The election hangover is here. And this is what it means for Vancouver

Good morning!

Well, that was a busy weekend. The provincial election, an atmospheric river… Just one of those stories would take up multiple days of news coverage, but we’ve got them back to back. 

We’re focusing on those two stories today, breaking down exactly what’s going on so you have all the information you need.

Let’s dive in (and not into the flood water)!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

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WEATHER

Monday: 12 🌡️ 8 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 12 🌡️ 6 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 12 🌡️ 6 | 🌤️

PROVINCIAL ELECTION

The election hangover is here. And this is what it means for Vancouver

What happened: BC voters woke up on Sunday to a decidedly different electoral landscape. As of writing this story, David Eby and the BC NDP were leading John Rustad’s Conservatives by one seat, 46 to 45, while the Greens held two seats, though this could still change. With 47 seats needed to command a legislative majority, the NDP indicated they plan to try and work with the BC Greens.

In Vancouver: Here in the city of Vancouver, the BC NDP did better than many had expected, winning 10 of the 11 seats, including the new redistricted ones. The BC Conservatives won only Vancouver-Quilchena, with 51.8 per cent compared to 38.6 per cent for the NDP. This was one of the ridings expected to go Conservative.

The Conservatives were widely expected to win Vancouver-Yaletown, due to the issues of public safety, and Vancouver-Langara. The NDP snuck out a win in Vancouver-Langara with 48.1 per cent versus 46.4 per cent, while Vancouver-Yaletown split 49.4 per cent for the NDP and 43.7 per cent for the Conservatives.

• The real shift near Vancouver was Surrey, where Conservatives picked up seven out of 10 seats, which was almost the inverse from the last election for the BC NDP, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Not set yet: With all this said, the results are not yet final, with Juan de Fuca-Malahat, Surrey City Central having an automatic recount due to how close the results were. The NDP only won the seats by 23 voters and 96 votes, respectively. A recount will take place and the results will be known between Oct. 26-28, according to CBC.

Young voter trends: While many people think young people are more Liberal or left-leaning, this was not the case with the student vote, where young people in schools voted in a mock election. The BC Conservatives tied the NDP in vote share at around 36 per cent, while the BC Greens had 19 per cent.

Looking ahead: It could be a fraught era in BC politics, as the Conservatives promised to bring down the NDP at the first possible opportunity, according to Global. The NDP will have the first opportunity to form government and could try a similar approach as the 2017 when they partnered with the Greens. 

Some Lookout observations

Declining Vancouver influence: As the province’s biggest city, the election results seem to indicate the city’s declining influence, as the election was mostly fought in the suburbs, in places like Surrey, while the NDP won all but one seat in Vancouver. With a minority government, the NDP will be laser-focused on the next election, which doesn’t really run through Vancouver. 

The environment could be a major issue: With the Greens holding the balance of power, they could try to extract more environmental promises from Eby, who many have argued has deprioritized the issue, with his promise to scrap the carbon tax if the Liberals decide to end the legal backstop that requires it, according to the CBC. Keep an eye out for environmental promises in exchange for support.

Vancouver by-election incoming: With Vancouver Coun. Christine Boyle winning the seat of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, will soon have a by-election to replace her on council. It could end up being a test of Mayor Ken Sim’s popularity, as his ABC party will likely field a candidate. Will the opposition work together to field one candidate, or could the vote split help the ABC party win again, cementing their majority? We will keep you updated as we learn more!

Park board uncertainty: David Eby promised to bring in legislation to end the park board after the election, after Ken Sim moved forward with abolishing the board. There will likely be no fall sitting, due to the election, and the first sitting will likely be in January of next year. And it’s unlikely that park board legislation will be a priority for the government…

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🚎 787,000: The average number of boardings on TransLink buses each weekday in the second quarter of 2024. That’s the third-highest ridership out of major cities in Canada and the US. [Urbanized]

🏢 $100,875: The annual income required for locals to be able to afford an average one-bedroom rental in Vancouver. The average price is $2,690 per month. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🏒 1,000: That’s the number of games Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers has played in the NHL, notching that number during Saturday’s game. He’s the 400th player to do so. [NHL]

ENVIRONMENT

The day after the floods…

Not only was there a torrent of election news, there was, which you may have noticed more, a torrent of rain this weekend.

What happened: Between 90 to 150 millimetres of rain is expected to have fallen on Metro Vancouver from Friday to Sunday, according to the Vancouver Sun, as the region dealt with the ongoing effects of the first atmospheric river of the year.

• By the numbers: On Friday, there was 34.2 mm of rain, followed by 67.1 mm on Saturday. The Saturday number is a record for the city, breaking the 59.7 mm back in 1956. Around 7,700 customers were without power in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast, according to CTV.

There were 21 leaks and breaks from broken pipes, with 14 still not fixed as of Sunday night, spilling untreated wastewater into Burrard inlet, the Fraser River and Boundary Bay. The intersection of Nanaimo and McGill streets was flooded in East Vancouver.

• Anyone trying to travel on transit throughout Metro Vancouver may have had to deal with route cancellations and other changes. Many roads were also closed due to ongoing flooding.

