City cracked down on Vancouver venues after lobbying by bar and club groups, emails reveal

Editor’s note: This story is a collaboration between Vancity Lookout and the Investigative Journalism Foundation. 

A Vancouver city councillor asked city officials to investigate independent venues after being lobbied by groups representing other bars and clubs. 

In April 2025, Coun. Brian Montague encouraged a top city official to conduct enforcement at “illegal after-hours clubs,” based on a list of venues he received from unnamed figures in the city’s nightclub and bar industry.  

Those emails from Montague, which Vancity Lookout and the IJF obtained through freedom of information legislation, preceded a crackdown by city agencies and provincial liquor inspectors on 12 venues across Vancouver, including some that had city licenses and liquor permits. 

Montague said he was merely passing on information about potential bylaw violations on behalf of a constituent. He said councillors did not act on behalf of any specific business or lobby.

“Any information that is passed along would be done with the expectation that City staff assess it independently, using their own criteria and professional judgment," said Montague in a joint statement with Coun. Lisa Dominato, who also raised concerns about independent venues.