Our Work: 2025 By-Election Candidate Survey (Updated): Question 7

7. The city’s shopping streets have been hard-hit in recent years – and face further threats under the current ‘tariff war’ with the US. What will you do to support our ‘main streets’ and shopping areas?

Karin LITZCKE (101) - There are a lot of factors to blame for the decline in the city’s retail environment, not all of which originate with the city. Recovery will be particularly difficult due to the escalation of on-line shopping for almost everything. Among the things for which I would advocate to enhance recovery are:

1. ensure that the city tax burden is rational and minimal;
2. reduce the pressure to redevelop small, unpretentious buildings that still house functional businesses;
3. liberalize and diversify available means of signage with which businesses can make themselves visible, including in the building permit process;
4. stop discouraging or punishing car use, since drivers can do more shopping/business patronage than people using most other modes of travel (for example, enhance parking availability, reduce parking costs, and implement post-use payment, rather than pre-purchase of time, reduce the need for a cell phone in order to park);
5. consistently target crime, including shoplifting, with police resources so that retail clerks do not have to double as security staff;
6. consider reviving the concept of a paper directory of businesses in the city, delivered to homes in the city as the yellow pages once were.

Jeanifer DECENA (106) - Vancouver’s shopping streets are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods—they provide employment, support local entrepreneurs, and create spaces where people gather and connect. But in recent years, these businesses have been hit hard by economic challenges, including rising rents, changing consumer habits, and now, international trade tensions.

To protect and revitalize our main streets, I would advocate for:

• Lowering business tax burdens – Many small businesses are struggling with high property taxes. By using land value capture property taxes, we can redistribute costs and keep taxes low for small businesses, allowing them to thrive rather than just survive.
• Supporting farmers’ markets and local producers – Farmers’ markets are not just places to shop, but places to build community, support sustainable agriculture, and create economic opportunities for small-scale producers. I would work to expand and diversify farmers’ markets across Vancouver.
• Encouraging pop-up shops and flexible retail spaces – Vacant storefronts hurt our neighborhoods. The City should facilitate short-term leases and lower barriers for small businesses and artists to occupy empty spaces, keeping our streets vibrant and active.
• Investing in walkable, people-friendly shopping areas – Safe sidewalks, public seating, and community programming (like live performances and seasonal markets) attract foot traffic and increase local spending.

A thriving main street is more than just commerce—it’s about culture, community, and connection. We need policies that keep local businesses alive, create opportunities for entrepreneurs, and make our shopping streets more inviting and accessible.

Sean ORR (108) - We have tenant protections for renters, we should have tenant protections for small businesses. We’re losing community hubs, local businesses we love, to huge 300% or 500% rent increases. I know BIAs represent small businesses but we can go further, like a mechanism for them to deal with their landlords. The city has also explored the idea of legacy businesses, something that has an intangible effect on the community. Often, a business that is a vital cultural asset isn’t seen as one, such as food assets in Chinatown. Often there is no support for succession planning when an owner retires.

The same speculative pressures that price our friends and families out of the city exist for small businesses. We should look at slowing that speculation that sees financial instruments and REITs buying up huge amounts of commercial real estate to maximize their profits at the cost of community. But addressing the housing crisis will also make our main streets more vibrant. Having people be able to live and work in our communities will bring life back. We need people who work in cafes, restaurants, delis, dry cleaners, and mom and pop shops to be able to live near where they work. Both for their quality of life, and for the impacts on the climate from long commutes. We need our seniors to be able to age in place, and young people be able to raise a family here. Restaurants, bars, and local shops are part of our communities as well.

Colleen HARDWCK (109) & Theodore ABBOTT (110) - Support local businesses and Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) by ensuring City taxes and fees are reasonable and local businesses have City support. Avoid excessive land speculation that drives up land values and property taxes for local shopping areas.

List of Questions