Not a very useful article. Long on rhetoric and lacking any useful information or perspective.

This author must be used to writing for a like-minded audience because he sure won't sway any undecided voters with this.

How is that corruption of democracy? If the NPA gets voted back in, it signals that voters disagreed with that decision. That's democracy in action.

Not if the voters don't know about that decision. I only found out about the NPA's WalMart position from this article, and I'm quite sure I would have never found out about it through the corporate media or the NPA itself.

By the way, Larry Campbell was not opposed to the WalMart and other big-store applications. But he believed it was a local issue so he abided by the wished of the neighborhood. No more, no less.

So let's not paint Larry as an anti-corporate crusader - he is more pragmatic than he is ideological.

Being a skeptic, I would suggest you VERIFY this information before accepting it as stated. It is the norm for people to "spin" issues to make their point. Just sayin'

Not only is Sullivan extremely right wing, he is so pro business that when a company lost a bid at city hall he wanted taxpayers to pay for the bid process of the company!!!!!

God help the taxpayer if the NPA get in with these market fundamentalists' And, we'll have nothing but a poorer quality of life to show for it, rather than creating a livable city that helps those less fortunate. These people are not Mr Owen etal. They are a completely different breed.

I believe Mr Sulivan doesn't have the prudence required to be the mayor of a large city. I don't think he can balance various needs.

Imagine a city with no voice to say no to destructive development! That will be behind the provincial liberals at every policy turn and corporate agenda.

No Thanks.

Imagine a city where the only voice heard is that of the addict or welfare recipient! Where cars are banished and the evildoers at wal-mart are publicly executed for the greater social good! Imagine a city where the means of production are expropriated from private owners and city hall forms a central planning bureau to re-distribute these resources! RED NOVEMBER is here, brought to you by Vision Vancouver and the Tyee!!

On the issue of Wal-Mart I am getting tired of the anti-business title being given to anyone who opposes their application to build in Vancouver. I want my elected leaders to make sure that they get good busines in our city and Wal-Mart is certainly not that. I believe that we can be a leader in showing that we support responsible and accountable businesses in our communities and maybe encourage more businesses to think about their practices and change them for the better. Let's say that we are open for business...good business.

I don't live in Vancouver ( thank God ). But all I ever here about is the East end and all the drug dealing, disease, hookers and other low life problems.
It seems COPE thrives on this.
I only wonder what the other residents of Vancouver think about this COPE outfit who obviously don't care about them. Why would they cast a vote for COPE ?
Again the byass of Tyee is coming out with yet another attempt to sway voters from the NPA.
How is this any different than Stuart's Canwest/Global rant ?

Great -- another three years of debating weapons in space, implementing affordable housing and crime reduction policies which were pioneered by the Owen-era NPA, and alienating their most capable and pragmatic politicians.

How is this progressive?

I think COPE has let us down with three years of squabbling over b.s. And now we are to believe them when they say they can work with Vision Vancouver?

Markat:

I sympathize with your anti-Walmart view -- I don't shop there myself.

BUT the Local Government Act does not delegate the authority to council to enable them to regulate land USERS. They are delegated the authority to delegate USES. I want to slam my fingers in a doorway for typing this, but when council turns down a Walmart proposal because they are Walmart, they are overstepping their delegated authority. They can only turn them down if they don't meet the particulars of a zoning bylaw or building permit, etc. This has more to do with parking, landscaping and built form than who the applicant is.

I think if Council had good reason to turn down Walmart, they should have done it before sending them to Peter Busby to design a "green" Walmart. Asking them to meet green criteria and then turning them down anyway doesn't encourage other landowners to pursue green building practices -- quite the opposite. They lost an opportunity to help other communities leverage higher-quality buildings out of Walmart and their ilk by proving the business case for greener development.

According to the tyee you now have to be a raging lefty that cares more about ideology than results to care about Canada. Give me a break.

Also your facts to consider are quite funny as well. To strengthen your case you note a lost provincial election, a lost federal election, the fact that 60% of the seats in the country go to centrist or right of center parties compared to 15% to left the left wing party, and noting a leaders “presence” who’s only reason he has any power is because his 15% just happens to be the amount that makes the Liberals into a majority. That’s nothing more than blind luck. If these points mean that “progressives” are taking over I must be missing something.

