Vancouver mayoral candidate Stephanie Allen pushes for free transit to tackle climate crisis
Running under the COPE banner, the former BC Housing executive would pressure the province to eliminate fares as part of her broader climate platform.
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Vancouver mayoral candidate Stephanie Allen, running under the COPE banner, would press the B.C. government to make transit free if elected—a centrepiece of her climate and equity platform.
Allen, a former vice president at BC Housing with 15 years in Vancouver, grounded her climate urgency in personal experience. During the devastating 2021 heat dome that killed hundreds, she was caring for her 85-year-old mother while witnessing the crisis's outsized impact on people living in SROs, social housing, and supportive housing.
"I was witnessing the disproportionate impact on people who live in SROs, social housing and supportive housing buildings," Allen said, noting the toll on those most vulnerable to extreme heat.
If elected with a COPE majority, Allen plans to reverse some recent municipal climate rollbacks, including reinstating the sustainability department. On transit, her pitch is direct: "We really have to press the Province to make transit free. Let's get people out of their cars."
Vancouver transit riders were hit with a fare hike on Canada Day. Allen also emphasized fighting for renters, disabled people, and vulnerable populations bearing the heaviest burden of climate change, framing it as both a moral and practical priority.
