Joseph Planta's Commentary - thecommentary.ca

Friday, 15 October 2004

Why I voted 'yes' for wards

By Joseph Planta

VANCOUVER - Perhaps I could feign hastiness and spontaneity when I report that I voted in favour of wards in this Saturday's referendum. (I voted in an advance poll.)

Fortuitously enough, I was taking an Urban Politics course at Langara two years ago, right in the hub of the 2002 municipal election. Discussion of wards was par for the course, as in a course such as that examining the governance had the municipal level. In the midst of the campaign, the wards issue was made real thanks to the then mayoralty candidate promising to hold a referendum on the issue, if elected. Larry Campbell was, and so we're in the campaign's dying days now.

At the time, and until very recently, I agreed that with the 'no' committee and people like Sam Sullivan, that wards were not prudent nor useful for this city. When I spoke to Councillor Sullivan a couple of weeks ago, I thought then that his argument made a lot of sense. I still do. Being that I have been known as a bit of a conservative, it would have made sense that I would have supported the 'no' campaign and in fact vote against wards this Saturday. Gordon Gibson, whom I respect immensely, made a robust argument in the op-ed page of the Vancouver Sun last week, yet I voted 'yes.'

Interestingly enough, my voting 'yes' was not motivated by my chat last week with 'yes' campaign chair, Darlene Marzari. Clearly in this campaign, the 'no' side has been vigorous and forthright. Their budget for advertisements has been immense and it's clear that the stakes were very high in this campaign to encourage such rampant advocacy. Some questions I asked Marzari last week, I felt, were not answered to convince me to vote 'yes.' For example, on the issue of the civic budget and if taxes for Vancouverites would go up thanks to a larger council, Marzari, ever the clever ex-pol dodged the question saying how could the current council not guarantee they weren't spending too much money now. She compared our levels of taxation to that of a much larger Toronto, and claimed that we were paying as much as them. Now, I haven't looked into that, and even though, I'm inclined to take her word on it, that's not the point. The point is that it happens to be the current civic government that has submitted this referendum to the public. Later Marzari argued that wards would only make the city more vibrant, even though I would argue it's this current system of governance that allows for a city so vibrant.

I don't discount the arguments put forth by Councillor Sullivan, not at all. Nevertheless, I looked at the fact that in previous referendums more than 50% + 1 have supported wards at least two times. That desire for wards then can't possibly be ignored. Previous civic governments with much to lose, with the help of provincial governments willing to indulge them, rued the day previously setting rather egregiously high thresholds. (While 50% + 1 is still a relatively low threshold, it was sufficient for the Charlottetown Accord, whose passing would have had greater consequence than mere wards.)

May Brown, a former councillor, suggested that wards be implemented if for a wait-and-see approach as to their viability. When I brought up that suggestion, Councillor Sullivan said it would be irresponsible. I'm inclined to agree, however at the end of the day, in the privacy of the little voting booth, I marked 'yes' on my ballot. Now taking a wait-and-see approach may be irresponsible, however I can't think of a better opportunity to be irresponsible. Obviously, the city won't collapse and shut down thanks to wards, nor would I suspect it to under the status quo. Therefore, we needn't worry that garbage or municipal taxes will go uncollected. There's a great desire for change in this city, this province and this country, and wards for the city would signal some changing dynamic, on the municipal level at least. The Citizen's Assembly charged with looking into reforming the election of our provincial MLA's is an exciting process, one that has already had great significance despite whatever may come about in next year's referendum.

I also voted in favour of wards because the way I've voted municipally in the past, I never went for straight slates for council. I actually took the time to pick and choose from all political parties, and if I recall my 2002 vote, I think I managed to vote for candidates from all four parties. Sadly, slate voting is something that's gone on for time in memoriam, and many suitable candidates who deserved to get elected didn't. At least with wards, independent voices have a better chance. The argument that the political machine is done with, with wards, however hopeful, is unlikely. I suspect with wards, you'll see parties organise, as we see provincially and federally; and party politicking, though lessened in the backrooms, will spill out into each ward throughout the city.

Now if wards turn out to be a colossal failure, then Councillor Sullivan has my assurance I'll be the first to call for its abolition. I'm relatively young, so I'll be there foursquare lobbying future occupants of City Hall demanding that we revert back to at-large should all hell break loose. And being relatively young, as part of the city I inherit, one ought to pay attention to the desires of those who've gone before, desires which thanks to political manoeuvrings went unfulfilled in previous referendums.

Now maybe I've acted hastily with the way I've voted. Whatever the case, I'll live with that. My previous votes, save for one, have been hardly fruitful. The candidates I've voted for have never won. I may have come to reconsider my vote, not necessarily regret it, but certainly reconsider it, but I've stuck with my choices despite whatever's happened subsequently. The only candidate I've voted for, who's won, is Mayor Campbell. He's for wards, so I'll stick with him. This time, at least.

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