Jim, encourage people to vote NDP in the upcomong Federal election. Every vote for the NDP is a vote taken from The Liberal Party Of Canada.
We must reduce the number of Liberal MP's at all cost. Don't worry about the NDP. They will NEVER achieve power. Only 15 to 18% of Canadians will ever vote for socialism.
This is why I am such a promoter of the Green Party is BC. It's only to screw the opposition.

The rot in Vancouver started under the NPA's watch, COPE just inherited it. Larry Campbell sold out COPE and the citizens of Vancouver for a senate seat. He kissed everyones ass to get that plum.

The NPA is a backward Liberal/Conservative organization that prefers to live in the past, rather than deal with today's problem. Vision Vancouver is a bunch of failed NDP types, who care little about Vancouver or its citizens, rather getting its marching orders from Carole James, just as the NPA do from the Gordon Campbell Liberals!. It's too bad that COPE caved in to the BC Fed in not running a full slate candidates and a mayoralty candidate!

As it stands, its tweedele dee and tweedle dum running for mayor and the good; the bad; and the ugly for council!

Steve P says ,
"Great -- another three years of debating weapons in space, implementing affordable housing and crime reduction policies"

Gee Steve what silly things to waste time on, you make a good case to vote COPE LOL, oh and gee I guess you must be some kind of raging leftie to not want a Wal Mart destroying small business and driving down wages in your community.
Do some research folks on the effects of Wal Mark before the silly rants.

Better yet check out the funny video on big box retail .

http://www.jibjab.com/Home.aspx

Oh and Jim we have went over this before but lets try it one more time. Anyone can go to the elections BC website if they don't trust me. The BC Fiberals went from a huge majority to losing the popular vote, they ended up with more seats but lost the popular vote, they also lost 30 seats in one election and almost lost power, if your proud of that or don't think that's a progressive comeback than please don't join my team.

On a national level the NDP gained 100% more support in one election and 150% more support in BC and have run the budget and are now going to decide the election date. Not bad for progressives, I know your just mad over your lame duck leader Stevie Harper. Funny how the party with the least # of seats can exercise so much power,

I have to give credit to the NPA for one thing: they said no to Christy Clark. Smartest decision they ever made. She's probably one of the worst politicians I have ever encountered.

Steve forgot the pretty little songs they have community members sing before each council meeting, or declaring Vancouver a nuclear free zone. Or not voting for the state of the art Wal*Mart project because of Anne Sullivans hatred of George Bush. I don't think these flaky people have any place on council. Way too flaky.
And please Stuart, continue to promote the NDP, I am loving every minute of it. It's great for my conservative viewpoint that all NDP votes will reduce Liberal MP numbers and leave the NDP in the 15-18% popularity range as usual.
You are playing into my hands. Carry on with your miscalculations.

Actually, Ron, the latest polls put the NDP in BC ahead for one reason or another.

Hi Stuart,

I think you misunderstood my previous post. I certainly did not intend to defend Walmart's corporate practices. Perhaps I did not write clearly.

I think affordable housing policies and crime reduction policies are worth while -- my point is that COPE simply carried on with policies developed by the NPA: a sustainable community in False Creek, Woodwards, Four Pillars, high-tech or biotech for the False Creek Flats, etc.

Although I don't think the DTES needs any more social housing -- there is already an over-concentration there. I think there needs to be some affordable & social housing integrated into every Vancouver (& region) neighbourhood in order to avoid creating "bad neighbourhoods" with over-concentrations of social ills. If every neighbourhood's housing stock included between 15% - 20% social/affordable/special needs housing, then we wouldn't be seeing the kind of social deterioration we see in the DTES. This could be implemented through neighbourhood planning processes, as an adjunct to the official community plan process.

I think poverty and associated ills are problems for all of society, not just one neighbourhood where they are easily forgotten or contained. If every middle-class Vancouverite saw the need for social housing as their local problem, not something to be shunted elsewhere, I think we'd see more progressive, community-oriented policies. I believe that continuing to concentrate poverty in one neighbourhood, primarily the DTES, it makes it easier for people outside of the neighbourhood to ignore the issue.

I agree with your assertion that Walmart isn't good for the community on the basis that it drains dollars from other businesses. But you missed my point and charged at the red cape.

My point is a legal and technical one: that loal governments are permitted to regulate land uses , but, with few exceptions (such as affordable housing) are not permitted to regulate specific users. Council cannot turn down Walmart because they are Walmart, just like Council cannot turn down an application by you because you are Stuart: like it or not, people are entitled to fair process regardless of who they are. In fact, arguing that the process was unfair is pretty well the only way the BC Supreme Court would consider striking down a local government's decision. We can turn them down because the big box use is inappropriate for their location, due to inappropriate traffic impacts, or other specific considerations listed under the Vancouver Charter (in my earlier post, I mistakenly referred to the Local Government Act).

