Council votes against ending gas ban on new construction builds

Good morning,

Bit of a shorter edition today but stay tuned tomorrow for another of our Insider editions.

Today we’re covering the city’s decision on whether to allow natural gas in new buildings, plus some events happening this weekend.

Let’s dive in.

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WEATHER

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Saturday: 4 🌡️ 3 | 🌧️

Sunday: 7 🌡️ 2 | ☁️

Monday: 6 🌡️ 1 | 🌤️

ENVIRONMENT

Council votes against ending gas ban on new construction builds

All that political debate and the end result was basically the same…

What happened: After introducing a motion over the summer to end Vancouver’s natural gas ban for heating and hot water in new construction builds, enough ABC members joined with Green Party councillors to vote and keep the ban in place.

Background: ABC Coun. Brian Montague introduced the motion back in July, arguing that the increased demand for electricity could warrant bringing back gas, according to Global. That motion passed 6-5. But this vote failed in a tie at 5-5, with ABC Coun. Rebecca Bligh voted against it this time after voting for it in the summer. She said she needed more information and that the council “made the wrong decision” before, according to Global.

• The vote breakdown: Those in favour of keeping the ban were councillors Pete Fry, Adrianne Carr, Peter Meiszner, Lisa Dominato and Bligh. Those in favour of ending the ban were Mayor Ken Sim, Mike Klassen, Lenny Zhou, Sarah Kirby-Yung and Montague. Coun. Christine Boyle is on a leave of absence until a by-election is held.

Yes, but: Fear not amateur chefs, gas will still be allowed for cooking in homes. 

One key fact is that the majority of the city’s carbon pollution, 55 per cent, comes from natural gas use in homes and buildings, with another 40 per cent from gas-powered vehicles, according to Vancouver is Awesome. 

A breakup?: While members of Ken Sim’s ABC majority were split, Coun. Peter Meiszner, who voted against ending the ban, said there was no split with ABC, and sometimes disagreements are inevitable in such a large party, according to CBC. 

Why it matters: A vote to change the policy would’ve made hitting Vancouver’s climate targets, already well behind the city’s 2030 goal, that much harder. It also showed that ABC is not a monolith and that just because the party has a majority, it doesn’t mean public pressure can’t make a difference. 

• Dig deeper: Our freelance writer Nate Lewis took a deep dive into the issue, noting that the whole ordeal raised questions about good governance and public interest at city hall. You can read that here.

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🏠️ 40%: The percentage of Metro Vancouver residents who would rather live in a single-family home. [Vancouver Sun]

📈 33.5%: The increase, year-over-year in October, of residential home sales. The average price of a place sold in Metro Vancouver was $1.25 million. [CityNews]

DREAM HOME

Kitsilano isn’t the cheapest place to live, but sometimes you find a gem like this.

While it’s only got one bedroom and one bathroom, the entire place has been updated with the latest appliances, a built-in wine cooler, a massive kitchen space and extra little design touches. And at 717 square feet, it’s big for a one-bedroom.

Of course, it’s Kitsilano, so it has the Kitsilano price…

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labeled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team. 

THE AGENDA

🎤 It’s not an earthquake or a weather storm, it’s Taylor Swift. Officials assembled on Thursday to share their plans for Swift’s Eras Tour over Dec. 6-8, which will cause disruption to places like BC Place, Rogers Arena and Concord Pacific Place. Other roads will be closed from 12 pm until 12 am during those days. The full details can be found here. [CityNews]

💰️ Should Vancouver invest public money in Bitcoin? The mayor will be introducing a motion in December to do just that. Right now there’s very few details, with the mayor saying he’d expand on the idea in his upcoming motion scheduled for Dec. 11. [CTV]

👎️ A Vancouver student is frustrated that the Vancouver school board won’t allow an automated external defibrillator in his school, even after he fundraised to buy it. Tobias Zhang wanted to install the defibrillator because of his friend who died from a heart attack at school. But the school district says they follow the rules from the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, which only requires them in schools where children may need the device. The board is currently reviewing its policy. [Vancouver Sun]

🤫 Several Vancouver school trustees are raising concerns that the Vancouver School Board has become more secretive in the past few years. OneCity trustee Jennifer Reddy pointed out that 60 per cent of board meetings have been in camera, which means they are not held in public. The board chair says many meetings, like legal issues, cannot be discussed in public. [CTV]

⚽️ The Whitecaps announced that they’ve exercised and not exercised the options on a number of players for next year. Currently, the team has 22 players. You can read the full list here. 

