Key Takeaways
- The City of Vancouver has passed a zero-per-cent tax increase budget, which will result in cuts to various departments, including arts and culture, planning, and parks.
- The budget allocates an additional $46-million to police and $12-million for fire protection, while cutting $120-million overall.
- The budget has been met with opposition from the public, with 630 people registered to speak against it, citing concerns about the impact on services and affordability.
- The budget is seen as a political stunt by some, aimed at rehabilitating the image of the governing party, ABC, before next year’s election.
- The budget will benefit businesses, which will see a reduction in taxes, but will result in increased fees for the public, including a one-per-cent hike to contribute to infrastructure costs and a $10-million increase in utility fees.
Introduction to the Budget
The City of Vancouver has passed a budget that has been touted as a zero-per-cent tax increase, but this claim has been met with skepticism by many. The budget, which was passed by the governing party, ABC, will result in cuts to various departments, including arts and culture, planning, and parks. The budget allocates an additional $46-million to police and $12-million for fire protection, while cutting $120-million overall. This move has been seen as a political stunt by some, aimed at rehabilitating the image of the governing party before next year’s election.
Public Opposition to the Budget
The budget has been met with significant opposition from the public, with 630 people registered to speak against it. Many of those who spoke cited concerns about the impact of the budget on services and affordability. Some speakers, including representatives from arts organizations, expressed concern about the $6-million cut to the arts and culture department. Others, including a B.C. tour operator, called the budget a "cruel and thoughtless slogan" and warned that it would erode the services that they have come to rely on. The level of opposition to the budget was unusual, with many speakers expressing dismay and frustration with the plan.
Impact on City Services
The budget will have a significant impact on city services, with departments such as planning and sustainability facing significant cuts. The planning department will lose 14 per cent of its $40-million budget, which will likely result in reduced services and longer wait times for residents. Other departments, including corporate support, technology management, and real estate and facilities management, will also face reductions. The budget also includes cuts to community centre fees, which will be offset by an additional $800,000 allocated to parks and rec. However, many of the reductions remained in place after the final vote, despite efforts by opposition councillors to amend the budget.
Comparison to Other Cities
Vancouver’s budget is not wildly out of line compared to other Canadian cities. The city’s spending, which is higher per person than nearby suburbs because it polices and services a busy urban centre used by many in the region, works out to $3,064 a person for the city’s 780,000 residents. In comparison, Toronto’s 2025 budget was $18.8-billion, which works out to $5,697 for each of the city’s 3.3 million residents. Montreal’s almost two million residents paid $3,660 a person to cover the $7.28-billion budget in 2025. And Calgary is looking at a $4.6-billion budget for 2026, which works out to $2,875 a person among the 1.6-million residents.
Criticism of the Budget
The budget has been criticized by many, including Independent Councillor Rebecca Bligh, who noted that the budget means $47-million in increased fees throughout the city that the public will end up paying. This, she said, will not make anything more affordable. Ms. Bligh also criticized the budget for being vague, saying that the public won’t even find out what the impacts will be until months later. Other critics, including Ben Direen, a B.C. tour operator, called the budget "financial sabotage" and warned that it would have a devastating impact on the city’s services and affordability.
Conclusion
The City of Vancouver’s budget has been met with significant opposition and criticism, with many citing concerns about the impact on services and affordability. The budget, which has been touted as a zero-per-cent tax increase, will result in cuts to various departments, including arts and culture, planning, and parks. While the budget may benefit businesses, which will see a reduction in taxes, it will result in increased fees for the public. As the city moves forward with the budget, it remains to be seen how the cuts will affect the city’s services and residents. One thing is certain, however: the budget has sparked a significant amount of controversy and debate, and will likely be a major issue in next year’s election.
