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Social issues top Vancouver agenda

Whoever is chosen Vancouver's next mayor will inherit a compassionate city, according to poll results going before city council today.

An Ipsos Reid poll - attached to capital plan reports that are scheduled to be discussed in council today - shows that 37 per cent of Vancouverites think social issues should receive the greatest attention from council.

In response to the question, "What is the most important local issue facing the City of Vancouver, that is the one issue you feel should receive the greatest attention for Vancouver's city council?" Vancouverites replied:

- Social issues 37%

- Transportation 19%

- Crime 15%

- Taxation/government spending 5%

- Environment 4%

Non-Partisan Association mayoral candidate Peter Ladner told 24 hours the findings are a "measure of the compassion" Vancouverites have.

And while Ladner says his priority is also dealing with social issues, there's only so much a municipal government can do.

"All roads lead to the provincial government," he said. "There's where the money for social housing and treatment programs comes from."

That's where Ladner figures he trumps his Vision Vancouver opponent, former Opposition MLA Gregor Robertson.

"I'm committed to strengthening our relationship with senior levels of government," he said. "[Robertson's] only political experience has been trying to overthrow the provincial government; the same people we need to be working with."

Robertson was not available for comment yesterday, but Vision Vancouver councillor Heather Deal said the party wants to take a more hands-on approach to social issues.

"The fact is we already have people at the city who are doing what the province is technically in charge [of]," she said. "We should have more experts on homelessness, addiction and mental health at the city so we can deal with the issues."

Matt Kieltyka is a reporter for 24 hours.


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