Vancouver voters approve $790M in borrowing for city's 2027-30 capital plan
All three ballot questions passed in the Oct. 17 municipal election, covering roads, civic facilities and parks.
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Vancouver voters approved $790 million in borrowing over four years in the Oct. 17 municipal election. The money is part of a $3.5-billion capital plan council approved in July.
Three yes-or-no questions went to voters. The first, on transportation and street infrastructure, covered $292 million and was approved 147,559 to 41,669. The second, on community-serving and civic essential infrastructure, covered $438 million and passed 150,309 to 38,914. The third, on parks and open public spaces, covered $60 million and passed 152,969 to 36,590.
The city's charter lets council borrow for water, sewer and energy utilities without voter approval. Borrowing for other capital programs needs an electorate vote.
The ballot questions did not name each project. The named items include the Cambie and Granville bridges. Other renewal work covers rinks, pools, libraries, sidewalks, traffic lights, child care and cultural facilities. Council earlier directed staff to include $400 million to renew five community centres and $104 million for street and sidewalk rehabilitation.
The plan also replaces No. 2 Fire Hall, which is believed to be the busiest in B.C., with an 18,000-square-foot, four-bay station on Alexander Street. The Strathcona fire hall is to be seismically upgraded and given better HVAC for cooling.
The city's independent auditor general, Mike Macdonell, reported in September 2025 that the city had not set aside money to replace recreation facilities at the end of their useful lives. As of 2022, 72 per cent of those facilities were in poor or very poor condition. The city estimates their replacement value at $2.1 billion, and the auditor estimated a funding deficit of $33 million a year for the facilities it audited.
Staff developed the plan amid economic uncertainty, rising construction costs and constrained revenues. The city says the focus is on maintaining critical infrastructure in a state of good repair.
The source did not report the council vote breakdown or any opposition to the borrowing questions. It also did not give a project-by-project cost list or a construction timeline.
