Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Vancouver council mulls $2M support for Chinatown

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Jan, 2023 11:38 AM
  • Vancouver council mulls $2M support for Chinatown

Photo courtesy of IStock.

VANCOUVER - City councillors in Vancouver are set to consider a draft report aimed at reviving the historic Chinatown neighbourhood.

A staff report, to be presented at a council meeting Tuesday, calls for approval in principal of the draft Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan and recommends councillors add necessary funding to the draft 2023 budget to carry out the program's proposals.

The plan stems from a council resolution passed in November that would help clean up Chinatown's streets, alleys and sidewalks, remove litter and needles, halt any new graffiti, remove old tags and address vandalism and other problems.

Costs are pegged at just over $2.1 million this year.

If approved, the report recommends funds be added to the 2023 draft operating budget, either by reallocating money earmarked for other projects or by adding a further 0.2 per cent increase to a proposed five per cent property tax hike.

The report, which has the approval of City Manager Paul Mochrie, says staff will return to council at the end of the year with an update on the progress, outcomes and achievements of the pilot project and details about the next, longer term steps.

MORE National ARTICLES

Arrests are 'futile' to curb crime: B.C. minister

Arrests are 'futile' to curb crime: B.C. minister
Murray Rankin says fighting crime by arresting more people is "futile," and the government is instead considering a range of options to keep people safe. Opposition Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon told the legislature that the government has continued a "catch-and-release" policy where repeat offenders are quickly freed from custody despite being accused of violent crimes.  

Arrests are 'futile' to curb crime: B.C. minister

Crews battle wildfire in B.C. regional park

Crews battle wildfire in B.C. regional park
A Twitter account for the district's emergency services division had posted on Saturday afternoon saying the fire was "under control and not spreading," but on Sunday the BC Wildfire Service's website lists the blaze as out-of-control. Videos posted online by the district show a helicopter dumping water on the fire.

Crews battle wildfire in B.C. regional park

B.C. to bring in new rules for mortgage brokers

B.C. to bring in new rules for mortgage brokers
Finance Minister Selina Robinson introduced the bill in the legislature on Tuesday, saying B.C. residents deserve better consumer protection and more transparency in the mortgage broking industry. One pending change is increasing fines to a maximum of $500,000 for those caught breaking the rules, while those with more than one conviction could face fines of up to $2.5 million.

B.C. to bring in new rules for mortgage brokers

VPD releases video of mischief to Olympic Cauldron

VPD releases video of mischief to Olympic Cauldron
Just after 3:30 a.m. on October 1, two suspects were in Jack Poole Plaza for 12 minutes, and briefly approached the base of the cauldron before leaving. When they returned 30 minutes later, one approached the base of the cauldron with a tool, while the other appeared to pull out a camera to record the destruction.

VPD releases video of mischief to Olympic Cauldron

Ottawa announces $300 million in Fiona relief

Ottawa announces $300 million in Fiona relief
The money will help communities and businesses in Atlantic Canada and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine rebuild, and the fund will also go toward cleaning up fishing gear, ensuring the safety of navigation and protecting marine wildlife, he said.

Ottawa announces $300 million in Fiona relief

Vancouver home sales down 46% from last Sept

Vancouver home sales down 46% from last Sept
The B.C. board says sales in the region totalled 1,687 last month, down from 3,149 the September before and 1,870 in August. Last month’s sales were almost 36 per cent below the 10-year September sales average.

Vancouver home sales down 46% from last Sept