Maybe we should be able to turn down Walmart because Walmart has negative impacts on local businesses. My point is that it currently is not allowed, or at the very least it leaves council's decision vulnerable to a challenge on the basis that the process was unfair. Moreover, it seems that council dealt with Walmart in bad faith: if they did not intend to consider Walmart's development, why did they ask them to design a green building?

Stuart, my criticism was not because Walmart was turned down, but the way in which they were turned down, such that other development proponents would feel less enthusiastic to adopt green building techniques in order to increase the acceptability of their development applications.

chuckstraight, exactly what I am talking about. Lets make sure David Anderson is not replaced with the Liberal Mulroney. Support the NDP candidate wherever you see an opportunity for a Liberal to lose their seat.
The NDP will never get into power anyway.

Did COPE do this? I don't think so, although it does fit their slate.

Vancouver had signs to this effect when I moved to this town in 1989.

Back in 1990 people said exactly the same thing in Ontario. Never say never.

Whatever your personal beliefs about Walmart, the decision to block the store was a mistake, and COPE's leader Larry Campbell recognized it.

Did Jim Green and the rest of COPE ban Walmart because the neighbourhood didn't want it? NO! The neighbourhood voted 81% in favour.

Did they ban Walmart because it didn't meet the city's needs? NO! The neighbourhood has long been zoned for big box stores. I challenge anyone to drive along South West Marine Drive and tell me a Walmart would have brought down the neighbourhood.

Did they ban Walmart because Walmart failed to meet the application process? NO! In fact, they created extra hoops for Walmart and Walmart met the challenge and then some.

The proposed building could have served as a global model of sustainability. It would have been the most environmentally-friendly building in the city, with innovations like passive solar and geo-thermal heating. Through this process, Walmart leared that they could go green AND that it was still profitable to do so. What better example could we set forth for the world?

So why was Walmart turned down? Comments from COPE councillors made it clear that they were celebrating a victory against an American company that had donated to the Republicans. That their vote was a vote against American Imperialism and the Iraq war.

If you read my article on Hillier you know I'm as big a peacenik as it gets, but I elect my city councillors to run a city. I don't want them using council meetings to debate the Iraq War or poverty in Nigeria (they've done both.) And I did not elect them (I voted COPE) to arbitrarily apply their personal ideologies.

After banning Walmart, did the council then shut down all of the Dominoes Pizza restaurants in the city (another Republican donor)? Or did they shut down all the dollar stores in the neighbourhood that sell items manufactured in China (another of the complaints against Walmart)?

No. They only shut down the kind of project that supports Vancouver as a world leader in sustainability.

Finally, to paint Sam Sullivan, who lived on welfare before starting the first of six not-for-profit agencies to help Vancouver's disabled, and the cycling-commuter Peter Ladner as "Big Business" is uniformed. Instead of hiding behind labels, read your candidate profiles. NPA candidate Colleen Hardwick Nystedt is a successful business woman, who has close relationships with her unions. A few guys on one of her film shoots even gave her the title "Honorary Teamster." That's the kind of non-partisanship I'd like to see on my city council.

Point taken Steve P,

I support the idea also of spreading out social housing or shelters etc but the issue is a complicated one, everyone wants to help but folks light their hair on fire when one is going to be in their neighborhood, unless we educate the public to dismiss their fear of the poor or homeless you cannot go ahead , its a political problem. But things do not
change overnight, it takes some time and understanding. Once you create an environment that works you get more broad acceptance and are able to do more things widespread.

The job of any council is hear the concerns of all citizens and to make well informed choices based not on special interest but the facts and what's right.

"Stuart, my criticism was not because Wal-Mart was turned down, but the way in which they were turned down, such that other development proponents would feel less enthusiastic to adopt green building techniques in order to increase the acceptability of their development applications."

I disagree, their were 100's of public submissions, long council meetings etc, their could not have been more dialogue over the Wal Mart decision. More dialogue than anything else I have ever heard. its hard to say no to such a powerful entity and not get negative backlash. I feel the council acted in a proper
way in a high pressure environment. The Green building technique was window dressing and public relations.

"The NDP will never get into power anyway."
LOL, I love it, Hey Ron who has been in power lately, Stevie Harper or Layton, who is calling the shots.

