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Jim Hanson on Facebook A lifelong North Vancouverite, Jim has worked in law representing individuals against corporations and governments since 1985.
Jim has served on the District Council since he was first elected in 2014 and is committed to making North Van a more liveable and affordable community.
This is a page from the 2022 BC Local General Elections.
Jim Hanson
Independent for District of North Vancouver Council (incumbent)
Climate Change
Active Transportation
I will continue to speak out in favour of investing in complete cycling and pedestrian pathways.
Let’s address congestion and climate change through creating viable alternatives motorized transportation.
Electric Bikes & Scooters
I have supported the use of electric scooters in the District. I voted in favour of the e-scooter pilot program which passed in March 2022.
The pilot program is described on the DNV website. It lasts until 2024 which I believe gives us time to assess the impact of the pilot, and the District can reverse track if need be.
Ride safe.
Green Space
I will advocate to keep our green and wild spaces green and wild.
I will vote against proposals that have us developing forested areas.
Zoning
I support implementing a "gentle densification" model.
I will advocate for expansion of zoning and simplification of approvals for duplexes, triplexes, secondary suites, coach houses, and small lot infills. This way we can expand housing stock without significantly changing our neighbourhood character.
Housing & Homelessness
Affordability
I commit to support “smart” development—voting for the housing our community needs, social, affordable and rental housing.
I will vote against expensive market condos in concrete high rises.
Co-Op Housing
I commit to support “smart” development—voting for the housing our community needs, social, affordable and rental housing.
Zoning
I support implementing a "gentle densification" model.
I will advocate for expansion of zoning and simplification of approvals for duplexes, triplexes, secondary suites, coach houses, and small lot infills. This way we can expand housing stock without significantly changing our neighbourhood character.
Public Spaces & Services
Green Space
I will advocate to keep our green and wild spaces green and wild.
I will vote against proposals that have us developing forested areas.
Zoning
I support implementing a "gentle densification" model.
I will advocate for expansion of zoning and simplification of approvals for duplexes, triplexes, secondary suites, coach houses, and small lot infills. This way we can expand housing stock without significantly changing our neighbourhood character.
Transit & Getting Around
Active Transportation
I will continue to speak out in favour of investing in complete cycling and pedestrian pathways.
Let’s address congestion and climate change through creating viable alternatives motorized transportation.
Electric Bikes & Scooters
I have supported the use of electric scooters in the District. I voted in favour of the e-scooter pilot program which passed in March 2022.
The pilot program is described on the DNV website. It lasts until 2024 which I believe gives us time to assess the impact of the pilot, and the District can reverse track if need be.
Ride safe.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Biography
submitted by the candidate or their team
Born in Lions Gate Hospital in 1961, Jim attended Windsor Secondary School and Simon Fraser University before earning his Law Degree at UBC. After Law School, Jim completed a graduate law degree at Oxford University in England.
Jim was called to the bar of British Columbia in 1985 has worked as a lawyer representing individuals against corporations and governments. He is the founder of Hanson & Co in North Vancouver.
Jim ran as the BCNDP candidate in North Vancouver Seymour in 2013. In 2014, he was elected to the North Vancouver District Council and re-elected in 2018. He ran for the Federal NDP in the riding of Burnaby North-Seymour in 2021.
While on District Council, Jim has served for 8 years as a member of Metro Vancouver’s Indigenous Relations Committee. He is the Chair of the North Shore Standing Committee on Substance Abuse and he sits as the Council Representative on the North Shore Policing Committee. In the past, Jim served on the North Vancouver Library Board, North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, and the North Shore Chamber of Commerce.
Jim lives in Blueridge with his spouse of over 26 years, Ruth Hanson. Together they have two adult children, Robert and Elizabeth.
When not practicing law or engaged in politics, Jim enjoys skiing, boating, and hiking. He is often seen on the North Shore trails walking with family and friends.
Jim is committed to focusing on:
- Smart housing
- Climate change
- Gentle densification
- Childcare
- Active transportation
- Rapid transit
- Indigenous issues
- Parks and open spaces
- Protecting green spaces
- Financial management of taxpayer funds
- Respect for local neighborhoods
Reason for running
submitted by the candidate or their team
Our community is facing some significant challenges. Housing prices have skyrocketed, making it impossible for many to live in our community. Even residents born and raised here who work on the North Shore are affected. At the same time, our transportation systems are strained to capacity, often leaving us trapped pointlessly burning fuel in stop-and-go traffic.
As a District Council, with power to determine through zoning how our lands are used, we must ensure that our decisions are making these housing and transportation challenges better, not worse.
During the last term, District Council initiated some important changes. We are focusing more on rental and affordable housing and slowing the overall pace of development On the transportation front, we have championed Active Transportation in the form of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, and have successfully lobbied to make rapid transit to the North Shore a key regional transit priority.
But I believe we can and must do more.
My vision is for “smart” development, designed to create the kind of housing we need in the locations that will best accommodate growth without disrupting neighbourhoods. We must ensure that re-zoning encourages rental and affordable housing, and provides a broader housing mix for residents, especially those who work and now must community to the North Shore.
To accomplish this without imposing an undue disruption to our way of life, I believe we must embrace “gentle densification,” with smaller structures, more wood and less concrete, sited to ensure that residents have maximum assess to transit, cycling infrastructure, and walkable, complete communities, with sufficient amenities nearby. We must also consider zoning changes that facilitate duplexes, triplexes, secondary suites, coachhouses and smaller lots.
Recently, in one of the last acts of this Council, we approved (in a 4 to 3 vote) a 27-story concrete tower near Marine Drive and Capilano Road, to accommodate 330 units of housing (the vast majority being market strata), complete with 373 parking stalls for vehicles.
I voted against this proposal and will continue to vote against such proposals in the future.
In my view, this is not “smart” development. Adding so many vehicles to an already congested stretch of roadway can only aggravate existing traffic woes and air pollution. Creating so much expensive strata housing (and so little rental and affordable housing) will do nothing to solve our need for affordable housing.
It has been an honour for me to serve my community since first election in 2014. I have voted for slower and I believe “smarter” development. If I am re-elected to Council for a third term, I will maintain this perspective.
l believe we need to prioritize the “liveability” of our community. This is my promise to voters if I am re-elected.
jimhanson2022.ca jimhanson2022.ca