We can rebuild the City of Vancouver — for all of us, not just the wealthy few. In doing so, we can make our shared home the most livable, equitable, and sustainable city in the world.

Vancouver's newest municipal party announced their candidates last weekend and this weekend could be found talking to people and answering questions in parks and plazas around the city.

What's On Queer BC supports VOTE Socialist and their three candidates: Sean Orr for City Council, Andrea Pinochet-Escudero for Park Board, and Dr. Karina Zeidler for School Board. You can read more about the VOTE Socialist Candidates here ....

Some have asked why we needed a new party when there are already some left-leaning parties in play, and some fantastic socialist candidates such as Jean Swanson. First, there are ten seats on council, and VOTE Socialist is running for one of them. Lots of room for other socialist voices and let's hope we stuff city hall with councillors who will put people before profits. There are seven seats open on the Parks Board, and nine on the School Board. Second, VOTE Socialist felt we needed to start building something new from the ground up.

The VOTE Socialist process has had, from its beginnings in early January, a grassroots focus. Members of the community have been participating in learning circles and zoom nights to discuss, plan, and brainstorm. What do we really want to see in Vancouver? What do we really need? And how are we going to get it?

The party recently published their full platform, the result of  many hours of community building which included google docs, slack, emails, and zooms. 

"As a new elector organization, we think it’s important to lead with policy rather than personalities," said Stephanie Langford, a Registered Nurse and VOTE Socialist organizer. "Voters deserve a clear alternative to the rigged status quo — something to help convince the 61% of eligible voters who didn't cast a ballot in the last municipal election that this process is worth their time. 

“We’re proud of the dozens and dozens of hours volunteers, grassroots activists, and VOTE Socialist organizers poured into this first iteration of our platform. We believe this will make a significant contribution to the public debate we need in this city.”

Taken together, the over 230 policy statements represent a vision of a Vancouver For All — a city where everyone is guaranteed safe, affordable, and dignified housing as a human right, not as a commodity or a tool of financial speculation; a city that puts the needs of the most marginalized first, and that makes the rich pay more of their fair share. You can read the platform here.

What's on Queer BC is proud to endorse this new party, which comprises a good mixture of voices including two of the key organizers identifying as queer. Jude Goodwin, publisher of What’s On Queer and organizer for VOTE Socialist, notes, “We’ll have a booth at the Dyke March on Saturday at Grandview Park. Be sure to come say hi!”

We feel the VOTE Socialist process is unique and much needed, and its focus mixture of people, accessibility, safety, joy, land back, housing justice, ecosocialism and workers rights (to name a few) is what is needed to help carry us through the next few decades to a happier city.

WEBSITE

votesocialist.ca

REGISTER FOR UPDATES

https://www.votesocialist2022.ca/register

DONATE TO THE FUTURE OF VANCOUVER

https://votesocialist2022.nationbuilder.com/donate