City of Vancouver will require referendum to dissolve Park Board: B.C. gov’t

If Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim still wants to dissolve the Board of Parks and Recreation, the city will first have to hold a referendum.

The ruling comes as part of legislation introduced by the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Christine Boyle, in the B.C. Legislature Thursday morning.

In December 2023, city council passed a motion asking the provincial government to help transition Park Board responsibilities to the council. The Park Board has challenged the move, voting to remain an elected body and preserve its 135-year existence in September 2024.

But the decision to amend the Vancouver Charter to allow for dissolution is in the hands of the provincial government, which paused any action at the end of its last legislative session in May.

Now, Boyle says the province will allow city council to dissolve the board, “Upon obtaining electoral support through an assent vote” — meaning Vancouverites would have a say.

“To strengthen protection for permanent parks, the legislation would require a unanimous vote of Vancouver council, along with an assent vote, for removing a permanent park designation. As requested by the city, permanent parkland being transferred to First Nations would be exempt from the assent vote,” the province added in a statement.

1130 NewsRadio has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.