Student vote could change course of housing-focused byelection

By AMBER MONIZ

An increase in the number of post-secondary students casting a ballot could impact the outcome of a byelection in which housing is a major issue, says a Langara instructor.

According to Terri Evans, Langara College’s urban government specialist, the student demographic is typically missing from the polls and this is “problematic,” because municipal elections traditionally receive such a low turnout.

Vancouver’s last municipal byelection in 2017 saw 10.99 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot.

The April 5 byelection was called to fill two council vacancies after Christine Boyle of the OneCity party was elected as the Vancouver-Little Mountain MLA in 2024, and Adriane Carr of the Green party resigned in January.

Independent candidate Jeanifer Decena said she values and encourages student voting.

Powerful participation

Voting is one of the most powerful ways for students to be part of the political landscape in the city of Vancouver, Decena said.

“I don’t want students to feel like politics is happening to them,” she added.

Green Party candidate Annette Reilly said low student turnout at the polls is a complicated issue with no clear solution.

“I think if we knew the answer to this question, we’d have more engagement,” Reilly said.

Evans said many students don’t vote because they don’t “connect the dots” between their concerns and what municipal government controls, such as housing.

OneCity Candidate Lucy Maloney said students are experiencing “the pointy end of the housing affordability crisis.”

“It alienates young people when they see their adult leaders failing to take responsibility for the action we know we can take,” she added.

Blaming the Broadway Plan

Multiple candidates referenced the Broadway Plan when speaking to the Voice on the housing crisis.

Approved by the previous Vancouver City council in 2022, the plan provides a “30-year framework to integrate new housing, job space and amenities,” from Vine Street to Clark Drive.

Independent candidate Karin Litzcke said the Broadway Plan is a “complete disaster.”

But Candidate Ralph Kaisers said that, to combat the housing crisis, “we need to build more homes throughout the city.”

Candidate Jaime Stein said the plan is targeted to help students, and that density and affordability go “hand in hand.”

Both Stein and Kaisers are running for the ABC Party, which currently holds a six-seat majority on city council.

Housing “out of reach”

Independent candidate Guy Dubé said he’s concerned about the people currently living on Broadway who will be displaced by the plan.

“Just slow it down. Don’t throw people out until they have housing,” Dubé said.

TEAM candidate Theodore Abbott, also said that the plan is damaging to the current housing on Broadway.

“It will destroy a huge swath of Vancouver’s currently affordable rental housing,” he said.

COPE candidate Sean Orr said that too many people in positions of power in Vancouver work for their own benefit, instead of trying to improve the city.

“We’re building too often housing that is out of reach for many people, because that’s what makes developers the most profit,” Orr said.

Independent candidates Charles Ling, Gerry McGuire and Rollergirl were contacted for interviews but did not respond by press time.

Advance voting for the byelection will be held on March 26 and April 1, with election day on April 5.