ì spending City money Ì taking on debts Ì providing grants Ì and more. Vancouver Voters’ Guide | Vancouver Election 2018 / 3 Park Board commissioners Vancouver is one of two places in B.C. with an elected park board. The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is made up of seven commissioners. The Park Board is responsible for managing City parks and community centres and provides a wide range of recreation services. The Park Board operates: Ì 240 parks – including Stanley Park, one of the top urban parks in the world Ì Destination gardens Ì 24 community centres with swimming pools, arenas, and playing fields Ì Three championship golf courses School trustees The Vancouver School Board (School District No. 39) is made up of nine school trustees. The School Board is independent of City Council. The School Board provides elementary, secondary, community and specialized education services in the city, the UBC Lands, and University Endowment Lands. The district is among the most diverse public school systems in Canada, with an annual enrollment of about 50,000 students in Kindergarten to grade 12. The provincial government, in consultation with the Board, determines how much money is allocated for the school district’s operational and capital expenses. 4 / Vancouver Voters’ Guide | Vancouver Election 2018 Vancouver Voters’ Guide | Vancouver Election 2018 / 5 Who can vote? To vote in the City of Vancouver, you must: Ì Be 18 years of age or older on election day (October 20, 2018) Ì Be a Canadian citizen Ì Have lived in BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day you register to vote Ì Have lived in Vancouver or owned real property registered in your name in Vancouver for at least 30 days immediately before registering to vote Ì Not be disqualified by law from voting You must meet all the above qualifications to be eligible to vote. Permanent residents who have not yet become Canadian citizens cannot vote. If you live in the UBC Lands or University Endowment Lands, and you do not own property in Vancouver, you can only vote for school trustees in the election. Am I registered to vote? Before you can vote, you must be registered. If you are registered as a Vancouver resident on the most current Provincial list of voters, you are automatically on the voters’ list. How to register to vote If you are not on the Vancouver voters’ list, you can register to vote in person on October 10 to 17 (advance voting days) or on election day, October 20. 1. Before you come to vote, you can complete a Provisional registration form (available online) in advance. After completing the form, print a copy (but do not sign it) and bring it to any voting place on the day you vote. The form must be signed at the voting place and witnessed by an election official. The Provisional registration form can be found at vancouver.ca/vote. Vancouver Voters’ Guide | Vancouver Election 2018 / 5 2. Bring your completed, unsigned form to the voting place, plus two (2) identification documents that show who you are and where you live. One of these two identification documents must include your signature. A list of common identification documents is on page 6. You can also come to the election office to complete and print the form before you vote. To register as a Non-Resident Property Elector (a property owner in Vancouver), you will need to provide additional documentation. Visit vancouver.ca/vote or call 3-1-1 for more information. Identification you will need You may be asked to show identification when you check in at the voting place. Common forms of ID include: Ì BC CareCard or BC Gold CareCard Ì BC driver’s licence Ì BC identification card (BCID) from ICBC Driver Licencing Ì BC Services Card Ì Birth certificate Ì Canadian passport Ì Certificate of Indian Status Ì Citizenship card Ì Credit card or debit card Ì ICBC owner’s certificate of insurance and vehicle licence Ì Income tax assessment 6 / Vancouver Voters’ Guide | Vancouver Election 2018 Ì “Monthly Report” Form (HR0081) from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (formerly Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation) Ì NEXUS card Ì Property tax notice Ì Social Insurance Number card Ì Statutory declaration or sworn affidavit (from a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner for taking affidavits) Ì Student card Ì Utility bill for electricity, natural gas, water, telephone, or cable services Ì Vancouver Public Library card The combined BC Driver’s Licence and CareCard is considered one piece of ID. The combination of documents must prove both who you are and where you live, and at least one of them must be signed. If you have only one acceptable identifying document You can swear a Declaration of Elector identity and Place of Residence in front of a Presiding Election Official, the person in charge of the voting place. The statutory declaration becomes your second identifying document.