North Shore: This region has dealt with the worst of the storm damage, especially on Saturday, with the District of North Vancouver declaring a state of emergency and evacuation and ordering people to vacate six properties on Panorama Drive in Deep Cove. Some Deep Cove businesses were also flooded, according to CityNews. If you are in need of assistance or support to deal with problems from the storm, you can call 778-651-9600 for North Shore Emergency Management. A reception centre was also opened at the Mickey McDougall Recreation Centre.

• Someone captured this video and shared it to Reddit of a large overflow of water going around buildings in West Van.

Cloudy water: If you notice cloudy water, fear not, as Metro Vancouver says the water is still drinkable, though this primarily affects eastern portions of Metro Vancouver. The regional body says they’ve increased disinfection levels and treatment “as a precaution.”

Last time…: The last major atmospheric river dropped 200+ mm of rain throughout places like the Fraser Valley, causing massive flooding. This didn’t happen this time, with the highest volume of water localized to the North Shore and surrounding areas, according to the Weather Network. 

• On a lighter note, someone captured their dad kayaking in the flood water. Of course, it should be remembered that overflow water is, in many situations, unsafe and coming from sewers. 

Good news: The weather is expected to get better going forward, with light rainfall, but still wet and overcast, according to Urbanized. 

NEW JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver:

• Director of CSE business communications with Vancouver Canucks

• Associate general counsel Canada at Coinbase

• Manager, enrollment communications and marketing at Langara College

• Manager, occupation health and wellness at TransLink

• Privacy officer at Provincial Health Services Authority

THE AGENDA

⛪️ City council is voting on, and expected to approve a motion next week, to help faith-based groups build more housing on their properties, including more affordable units. Many churches are already using their property to build housing. The lower levels continue to used for religious services. [Urbanized]

⏰ A developer of a 1,600 home development in Oakridge has told the city that it cannot meet the deadlines set by council and will need to extend the project by five years, due to rising costs, market conditions and other issues. City staff are recommending the new timeline be approved. [CBC]

⚽️ The Whitecaps lost to Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Saturday. Vancouver is now 13-13-8 for the season and goes up against the Portland Timbers for the opportunity to play against the top-ranked LAFC in the playoffs. [Globe and Mail]

🚢 Another boat has been wrecked in False Creek after it was beached. The owner said he could not find a marina to dock the boat. Police allege the boat was not properly anchored during high winds, but are not investigating it as a criminal activity. [Global]

EVENTS

Neapolitan Pizza Class | 6365 West Boulevard Vancouver | Oct. 22, 6 pm | Learn how to make your own Neopolitan pizzas with a master chef | Tickets $150

Spotting Edible Mushrooms in Spirit Park | Pacific Spirit Regional Park - Park Centre Parking Lot | Oct. 22, 12 pm | Come learn how to find edible mushrooms, focused on the basics | Tickets $29

Zine Making Workshop | 2414 Main St. | Oct. 24, 6 pm | Ever wanted to make your own Zine? Here’s your chance! | Tickets $76

Interstellar 10 Organ Concert Tour: Vancouver | St. Andrew's Wesley United Church | Oct. 25, 7:30 pm | If you liked Interstellar, the organist from the movie will share his experience working on the film, and playing his own transcription of the movie’s soundtrack | Tickets $30-$40

The Vancouver Boxing Classic | 369 Alexander St. | Oct. 26, 6:30 pm | Local amateur boxers face off | Tickets $38-$49

Thai Favourites a Cookery Class | 2665 Renfrew Street | Oct. 26, 6 pm | Learn how to make classic Thai food like pad Thai, curry and pork satay | Tickets $116

Vancouver Writers Fest 2024 | Various locations | Now until Oct. 27 | Come learn about new books, hear from authors and celebrate all things writing | Tickets

Diwali Fest 2024 | Roundhouse Community Centre | Oct. 27, 2 pm-5 pm | Come celebrate the Festival of Lights with food trucks, dance and more | Free

Jersey Boys | Stanley Alliance Industrial Stage | Until Oct. 27 | The Tony- and Grammy-winning musical is still in Vancouver for just over two weeks | Tickets $39

Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival | Various venues | This weekend and next | Two weekends of horror-fuelled cinema | Tickets $22 per screening

Canyon Frights | Capilano Suspension Bridge Park | Oct. 11-31, 10 am-8 pm | A Halloween adventure for the whole family | Tickets $72

Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train | Pipeline Road, Stanley Park | Until Oct. 31, 6-10 pm | All aboard for this spooky ride on the Stanley Park train | Tickets $17

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• In our latest restaurant review, Downlow Chicken proves it’s a classic, for a reason.

• Did you know Spanish Banks and Point Grey were almost huge industrial ports? 

• A new Mediterranean spot Selene Aegean Bistro has opened up in East Vancouver this week. [Scout]

• Vancouver’s Croissant Crawl is back! [Straight]

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

PHOTO OF THE DAY

A Reddit user managed to capture this photo of the rain in the sky. A beautiful image from the rain that has caused a lot of damage to the region!

GAME TIME

Today’s quiz question — how many seats did the BC NDP not win in Vancouver? Reply with the correct answer and your name to be featured in the newsletter.