News
Release
November 27.2006
Project Civil City Tackles Crime, Public Disorder & Social
Issues in Vancouver
VANCOUVER - In an effort to tackle Vancouver's crime and social
issues, Mayor Sam Sullivan and Councillor Kim Capri today unveiled
Project Civil City which is aimed at eliminating homelessness,
aggressive panhandling and the open drug market, with a minimum 50
per cent reduction by 2010.
The comprehensive proposal was developed, in part, through: a series
of roundtable discussions with more than 75 local community and
business stakeholders; consultations with local service providers,
the police, the local health authority as well as representatives
from senior levels of government; and feedback from 2,469
Vancouverites through an online survey posted on the Mayor's
website.
The proposal, including an open letter from the Mayor to the
citizens of Vancouver, can be downloaded at
http://www.mayorsamsullivan.ca/pdf/project-civil-city.pdf
Mayor Sullivan said that while he wants to use the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games as a catalyst, Project Civil City is a
long-term initiative that goes beyond the Games.
"This initiative aims to develop long-term and sustainable solutions
to homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness," said Mayor
Sullivan. "In addition, we must direct our attention to cracking
down on crime, including tackling property crime and aggressive
panhandling."
In addition to more than 50 suggestions put forward by citizens and
organizations during the Mayor's community consultations, the
Project Civil City proposal recommends 10 immediate action items for
Council, including:
-
Allocate at least $1 million from the proposed Olympic Legacy Fund
in the 2007 Civic Budget to enhance the civic response to nuisance
and annoyance complaints;
-
Allocate $300,000 from the 2006 Contingency Reserve to immediately
establish a new Project Civil City Implementation Office and hire a
Project Civil City Commissioner; and,
-
Create a Project Civil City Leadership Council chaired by the Mayor
with membership that includes key Provincial and Federal ministers
who will participate in an advisory capacity. Confirmed participants
from the Federal Government include Minister Stockwell Day, Minister
David Emerson, Minister Diane Finley and MP James Moore. Confirmed
participants from the Provincial Government include Minister George
Abbott, Solicitor General John Les, Attorney General Wally Oppal,
and Minister Claude Richmond.
"I am particularly grateful to our Provincial and Federal
representatives who have joined me on the Project Civil City
Leadership Council," said Mayor Sullivan. "We all share the goal of
restoring order to our community and ensuring that, in 2010,
Vancouver will be able to proudly represent British Columbia and
Canada to the world."
On December 14, Councillor Capri will put forward a motion to City
Council to adopt the four Project Civil City targets, and to ask
City staff to develop a comprehensive action plan within 90 days.
Councillor Capri said she hopes the action plan will result in the
implementation of Project Civil City's initiatives by the Spring of
2007.
"There's plenty of work to be done, but by setting targets and
dates, we can get past all the talk and start taking action to
ensure we maintain our reputation as a great place to live, work and
visit," said Councillor Capri. "Vancouver citizens have told us in
no uncertain terms that they want these important issues dealt with
sooner rather than later, and the time for action is now."
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For more information:
Anna Lilly
Director of Community Relations to the Mayor
604.873.7410
