Decisionmakers and advocates butted heads outside a high-profile event in Chinatown Wednesday.

Condo king Bob Rennie invited politicians, developers and VIPs to his art gallery at 51 E. Pender St., which became the perfect target for social-housing protesters.

The protest was tame save for one heated exchange.

Former premier Mike Harcourt stepped into a media scrum to counter protester assertions that real estate moguls will gentrify the Downtown Eastside.

“I’ve said for decades I don’t feel this should be an executive city. And it shouldn’t be a slum,” Harcourt told media. “It should be a city with varying incomes. I think we should be looking to abolish homelessness as soon as possible.”

His words were greeted with jeers of “Stop talking!” and “Where is it?” from the protesters.

“I can show you a whole bunch of sites that we’re working on,” a heated Harcourt responded.

“That’s all we ever hear –working on it,” a protester replied.

“I’ve been working on housing a lot longer than you’ve been carrying signs,” the ex-premier shot back.

Matt Kieltyka reports for Vancouver 24 hours.