Brian Palmquist

The latest in the Community Planning Matters! Speaker Tour: @BrianPalmquist Embrace, Enhance, Evolve - 3 Steps to a better Vancouver youtu.be/HDsfoRM31GU

This may be an historic statement from @vaughnpalmer: "I think it likely that Indigenous leaders and their allies in government knew very well what the DRIPA legislation was likely to produce, a new era where the governing of B.C. is increasingly shared among the province and Indigenous nations. "Already the province has learned that it cannot amend its own laws without the consent of First Nations. "As for the premier, I have to think that Sunday was the day he discovered who was really running this province — and it was not David Eby." #bcpoli vancouversun.com/opinion/column…

A distinguished writer reflects back on the time before the 80s — before capital and its neoliberal politicians moved the state toward a focus on enabling corporations to extract profit, instead of on meeting peoples's needs.

Several years ago some smart Indigenous leaders, and others, were coming forward to urge governments to end their commitment to the broad ideals of the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). They maintained the B.C. government’s attempt to appear pro-Indigenous was actually holding back First Nations development through forestry, mining, natural gas and other industrial agreements. Those voices included: @ellisbross Former MLA, now MP, Ellis Ross. @Puglaas Former MP Jody-Wilson Raybould. @VWPTvancouver Former Vancouver councillor Gordon Price. #Bcpoli @VaughnPalmer @LazenbyAlec @RobShaw_BC vancouversun.com/opinion/column…

Below are some extraordinary quotes from Vancouver 'condo king' Bob Rennie from as far back as 2011. Rennie's comments make clear the Urban Development Institute knew exactly what was going on with the "breathtaking" amount of money flooding into Metro Vancouver real estate from China. In this scholarly article researchers discovered Rennie was publicly saying 15 years ago: - 90% of homes being sold on Vancouver's side "are sold to Mainland China." - Vancouver's housing prices would be average, not extremely unaffordable, if it were not for China money. - Speaking to developers, Rennie says, "Possibly everyone in this room benefits directly and indirectly from those... Mainland China buyers." - "Greater Vancouver (housing) is predominantly an equity play and not an income play." One big problem? Criticism of this flood of offshore money was met with 'insinuations of racism.' These quotes and observations were put together by scholars Joshua Gordon, David Ley and @Ayan604 in their ground-breaking 2024 article, "Crafting the Narrative: Wealth migration, growth machines and the politics of housing affordability in Vancouver, Canada." #vanre #vanpoli #bcpoli #cdnimm @ronmortgageguy tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.108…

3/3 Metro Vancouver board weighing today how it will fund development cost changes. Possibilities include increasing household taxes or utility rates, delaying some capital projects, or increased borrowing. By @joanneleeyoung @MetroVancouver @udibc thousa #vanre #vanpoli @CityHallWchVAN @BradWestPoCo vancouversun.com/news/this-is-n…

Josh White says the barge-hotel will provide “high quality public realm” viewing on its dock, mitigating its obstruction of public views. Will staff be more competent securing this public benefit than they were for Westbank’s  Vancouver House development? thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026/0…

OneCity & Green Councillors Lucy Maloney & Pete Fry joined ABC to approve blocking this important public view to privatize it for corporate profit (increased by not paying DCLs &CACs) Remember for the election — seems only COPE & TEAM will not give developers whatever they want.

Sarah Kirby-Yung has been a big part of this cities demise. She’s never met a tower or a developer she didn’t like. Ppl continuously vote for her then complain abt the city. U don’t get better if u don’t vote smarter.

Dr. David Ley: Urban Geographer, Professor Emeritus UBC, Order of Canada. Part of the Community Planning Matters! Speaker Tour. Kerrisdale’s Future: Does City Hall Know Best? youtu.be/7_xx7o3jklg

Van. councillors opposing ABC’s shenanigans may sound sincere but at the end of the day they r no different. Of course there r good candidates for mayor, Hardwick wld b good but ppl won’t hv it. Better to vote for the poltns backed by mega devlpers.

This is true. Will residents get it right this time and vote for the TEAM that will put citizens first or will they go for the Billboard candidates that talk big than don’t deliver?

Are certified professionals infallible? Compare renderings vs completed buildings. Failed Bill M216 (Professional Reliance Act) tried to strip municipalities of the ability to review submitted work #vanpoli #bcpoli cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2026/04/16/ren…

This is odd, and potentially worrying. Is your private member's bill, M216, dead or not @G_Anderson1? @CityHallWchVAN has discovered the contentious bill, which would further erode municipalities' powers, is going to a committee hearing on April 15th. The @UBCM thought it was finished, after fighting it tooth and nail. #bcpoli cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2026/04/14/bil…

Hotel-Barge on Waterfront in front of Convention Centre passes, with only Councillor Orr opposed

Live stream of @BrianPalmquist Community Planning Matters! talk: Embrace + Enhance to Evolve Vancouver's Future. youtube.com/live/asTIR7keR…

Here is why Vancouver City Council rushed to enact the Official Development Plan. 5 rezonings quietly posted tonight for daytime decision in 3 business days. No advance notice. Public Hearings prohibited. Illegitimacy unfolding in real time. #vanpoli #vanpoli" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">council.vancouver.ca/20260414/regu2…

Renters just got this notice about the "Future Council Decision" for a 20-storey tower in Fairview where they live. "There will be no opportunity to speak at the Council meeting", so submit comments to Council instead. This is what the ODP looks like #vanpoli

Building SkyTrain to UBC is my number one transportation priority:

@kareemformayor @ga_richardson The minute the subway to arbutus was announced, I knew the neighbourhood would be destroyed. 23 storey towers going up on all sides of 4 storey residences. The line to UBC will do the same.