Hi Stuart,

Thanks for reading my follow-up: healthy disagreement is just fine, especially when I know you disagree with what I intended to write =^)

Rikia:

Nice post. You expressed my beliefs on this subject more clearly than me.

Wow rikia

I wonder how all the residents of south Van survived all these years without a neighborhood Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart is the largest retail outlet is the world and the most unethical, it is 7 times larger than its closest competitor, it is a monster that drives down wages across the entire sector and uses predatory pricing to put its competitors under.

SW marine has many car dealers and a grocery story but nothing like Wal Mart, it would have killed the south Granville corridor. I don't listen much when it comes to bias push polls and public relations. Their were public hearings and a decision was made, COPE voted against the sell out Larry. The public will get a change come Nov 19 to see if they love Wal Mart or not. At what cost rikia do you want your cheap sh**

Hey here is a Wal Mart success story tailor made for Van
"Corporate Influence In the first decade after Wal-Mart arrived in Iowa, the state lost 555 grocery stores, 298 hardware stores, 293 building supply stores, 161 variety stores, 158 women's apparel stores, 153 shoe stores, 116 drugstores, and 111 men's and boys' apparel stores."

Just click on my big box link above for the typical Wal Mart Shopper

Plus those Wal Mart greeters are creepy , they remind me or Ron Erwin. Hi have nice day, hi have a nice day

To say Wal-Mart will not have a huge impact on an area is to hide your head in the sand. People love Vancouver because it is a city of different neighborhoods and has a unique character, if you want Wal Mart or ugly sprawling development go visit Abbotsford but stay out or Van. It seems the only real complaint Ritka has is that the COPE councilors sometimes show conscience when making decisions. Go and ask any independent book seller, shoe store or appliance dealer what they think of Wal Mart,

COPE's Vancouver civic legacy since 1980:

COPE was against:

1. Against construction of tall office buildings in downtown Vancouver and along Burrard Inlet waterfront during early 1980's;

2. Against construction of new Cambie St. bridge in 1985 - they wanted to keep the old dilapidated structure in place;

3. Against the world's fair - Expo 86;

4. Against the annual Indy car race downtown - too noisy and glorifies the car;

5. Against free Bryan Adams concert in Stanley Park - would disrupt the birds;

6. Against the 2010 Olympics;

That's just part of the list.

But, but, COPE initiated the following:

1. Initiated signs at the entrance to Vancouver declaring that Vancouver is a nuclear weapons-free zone;

2. Initiated a motion condemning the weaponization of space;

Oh my, how progessive!

I'm sure citizens from across Canada would be clamouring for such progressive, er wacky, thought.

Oh, I forgot to mention that former NDP MLA's Bernie Simpson and Tom Perry are endorsing the NPA's Sam Sullivan for mayor. There's gotta be a reason don't ya think?

The Americans are waking up to the Walmart scandal and what it is doing to local businesses. Walmart kills off local merchants with unrealisticly low prices and when the competition is non existant, prices rise dramatically.

Walmart's goods are poor.

The question on Walmart's application to change zoning and Vancouver refused. Zoning is one of the few tools cities can contain sprawl, something that Walmart and their ilk depend on!

Geez Ron, I am sorry that you actually have to read and hear about Vancouver citizens who are not regulars at the Wedgewood or the Terminal City Club. What a goof. I am still laughing after hearing an NPA candidate on the radio on the weekend complaining that Vancouver politics have been reduced to a "one-ward city" because of the attention paid to the east side. This after 5 decades of my life where the one-ward in the city was the west-side. Geez, it didn't take Ronnie long to buy into that campaign, did it?

Actually Rikia, I agree that it is important to look at the record. And, here it is.

http://www.vancourier.com/issues05/102205/news/102205nn1.html

I voted for Ladner and Sullivan last time in hopes they were the most progressive. This time, I'll continue to vote a Cope and Vision slate and leave any extra (if there is any) blank rather than voting for a NPA candidate again.

The gift offering of an environmentally friendly Walmart was just clever PR...a Trojan horse to get the corporate giant safely inside the city walls.

To further the analogy... in computer software, a Trojan horse is a destructive program that masquerades as a benign application.

Thanks for the link, redrivergirl.

"...the result last time around was so extraordinary that everyone had to acknowledge the victory of progressive forces."
Wouldn't get too excited 'bout that. It was an anomaly. A reaction to the provincial election and the fact that the victoria socialists were outnumbered 77 - 2. Same reason the socialist hordes won as many seats as they did in May. The voters wanted more balance. Do they want the NDP or the Cope freaks in power again? No. And you'll see that proven on Saturday.

