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ABC Vancouver commissioner Jaspreet Virdi says board meals an example of wasted taxpayer dollars
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A deep and fresh fracture within the Vancouver park board was clear on Monday night as commissioners gathered for the first time since Mayor Ken Sim revealed his aim to do away with the board — leading to a breakdown within his own party.
As new board chair Brennan Bastyovanszky thanked outgoing chair Scott Jensen at the start of the meeting, he went on to note that Sim’s announcement last week was made without public or political consultation.
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This drew an immediate rebuke from ABC Vancouver commissioner Jaspreet Virdi, asking whether Bastyovanszky’s comments were “an announcement or a speech.”
Virdi later challenged comments Bastyovanszky made about the Memorial South Park pond earlier in the year, as the board debated staff’s Water Priority Action Plan 2024.
Less than a week ago the two men were members of ABC Vancouver, which in October 2022 secured six of the seven seats on the park board — with the remaining seat going to Vancouver Green party commissioner Tom Digby.
Sim had threatened to do away with the Vancouver park board before last year’s election, claiming it could be operated more efficiently under the rule of city council.
Instead, he ran a team that ultimately seized total control of the park board — until last week, when three of those ABC commissioners refused to abide by Sim’s rule and are now sitting as independents. They are Bastyovanszky, Laura Christensen and Scott Jensen.
The remaining ABC Vancouver commissioners are Virdi, Marie-Claire Howard and Angela Haer, with the balance of power now in Digby’s hands.
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At the start of Monday’s meeting, Digby asked that certain rules be suspended which would allow him to put forward an emergency motion relating to Sim’s recent announcement. The vote went four to three, which was not enough to secure a two-third majority needed in this particular case.
As a result it was voted down, leading to one loud boo from the packed public gallery, which included former three-time commissioner John Coupar, former longtime city councillor Melissa De Genova and multiple former commissioners.
Digby tried again to get his emergency motion passed later in the meeting that also failed. He was later critical of a motion put forward by Haer to create a beach chair and umbrella rental service.
At that point Virdi said that if council was in control they would be able to quickly make a decision on a beach rental service. That motion failed.
However, at the end of the meeting, Bastyovanszky was permitted to submit an urgent motion asking commissioners to “save to park board”. This drew a hefty round of applause.
Jensen said that he has had no contact with Sim in at least six months. Jensen and Virdi then had a loud squabble over Sim’s decision.
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Virdi said that he felt sick because while motions were passed at parks board, nothing was done at council level.
Virdi said the board was redundant and a waste of money – including the meals that were served to commissioners.
Bastyovanszky’s motion was passed four to three.
The meeting was adjourned at 10 p.m., at which point two former parks board commissioners and a member of the public accosted Virdi and criticized his statements. This interaction lasted for eight minutes after which Virdi said “it’s a tough place to be right now.”
The City of Vancouver will need permission from the provincial government to amend the Vancouver Charter to allow the disbandment of the park board. The province could also ask for a referendum.
dcarrigg@postmedia.com
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