Opposing the "Zero Means Zero" Budget

Opposing the "Zero Means Zero" Budget Titles: Welcome to My Blog! or Welcome to My World or Welcome to (Blog Name)

On November 25, 2025, Ken Sim and the ABC majority on Council voted to support their "Zero means Zero" budget - a budget that claimed to "maintain the services people count on most" while delivering a 0% property tax. However, behind that headline was little more than a plan to introduce cuts and create uncertainty for the arts, parks and recreation, and sustainability initiatives with limited transparency or details about the full impacts of the "Zero means Zero" tagline.

Over 600 Vancouverites came out in force to primarily speak against this austerity budget. I spoke to Council in opposition to the budget because I believe Vancouver is a beautiful city – not just because of our oceans and mountains, but because our residents stand up for each other. While I wasn’t born in Vancouver, I fell in love with this community because we invest in shared spaces, look out for our neighbours, and confront big challenges together. The Zero Means Zero budget puts that version of Vancouver at risk.

As Vancouverites, we count on:

• Arts and culture to reflect and connect our diverse communities

• Community centres and parks to serve as shared backyards and points of connection

• Leadership in sustainability and climate resilience to protect future generations

Cutting or scaling back those areas does not “maintain services” – it quietly reshapes our city and disproportionately impacts residents who rely on city services the most.

Freezing property taxes while we face an affordable housing crisis, a climate crisis, and aging community infrastructure undermines our city’s ability to rise to the challenges that affect all Vancouverites.

During the budget process, hundreds of Vancouverites came forward to speak about what they value in this city and what they are concerned about losing. That level of engagement reflects something important: people care deeply about the future of Vancouver. 

I spoke out against this budget because I believe Vancouver should continue to be a city that plans thoughtfully, shares information transparently, and listens to all voices. A city where community centres are maintained, not neglected.

Where climate leadership is strengthened, not scaled back. 

And where decision-making reflects the values of the people who call this city home. 

Budgets are ultimately about priorities. And if we want a Vancouver where people can access the spaces and services that make life possible, then we need budgets that support that future – not put it at risk.

Here are my full comments to Council:

My name is Caitlin Stockwell.  I’m a Strathcona resident and am very lucky to be a homeowner in this city that I love. I’m speaking in opposition to the 2026 budget because it proposes cuts to vital aspects of what makes Vancouver a great place to live, it ignores the voices of Vancouverites who have told Council they chose to invest in this city and its residents, and because true to its tagline it provides zero information and zero strategy to truly address affordability for those who are struggling most.

The budget promises a 0% property tax increase while “maintaining the services people count on most.”  But as you’ve heard from hundreds of speakers, the budget’s proposed cuts to the arts, parks and recreation, and sustainability initiatives is out of touch with what Vancouverites are counting on.

We count on our arts and culture to reflect and connect our diverse communities that help keep this city vibrant;We count on affordable community centres and parks as points of connection and as our shared backyards. And we count on Vancouver to continue its leadership on sustainability and climate action and resilience

I refuse to believe this budget reflects the values of the majority of this council and I implore you to amend it to invest in this city we all love. 

So I have to ask: who is this budget for? As you’ve heard from many speakers and the city’s own survey, property owners in Vancouver understand the need to invest in a city that works for everyone – particularly when the property tax rate remains one of the lowest in North America. In Vancouver, we take care of each other. We don’t cut services that disproportionately impact residents that rely on city services the most. We all lose when we close doors on our neighbours, and fail to invest in our shared future. 

Freezing property taxes while we face an affordable housing crisis, a climate crisis, and when many of our much loved community centres are nearing the end of their lifespans, undermines our city’s ability to rise to challenges that impacts all Vancouverites. 

Turning to transparency - Residents are having to piece together from leaked memos, scattered news stories, and separate staff reports exactly what might be on the chopping block. We’re hearing about cuts to the sustainability office, about over 400 city jobs at risk, and about disproportionate cuts to our parks and recreation—none of which are mentioned in the draft budget. 

Without detailed public information about what you're cutting it is irresponsible for anyone to be supporting this budget that sets the course for the future of our city. This is a rushed, election slogan budget - and I question whether the majority of councillors have actually had effective input in this process.

Did this council really direct staff to take out baby changing tables and menstrual products in their community centres and parks to fund a tax cut for Vancouver property owners?  That’s not basic. That’s embarrassing. 

Please vote against this slogan based budget and come back to Vancouverites with an actual plan to invest in its people and in a city all of us can proudly call home.

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