Oh bullocks, thats all I can say of this article. Okay guys, I can understand voting COPE if you are a progressive, but really what does Vision have to do for it. I mean George Chow, although a respected member of the community, is not more socially progressive that half of the NPA team. And frankly, if you think for one second that Jim Green is less behold to the sweet taste of developers, you better think again. His biggest doners are people like Peter Wall, of the save Hastings by adding slots and then sell it at a huge profit, donating half of the funds to council, and Gillespie. I mean, if you don't look beyond logos or parties, your pretty blind indeed.

First of all, who says you need to vote for a slate. You have 10 votes, and if you allot them all to COPE and Vision, I'll have to say you are both a lazy voter and too blinded by partisan logos. If you do the same for the NPA, I'll have to give you the same thumbs down for being at the other end of the scale.

First of all there are great independents, smaller parties. Ann Livingston who is running for the Greens for council, is involved with nearly every non-profit group in the east side, including PIVOT, and she runs the Vancouver Network of Drug Users (she's not one), and has a better understanding of the flaws of the four pillars than anyone else.

Jamie Lee Hamilton, who has spent her life fighting for the safety of sex workers, and who is quite outspoken is another person to consider, as she is not one to be afraid to stand up against development and gentrification in the DTES.

Bev Ballantyne is a strong voice for Pet Owners and Pedestrians, and is very opiniated about transportation issues.

However there is other room to cross political boundaries. When picking your council, you should look for diversity. Progress is not one slate or the other, is picking people who will actually discuss an issue, bring up different viewpoints, and listen to different sides.

Ummm....no.

The last time around, a star candidate landed on the scene (Mayor DaVinci? Give me a break) and Vancouver's miserable electoral system meant that he took a bunch of left wing candidates along with him. Frustrated with what he hath wrought, the star gave up (pleading innocence) and some of his more coherent colleagues said goodbye to the completely incoherent.

But I suppose you're right...extraordinary could still describe that.

This time? My money is on my man Sam, largely because I'm completely failing to get the sense of excitement that is going to inspire the significantly higher voter turn out that voted for Larry and his left-wing slate. My money's on a more conventional turnout, which means that the West will carry it, and Jim Green (as well as James Green) will be left on the curb, sullenly holding that pork pie hat with the cuffs of his slacks soaking in the Vancouver rain.

Who knows - Mr. Sam may even make some progress on the Downtown East Side. Lord only knows COPE hasn't managed too - I got so tired of working amid that pathetic ghetto, I found a job in Surrey instead.

[ It seems the only real complaint Ritka has is that the COPE councilors sometimes show conscience when making decisions.]

I want my council to have a conscience, not delusions of grandeur beyond their jurisdiction. You and I agree about Walmart, but we disagree about the role of council. In a democracy, we elect our officials to represent us. They are not de facto parents who should overrule our wishes because they know what is better for us.

dangrice, excellent comments on the laziness of voting a slate. Andrea Reimer of the Green Party is excellent on school board. I concur on independents Jamie Lee Hamilton and Bev Ballantyne. As for COPE, hough I didn't vote for Mel Lehan provincially, he has dedicated his life to public service and should be elected to parks board. Jenn McGinn could also be strong. NPA parks board candidate Heather Holden has a PhD in environmental studies and wants to improve environemental practices with water and energy use and pest control.

There are excellent candidates in all parties. If you've read this far you are already way ahead of the game democracy-speaking. Take a minute to see past the party labels.

Yeah, I think I may give Fred Bass a nod, for being the only person besides Jamie to support STV for municipal use (cityvote.ca). At large is such an ugly system because it encourages slate voting. With STV at least, you could choose the candidates you like the most, and not have to worry about the rest of them. Its difficult when there are 10 people, and even if you attend two or three debates and as many political events as possible, its pretty hard to get a good grasp of everyone. (I still haven't yet heard from either of the Heather's and a couple of the NPA'ers.)

Anyone else have any good recommendations?

"Most of all, social activists, unionists, civic politicos and anyone who cared about the country was given a boost" = Progressive forces ??

I just love the way you self label these dinosaurs as progressive. These are the usual fools that windup the wingnuts and you can call them what you like. trying to turn back the clock to a Woddy Guthrie 1930's Wobblies nirvana land is just plain stupid.

