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Taq Bhandal

Independent for Vancouver Council
My vision for Vancouver is for the city to be an affordable, healthy place to live for people of all intersectional identities. And for us to continue to lead efforts towards promoting the health of the earth.

Misc. topics

Affordable Housing

Take a holistic approach to affordability through community-based development, eco-friendly design, and more social housing. Drastically increase supply and access to affordable rental housing. Increase capacity at city hall to decrease 1-3 year wait times for building permits.

Arts and Culture

Work with local creatives to invest more in diverse arts and culture in the city. Use city owned land to create space for affordable, collaborative workshops spaces for artists. Introduce Maker's spaces to Vancouver Public Libraries.

City Police

Add additional outcome measures to VPD in addition to response time, including: anti-oppression training, relationship building with marginalized communities, presence and exposure of weapons in community spaces, movement away from training partnerships in the USA.

Community Safety and Security

Use an gender-affirming and diverse approach to implement Vancouver: A City for All Women Strategy 2018-2028, to ensure a decrease in violence against women and gender diverse residents.

Diversity

Support small businesses. Address discriminatory use of police “carding” against people of colour and Indigenous communities. Implement TRC Calls to Action and A City for All Women Strategy. Aim for most accessible city in Canada. Enhance voting rights for permanent residents.

Drug Use

Take a multi-pronged approach to the opioid public health crisis: working with local health professionals to address over prescription of opioids; increasing the number of safe injection sites; and use existing funds to support harm reduction focused rehabilitation programming.

Environment & Sustainability

Implement feasible municipal policies to contribute to zero waste practices, and to support a decrease in dependance on burning carbon. Draw on Indigenous and global approaches to resource conservation. Provide accessible alternatives to single-use items.

Mental Wellness

Support non-profit organizations and public education campaigns to decreasing stigma related to addictions and mental health differences.

Natural Disaster Measures

My focus will be on effects of City of Vancouver on the shoreline, and starting the process of adapting to sea level rise, storm surges, increased rainfall, etc.

Public Transit

Commit to 21st century approaches to commuting through symbiotic relationships between pedestrians, transit, cars, and bikes. Promote walk-to-work planning/development, favouring a blend of mixed-use office, grocery, small business, and residential zoning. Yes to UBC Skytrain!

Reconciliation

Continue recognition of settler-colonial histories. Implement decolonial practice through existing frameworks such as Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action at the municipal level. Begin repatriating land back to Coast Salish Indigenous communities.

Recycling

Consultation and implementation of more accessible alternatives to single-use items (take-out containers, drinking cups, plastic bottles, etc.). Main stakeholders are local businesses, restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, convenience stores, and concerned members of the public.

Youth

Leverage existing funds to increase affordability. Expand licensed spaces, especially non-profit centres. Extensive partnerships with Vancouver Public Library to increase childcare spaces. City of Vancouver mentorship and programming for youth municipal leadership programs.

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