🚕 There is outrage targeted at Fraser Health after an 86-year-old was discharged from the Ridge Meadows Hospital and sent to the Downtown Eastside, where she was supposed to check into a women’s shelter. She eventually returned back to Ridge Meadows, and Fraser Health has apologized for the mistake. But the Vancouver shelter says this happens often. [Vancouver Sun]

Outside Vancouver

❌ Premier David Eby has eliminated the Ministry of Health and Addictions, in a revamped attempt to deal with the opioid crisis. Those involved in the industry said the ministry had no real power. BC’s new Minister of Health, Josie Osborne, said she’s aiming to build more treatment beds to help with the overdose crisis. [Vancouver Sun] 

🏗️ Cypress Bowl Road will be getting a new community for 7,000 residents. The plan has been decades in the making, though some councillors were not satisfied with the vetting of the financial deal, which will see the district purchase 262 acres. [North Shore News]

⛴️ In order to manage and keep up with operating and capital costs at BC Ferries, the organization CEO said they’d need to raise fares by 30 per cent, due to inflation and other costs. Premier Eby did note that the province would likely step in to keep fares at normal levels, as long as BC Ferries does its part to keep costs down. [CTV]

EVENTS GUIDE

West Van Comedy Classic | Kay Meek Arts Centre, 1700 Mathers Ave, West Vancouver | Nov. 29, 8:00 pm | Pro stand-up comedy featuring Chris Griffin, Alex Mackenzie, Syd Bosel, and more | Tickets $38

Brandon Wint: Moving For Love – An Evening of Film, Poetry & Music | VIFF Centre, 1181 Seymour St | Dec 1, 6.30pm | Poet & filmmaker Brandon Wint presents two new short films, alongside live jazz led by Feven Kidane, and poetry | Learn more [Sponsored]

Bold Flavours: A Radicchio Pop-up Event | Burdock & Co, 2702 Main Street | Nov. 27, 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm | Immersive 90-minute radicchio tasting experience with local chefs and farmers | Tickets $70

Make Change Market | Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St | Nov. 29, 6:00 pm | An evening market showcasing Employ to Empower entrepreneurs, products, and activations. Support local businesses and kick off holiday shopping | Free

Toque Craft Fair | Western Front, 303 East 8th Ave. | Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 11:00 am | Explore curated BC-made crafts, textiles, ceramics and more | Free

Chinatown Winter Solstice: Lantern Making | Chinatown Plaza Mall, Vancouver | Nov. 30, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Lantern-making workshop with paper collage | Free

Portobello West Roundhouse Holiday Market | Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre | Nov. 30, 10:00 am | Discover 69+ local vendors offering handmade gifts, family fashion, jewelry, art, and more | Tickets $6

VSO Chamber Players | Kay Meek Arts Centre, West Vancouver | Dec. 1, 3:00 pm | Chamber music with VSO musicians performing works by Webern, Mendelssohn, and Brahms | Tickets $42 

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

If only every vegetable tasted as good as The Acorn

Fine dining. It’s a type of food that, if not done effectively, can err too far into the “fine” and less on the joyful experience of exceptional food. Artifice replaces authenticity, exaggerated art replaces taste, and contrived creations get in the way of the ingredients.

Before you know it, you’re three hours in, and you barely recognize or remember the dishes, foams or little bites. You leave, uncomfortably full, noticeably lighter in your wallet and mostly unsatisfied. 

Then, there’s fine dining like what I experienced at The Acorn, what many call Vancouver’s best vegetarian restaurant. 

It starts when you walk up to the restaurant. Unassuming as you enter, the space is just so, with hardwood checkered floors, light wooden tables, and ample vegetation, in a space that argues pretentiousness isn’t a requirement for fine dining.

The casualness of the restaurant carried over to the staff. Friendly, warm and helpful, the team displayed a level of attentiveness you’d find at much more expensive restaurants, without the disregard we could’ve experienced as three men wearing only t-shirts.

Read the review

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Not a bad shot of BC Place!

VANCOUVER WORDLE

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COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• If you’re taking a domestic Air Canada flight from YVR, you won’t have to present a physical ID – if you do this one thing. [Vancouver Sun]

• Vancouver had a pivotal role in a life-changing experience for The Rock. [Global]

• Geopolitics in <5 minutes? Get International Intrigue, the free global briefing crafted by former diplomats. Sign up for free today. [Sponsored]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.