Fred & Ethel's

valuable contribution to the conversation.

"These are the usual fools that windup the wingnuts and you can call them what you like"

Yep I guess all those women's rights activist, gay rights activists, labor rights activists, environmental activist, anti war activist I guess their all just wing nuts and fools.

Without out those fools you would have a pretty shi** work, social and natural world. Now you want real wing nuts go visit the Canadian taxpayers fed website and read the blogs. You can pretty much find
the conservative roots and also find out where the red neck conventions are. (one guy listed his hobby as outward migration) LOL

By the way Ethel do you enjoy your right to work own property and vote.

mens rights activists, hetrosexual rights activists, management rights activists, pro defense activists, yes you are right again Stuart , all activists get us where we are.

Dear Tyee Editor:

Couldn't there be a quota for commentors on each thread?

I'm not advocating censorship. It just seems unfair that R.E. should take up every 2nd or 3rd space ... which I skip without reading him ... and blocks others who try to post later in the game. Or at least, on my set-up it's blocked.

the editor may indeed comply, since r.e. is on the 'other' side. you'll be fine though mary. keep posting away.

BC mary, I only post on a small fraction of the articles. I am intersted in eco-fraud artists and political articles that promote socialism.
I see you on way more articles than I am on. You comment on everything.
I have faith in The Tyee to sort this out.
If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

No matter how silly Ronnie is BC Mary, I respect his right to be heard . Most folks just ignore him as some sort of clown ( CIRE) Coalition To Ignore Ron Erwin, membership is free and the benefits are immediate. I don't like to block folks as I welcome diversity and open debate but tend to ignore the loons you get sometimes in blogs , you must keep in mind the value of this forum and not get distracted from immature folks who just want to muddy or disrupt debate. (like those folks in a crowd
who are always shouting, look at me, look at me)

Like the above post is very laughable
Ron says
"mens rights activists, hetrosexual rights activists, management rights activists, pro defense activists,"

Those poor repressed straight white guys in management are really crying out for support, those Anglo defense victims of the world. You see Ronnie is either just trying to be clever or he is living in deep deep rural Alberta or maybe the US bible belt.

Oh Elliot

Get A life, I can almost see you pouting. The tyee prints progressive articles, boo , hooo. What are you so afraid off, you have CanWest and Corus Radio and others , theirs always right wing talking heads on 24/7 to satisfy your needs to feel on track. Their is no major progressive daily, and you are so threatened by the little tyee, even the tyee prints stories from both sides.

How about the sale of Teresen, how many critical articles have you seen over the fact that the BCUC had over 6000 submissions from groups all over BC yet refused public hearings. How many articles Elliot over one of
BC largest utility companies being sold of to former Enron executives, do you know the long term effects of this sale. Anyway the media landscape is changing so get used to new articles and info coming to light and stop pretending your a victim of a tiny news sourcs like the tyee. New ideas are okay , open your eyes to new information .

To all you Vancouverites who miss Wal-Mart: hop in your car and come to the new Wal-Mart in New Westminster. Because of this development, the new shopping centre is booming and more stores are opening all the time. It's been a real shot in the arm for the community and only a few nut-jobs have opposed it.

I came here looking for more info on candidates. There's been some recent comments on a few. I can't get much info other than on the incumbents. Nothing on independants. Any suggestions on where to look? Especially for School board and Parks Board.

Discussion of right-wing vs left-wing is passe. What we have are problems in need of affordable, common-sense solutions. I cannot remember an election that has been so devoid of intelligent discussion of the issues that are important to the man and woman on the street. Various people tell us that their #1 problem is either transportation or too-high taxes, yet no-one sems to be connecting the dots between the two. As happened last time, local candidates avoid like the plague any discussion at all of the mushrooming power and influence of GVRD, GVWD and GVTA (TransLink). The reason for that, of course, is that people like Marvin Hunt, Barbara Sharp, Doug McCallum don't want to upset their respective stipend applecarts. No-one talks of the number of times various councils have contravened the Local Government Act - and certainly, no-one mentions the times when the Campbell Liberals have baled them out with evasive legislation. From the coverage in the Asper Press and Corus-Global, you would think that the edge of the world was at Hastings and Main - and that the only issue there was drugs. Has anyone heard what the issues are in Prince George, Barriere and Louis Creek, Kamloops or Kelowna? Talk about living with our heads in the sand! Until the people of this province start caring more about one another than the latest (ugly) fedora being worn by Larry Campbell and his Green protege, until many of us actually know there is an election campaign underway - and soon to be another - we will continue to be ruled by self-absorbed, self-interested trough diggers.

