British ColumbiaThe B.C. government has put forward legislation that would only allow the City of Vancouver to eliminate its independently elected parks board if it is approved by local voters in a referendum. Mayor Ken Sim asked province to get rid of the independently elected body 2 years agoJustin McElroy · CBC News · Posted: Oct 09, 2025 2:01 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoThe B.C. government has put forward legislation that would require the City of Vancouver to hold a referendum if it wants to try and dissolve the parks board. (Justin McElroy/CBC News)The B.C. government has put forward legislation that would only allow the City of Vancouver to eliminate its independently elected parks board if it is approved by local voters in a referendum.Municipalities Minister Christine Boyle announced the legislation on Thursday, nearly two years after Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced he wanted to get rid of the separately elected department that oversees the city’s parks and recreation services, including community centres.But because the independence of the Vancouver Park Board is enshrined in provincial legislation, it requires a change to the Vancouver Charter. While council passed a motion asking the province for the change, three park board commissioners left Sim’s ABC Party in protest, and the province deferred making a decision.Now, Boyle says it requires a referendum.“This will ensure Vancouver residents have a direct say in the future governance of Vancouver parks,” her ministry said in a statement.“It will be up to Vancouver city council to decide if and when it holds the assent vote … [if it] receives a majority of the valid votes (50% plus one) cast by the eligible voters, Vancouver city council can adopt a bylaw to dissolve the park board.”LISTEN | What removing the park board could mean for community centres:The Early Edition9:28What the possible dissolution of the Vancouver Park Board could mean for community centresJerry Fast, president of the Kitsilano Community Centre Association, says the city attributing inefficiencies to the park board is misleading.Vancouver is one of the only places in North America with a separately elected political board for its parks, and it has been in the middle of many controversies this century — from tent encampments to bike lanes to cetaceans in captivity — while sometimes clashing with council. Sim originally campaigned in 2022 to get rid of the park board to increase efficiencies, but changed his mind months before his winning election, with his ABC Party putting forward six candidates that were all elected.After a few disagreements over direction, Sim decided to try and get rid of the organization, which set the stage for the province’s ruling.WATCH | Park board commissioners rebel after Sim announces plan to get rid of them:Vancouver Park Board chair calls on councillors to defy mayor’s plan to eliminate elected bodyBrennan Bastyovanszky, a member of the mayor’s ABC Vancouver party, said at a news conference in Queen Elizabeth Park that the city would be worse off if governance of parks was brought under city council’s control.Sim has expressed frustration with delays by the province, but once their decision was announced, he did not contest their requirement to have a referendum.“While we review the final details of the legislation and determine timing and next steps, we are hopeful that this announcement finally provides the clarity and direction needed to move this process forward,” he said in a statement. “Our parks are the heart of our city, and we are excited to potentially bring forward a new era for parks and recreation.”ABOUT THE AUTHORJustin is the Municipal Affairs Reporter for CBC Vancouver, covering local political stories throughout British Columbia.
B.C. government says Vancouver requires a referendum to eliminate its park board
