Mike Howell

3 days ago | timescolonist.com | Mike Howell |Mike Howell

Should Vancouver’s civic elections be run by Elections BC? It was a question that was considered by Vancouver city council at a recent meeting after Coun. Mike Klassen urged his colleagues to support him in exploring the idea of the province’s non-partisan electoral organization taking over what has been a city-run function.

1 week ago | timescolonist.com | Mike Howell |Mike Howell

The City of Vancouver has quashed the rezoning of a city-owned property in Kitsilano that a previous council approved in July 2022 to have a 13-storey social housing tower built on the site. The city’s decision was made last month by its legal department in conjunction with city council at an in-camera meeting, but details have only emerged recently, with a residents’ group sharing the news May 26 via its website.

Nov 23, 2024 | timescolonist.com | Mike Howell |Mike Howell

Vancouver council will decide next week whether it will uphold, modify or reverse the city’s policy on banning natural gas for heating and hot water in construction of new detached homes. Council will hear from staff Nov. 26 on a report that recommends building bylaw changes to allow gas in new builds, while still pursing Vancouver’s 2030 climate targets. The city’s current policy to not allow natural gas use for heating and hot water in new detached homes has been in place since 2022.

Nov 21, 2024 | timescolonist.com | Mike Howell |Mike Howell

Mayor Ken Sim announced Thursday that abolition of the elected Vancouver park board and bringing parks and recreation under the control of city council will lead to $70 million in savings over the next decade. In what the mayor described as a streamlining of services, the transition is expected to achieve further savings once a new governance model is established, including millions of dollars in infrastructure project costs.

Aug 27, 2024 | timescolonist.com | Mike Howell |Mike Howell

The B.C. government says it has invested more than $3.5 billion since 2018 to expand and improve “quality care” for seniors, including investments in primary care, home health, long-term care, assisted living and respite services. The ministries of housing and health provided the information in a lengthy emailed response to Glacier Media’s questions related to shortages in Vancouver of subsidized long-term care beds, assisted living units and seniors’ affordable housing.