Vancouver City Council meets every second week. The clerk’s office shares upcoming agenda items and motions before these meetings, which can be accessed on this website.
When agenda items are released the week before council, a Watch Council member will go through and highlight and recommend any notable motions to be discussed with other Watch Council members. If there are any motions that significantly impact women, Watch Council members will be immediately notified and meet virtually that same evening to decide how to respond.
Visit our Watch Council and Hot Pink Paper Campaign pages to learn more about how we're taking action in the city.
Here are some of the important motions WTC has taken action on over the months of June and July 2021.
About the motion
The motion calls on 1) the Mayor to write to the Ministers of Labour and Tourism expressing Council’s support for the right for laid off workers to return to their jobs when the pandemic eases. 2) That Council affirms its support for Local 40’s Unequal Women campaign to return all workers, including racialized women, to their jobs as the tourism business recovers. 3) That Council requests the Mayor to write to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and Union of BC Municipalities encouraging them to host future conferences and events in venues that respect worker rights and pay at least a living wage.
WTC position
WTC supported this motion because the COVID pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and its social, health, and economic impacts are particularly devastating for women and racialized communities who are largely overrepresented in the tourism and hospitality industries. As a result of the pandemic, tens of thousands of hotel workers have been laid off and their employers are refusing to recall these essential long-term workers. This motion puts pressure on the province to put measures in place that protect hotel workers’ rights to return to their jobs.
WTC action
WTC co-chair Ellen Woodsworth spoke to council.
Outcome
Passed unanimously.
About the motion
This motion called on Vancouver City Council to formally endorse the Vote16BC campaign to lower the voting age to 16 in British Columbia, and for the Mayor to write a letter to the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs informing them of this endorsement.
WTC position
Our younger generations should be given the option to partake in our democratic processes, as many political decisions made today have long term implications that will impact their lives. With their future most at stake in the face of climate emergency, youth must have the right to vote. This is why we believe lowering the voting age is an essential step to a more democratic political system.
WTC action
WTC volunteer Tess wrote a letter to council about WTC's position.
Outcome
Passed unanimously.
About the motion
This motion called for staff to report back to Council on the most expeditious way to rename Trutch Street with an alternative name chosen by the Musqueam Indian Band, and that Council confirms it is open to considering similar requests from the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
WTC position
WTC supported this motion because it is an essential step towards the city’s ongoing commitment to work towards truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples of this land. Who we name our streets and spaces after can have significant ripple effects now and for future generations, and we hope to see the renaming of other public spaces that uphold racist individuals.
WTC action
WTC volunteer Kim spoke to council about this motion.
Outcome
Passed unanimously.
About the motion
This motion was a rezoning application from Soroptimist International Vancouver to expand social housing for no and low-income senior women and women-led families. The development project, which is being spearheaded by an all-women team, would create 135 units of social housing on an existing Soroptimist lot, with fully accessible design, to create a multigenerational living space for residents.
WTC position
WTC supported this motion.
WTC action
WTC staff member Mahtab spoke at the public hearing about this motion.
Outcome
Passed unanimously.
You can read about the other recent motions in July 2021 that WTC has taken action on here.