City Hall

A new report presented to City Council today outlined the largest increase in child care funding in the City’s history, as the 2012 budget surplus - $5 million – was invested into the Childcare Reserve to support new child care spaces, according to a press release from the office of the mayor.

“We are committed to investing in child care as a way to make Vancouver more affordable for young families, and improve early childhood education,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “At a time when demand for child care far outstrips supply due to a lack of funding from senior levels of government, the City is stepping up to help make Vancouver a more supportive city for families and children.”

Vancouver’s Childcare Reserve was established in 1991 to provide funding that supports the high cost of infant and toddler care, helping keep costs down for families. In 2004, City Council created the Joint Childcare Council, where the City, Park Board, and School Board coordinate planning efforts and partnerships with private and non-profit partners to enable new child care spaces. After it was cancelled in 2006, Mayor Robertson and City Council reinstated it in 2009.

The regular Vancouver city council meeting of Tuesday, April 9, 2013 came to order at 9:36am. 

Councillor Tony Tang gave the welcome and read a poem by A.E. Housman about cherry blossoms. He prefaced his reading be saying, “Of course, knowing that there are poets among us today in the chamber, I hope I don’t embarrass myself. After all, I’m just an engineer.”

Mayor Gregor Robertson gave condolences for Art Phillips, a former mayor of Vancouver, whose policies helped shaped Vancouver as we know it today. Council showed a photo slideshow of Phillips and observed a moment of silence.

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Vancouver’s Poet Laureate, Evelyn Lau, read two poems inspired by events in the city.

Matters adopted on consent

Is a subway the right investment for the UBC-Broadway Corridor? Yes, according to a recent study released by Translink, which provides new information supporting a subway as the rapid transit solution for the UBC-Broadway Corridor. The data shows that a subway would save travel time, produce greenhouse gas reductions and attract the most riders out of any transit option.

"Translink's new report lays out a number of compelling reasons why a subway to UBC is the best solution for the Broadway Corridor," said Mayor Robertson. "This data strengthens the case for why building a subway would benefit not just Vancouver, but cities throughout Metro Vancouver."

The Translink report "UBC Line Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis" began in 2009 and evaluates several rapid transit options for Broadway, including rapid bus service and light rail. It found that a subway:

The regular meeting of the Vancouver city council meeting on February 12, 2013 came to order at 9:40am.

Councillor Tim Stevenson gave the welcome. He outlined the history of Chinese-Canadians and wished everyone a happy Lunar New Year.

The clerks took roll call, and councillors Raymond Louie and Andrea Reimer were absent on civic business.

After an upbeat (and accidental) musical introduction, Mayor Gregor Robertson proclaimed February 10-17, 2013 Lunar New Year week in Vancouver.  He presented the proclamation to representatives of the city’s Chinese cultural community.

Council agreed to meet “In Camera” later in the day, and Mayor Robertson announced the appointments that council had made during the last “In Camera” meeting on January 29, 2013. Council appointed Kim Maust to the Development Permit Board Advisory Panel, Michael Kluckner to the First Shaughnessy Advisory Panel, Phil Mondor to the Urban Design Panel, Alan Davies to the Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee and Goran Ostojic to the Urban Design Panel.