Martin Says

"To all you Vancouverites who miss Wal-Mart: hop in your car and come to the new Wal-Mart in New Westminster"

Attention all Vancouverites Martin has a good idea, all get in your cars and drive 20 - 35 min across town in busy traffic at a buck a liter and get to Wal Mart, once their drive around for 15 min to find parking and then
run in and buy your cheap crap. Feel good about yourself for screwing the local independents who operate in your
community and support the largest most unethical corporation in the country. Once your done shopping and found many extra things you never knew your needed negating any savings line up, yep line up and listen to all the screaming kids and just stand their for 15-20 min, then cross the 20 acre parking lot and go to your car. If your lucky you only wasted half a day. Sorry Martin some folks have a life, by the way the New West Wal Mart first came in as a numbered company under the radar for approval, very scummy.

Wal Mart drives down wages across the board and sets the standard very low, they demand such low prices they force companies off shore hence lowering the standard of living and less money circulation in the economy. But that's the business model, create more poor people that become dependant on your cheap crap. Call people nut jobs if you like but your the big box guy. Please click on the link, safe site and funny video.

http://www.jibjab.com/Home.aspx

This is why I thought a Walmart should be permitted in Vancouver -- to reduce vehicle km travelled by Vancouverites driving to the suburbs for big box shopping. I don't shop at Walmart, myself, but I thought having one locally would reduce the harm stemming from people commuting to the suburbs to shop.

What would be better than a Walmart on Marine Drive? A Walmart downtown! I think placing big box shopping in well-serviced central locations would be best. We could reduce their parking requirements because people can walk or take transit & have their large purchases trucked to their home. Winners and Future Shop are leaders in this regard.

"locally would reduce the harm stemming from people commuting to the suburbs to shop. "

Oh come, why should we cater to these pathetic people who would drive all day to get to Wal
Mart. Personally I feel the #'s are exaggerated but still, what kind of white trash do you have to be to insist on wasting half you day to get to Wal Mart. It makes me sick the mentality of this kind
of thinking, yea who cares what Wal Mart does to the greater good , I can save a buck or two.

Once again check out what happens in a big box economy. Very amusing and very sad.

http://www.jibjab.com/Home.aspx

I don't think anyone can solve the Walmart issue. If informed, most people will agree that their labour tactics are horrible. And, I'm not just talking employees. I'm also talking suppliers.

But people shop on price. People will drive to save a buck. Ever see the lineup when the price of gas is 5 cents cheaper? Even if you had a 50 Litre tank, that's only a savings or $2.50. And it's not just "poor" people. I see BMWs in those lineups.

Personally, I think Walmart is more of a "symptom" than a "cause" of our modern consumer driven society.

Not everyone can afford organic food or clothes made from organic cotton, but a lot of Walmart customers can afford to pay a little more for more ethical purchases. But, given the choice, they won't.

Sometimes, even when you think you're doing the right thing, you're not. I used to support American Apparel until I came across this info on their union busting: http://www.behindthelabel.org/infocus.asp?id=84

I can't point fingers though. I know what they do to cows. But, I still eat beef.

Because they are already doing it and we do not have the authority or power to prevent them. Our highways are clogged. Let's take a "harm reduction" approach to Walmart =^)

Again, I prefer not to shop there and wish that others would not, as well. But I don't have the power or authority to stop someone from doing so if they choose.

What does skin colour have to do with this issue?

Our day to habits make a big impact, what you should do is NOT shop at Wal Mart and encourage others not to, if your creative and not lazy you can either not buy something you don't really need or find it cheaper in
your community and have more fun buying it supporting someone local. No one shops cheaper than me, I lack nothing and live well and refuse to shop at Wal Mart or other big boxes. You don't save money when Wal Mart is the only game in town. How much is your time worth, it's a myth that poor people can only shop at Wal Mart.

And we do have the power to be a positive example of doing the right thing for our community and the power to help others make the right choices. .

Thanks for the Jibjab link. Love those guys!

