On Sunday, VanRamblings was approached by a candidate for one of the right-wing parties campaigning in the 2018 Vancouver civic election. This entitled individual, employing a threatening tone, “warned” us that we had better not write anything negative about her in this civic election cycle — which we thought was a pretty rich ask given that this candidate’s husband has been all over social media calling VanRamblings’ favourite candidate in this civic election, OneCity Vancouver’s Christine Boyle, “a commie”.
Nonetheless, we have no intention of deriding this person’s candidacy nor her character — politics is tough enough without that kind of nonsense.
Folks from across the political spectrum seem to have it in for OneCity Vancouver (full disclosure: VanRamblings is a member of the party), directed more at their City Council candidates than their must-elect School Board hopefuls, each of whom you must cast a ballot for next month.
Ms. Boyle’s City Council able and energetic running mate, Brandon Yan — not to mention the party itself — has found himself the target of a take down social media campaign for most of the summer months, revolving around his and his party’s “arrogance”. As if having a point of view and promoting your values is somehow untoward & deserving of condemnation.
At the centre of the criticism of both Ms. Boyle and Mr. Yan is a belief that both represent, or that somehow OneCity Vancouver is “Vision Lite” — which is pure, unadulterated poppycock. VanRamblings will address this criticism about the activists in OneCity in another column, but we’ll say this for now: Alison Atkinson and Anna Chudnovsky are co-chair founders of OneCity Vancouver, who have worked closely with Cara Ng and Christine Boyle to build OneCity into a potent political force in Vancouver. Feminists, social democrats, women of conscience and community activists, each represent the hope of our future — as has long been the case — and each of whom is very much their own person and nobody’s fool or pawn, and woebetide the individual who tells them what they “must” do.
Current sitting Vancouver Non-Partisan Association City Councillor and candidate for re-election Melissa De Genova has also found herself in for a rough ride on social media this summer, partly revolving around her party affiliation, but mostly around an utter lack of knowledge about Ms. De Genova’s many, many accomplishments while in office, sitting as a Park Board Commissioner, and over the past four years, a City Councillor.
Good thing for all of us who believe that a woman’s place is in elected office making a difference for the better for all of us that Melissa De Genova is the toughest, brooks no nonsense political figure in Vancouver politics, who although most often reasoned in response to unwarranted criticism will, if you step over the line, tear a well-deserved strip off you (just ask Aaron Jasper and Niki Sharma at Park Board, and Andrea Reimer at City Council).
Let’s face it, the dehumanization of politicians and public figures is not a new phenomenon — it’s just that it’s gotten much worse since Donald Trump entered politics, migrating with new and bilious force into Canada to our collective detriment. Malicious personal attacks and commentary where political figures are “taken down” only serves to discourage good people from seeking public service lest they become the subject of the destructive instincts that have come to plague the political arena in recent years.
Towards building a better society, our job as citizens, as political candidates and as journalists ought to be to build bridges, to find common ground, to be community ambassadors, to expect better, to act on conscience and for the betterment of our community and for our city, for the benefit of everyone in each one of the 23 neighbourhoods the comprise Vancouver.
In 2018, when you go to the polls next month, vote for better — as most Vancouverites did in last year’s provincial election — vote for parties and candidates committed to building affordable housing, vote for candidates who have a vision for the future that serves your needs and those of your family, vote for fairness and equity, vote for social justice, make sure that more than half of the candidates for whom you cast a ballot are women, vote for members of Vancouver’s vibrant and diverse ethnic community, and fer damn sure, vote for many members of our LGBTQ2+ community.
In Vancouver in 2018, we need a City Council which reflects us, all of us.
