ABC Vancouver cancels July 29 council meeting, drawing backlash from opposition and activists

Vancouver city council's July 29 meeting has been cancelled, preventing debate on five proposed motions and drawing swift criticism from opposition parties and activists.

ABC Vancouver Councillor Brian Montague moved to cancel the meeting on July 14, and the motion carried. COPE Councillor Sean Orr had scheduled motions covering hotel worker support during the FIFA World Cup, universal tenant rights enforcement, criminalization of predatory practices, coastal protection from tanker traffic, AI regulation by senior staff, and circular economy expansion.

Orr said he spent dozens of hours consulting with community members to draft the motions. "This looks like it's about limiting motions and debate on the floor," he said.

COPE mayoral candidate Stephanie Allen accused the mayor's team of fear. "They're afraid of people standing up for the city. That's why they shut down democracy. Because they're not strong," she said.

The cancellation follows Mayor Ken Sim's reversal on his Park Board abolition plan, announced just three months before voters return to the polls. Sim said the current Park Board "is simply not working," but the reversal drew sharp backlash on social media, with critics calling it a "clown show" and former Park Board Commissioner John Coupar accusing Sim of having "starved" the board for funds before trying to eliminate it.