While I respect Mr. Dobbin's views, I should say that it is best to have a city council with several candidates from competing parties. Its good to have various views and compromise. Maybe a mix of NPA, VV, and one or two independents is preferable.
On the Walmart issue, it is unfortunate that the store was cancelled. If Surrey with 400,000+ people can have 2(and 3 stores in future), Vancouver--at 580,000 can afford at least one on SouthEsat Marine Drive. After all, Vancouver is not a tiny community like Gibsons, Houston or Zeballos which would definitely lose its Downtopwn with the arrival of a Big Box store. It has the critical consumer mass to support all kinds of retailers. And with Jerry Zucker from South Carolina possibly buying the poorly HBC Company--with its infamous reputation for poor customer service--maybe we will slowly get used to the presence of more American retailers in Vancouver. Finally, the Wal-Mart store would have revitalised a downtrodden area of South Vancouver with little retail presence except for Oakridge Mall.

As an Aside, I would argue that the most--if not the second most important in the Lower mainland is in Surrey where I live between Mayor Doug MacCallum and Councillor Diane Watts. MacCallum's party has publicly repudiated the GVRD's Livability program, and cut-down at least 50,000 trees in the past few years to make way for all kinds of development. He runs a closed, top down 99% pro-development agenda at City Hall, controls the entire GVRD and also recently fired a lawyer who was investing a sex harassment case made against a Surrey City hall employee without any Surrey councillor's prior knowledge of the complaint itself(a decision which has cost him much public support) Talk about a closed decision making process! Compared to MacCallum, Sullivan and Green are pussycats!

While I respect Mr. Dobbin's views, I should say that it is best to have a city council with several candidates from competing parties. Its good to have various views and compromise. Maybe a mix of NPA, VV, and one or two independents is preferable.
On the Walmart issue, it is unfortunate that the store was cancelled. If Surrey with 400,000+ people can have 2(and 3 stores in future), Vancouver--at 580,000 can afford at least one on SouthEsat Marine Drive. After all, Vancouver is not a tiny community like Gibsons, Houston or Zeballos which would definitely lose its Downtopwn with the arrival of a Big Box store. It has the critical consumer mass to support all kinds of retailers. And with Jerry Zucker from South Carolina possibly buying the poorly HBC Company--with its infamous reputation for poor customer service--maybe we will slowly get used to the presence of more American retailers in Vancouver. Finally, the Wal-Mart store would have revitalised a downtrodden area of South Vancouver with little retail presence except for Oakridge Mall.

As an Aside, I would argue that the most--if not the second most important election in the Lower Mainland is in Surrey where I live. The contest between Mayor Doug MacCallum and Councillor Diane Watts is close but I think Watts may be slightly ahead. MacCallum's party has publicly repudiated the GVRD's Livability program, and cut-down at least 50,000 trees in the past few years to make way for all kinds of development. He runs a closed, top down 99% pro-development agenda at City Hall, controls the GVRD and also recently fired a lawyer who was investing a sexual harassment case filed against a Surrey City hall employee without any Surrey councillor's prior knowledge of the complaint itself(a decision which has cost him considerable public support) Talk about a closed decision making process! Compared to MacCallum, Sullivan and Green are pussycats!

While I respect Mr. Dobbin's views, I should say that it is best to have a city council with several candidates from competing parties. Its good to have various views and compromise. Maybe a mix of NPA, VV, and one or two independents is preferable.
On the Wal-Mart issue, it is unfortunate that the store was cancelled. If Surrey with 400,000+ people can have 2(and 3 stores in future), Vancouver--at 580,000 can afford at least one on SouthEsat Marine Drive. After all, Vancouver is not a tiny community like Gibsons, Houston or Zeballos which would definitely lose its Downtopwn with the arrival of a Big Box store. It has the critical consumer mass to support all kinds of retailers. The Wal-Mart store would have also revitalised a downtrodden area of South Vancouver with little retail presence except for Oakridge Mall. With Jerry Zucker from South Carolina possibly buying the poorly run HBC--with its infamous reputation for poor customer service--maybe we will slowly get used to the presence of more American retailers in Vancouver.

As an Aside, I would argue that the most--if not the second most important local election in the Lower Mainland is in Surrey where I live. The contest between Mayor Doug MacCallum and Councillor Diane Watts is close but I think Watts is slightly ahead. MacCallum's party has publicly repudiated the GVRD's Livability program, and cut-down at least 50,000 trees in the past few years to make way for all kinds of development. He runs a closed, top down 99% pro-development agenda at City Hall, controls the GVRD and also recently fired a lawyer who was investing a sexual harassment case filed against a Surrey City hall employee without any Surrey councillor's prior knowledge of the complaint itself(a decision which has cost him considerable public support) Talk about a closed decision making circle! Compared to MacCallum, Sullivan and Green are pussycats.