COPE Launches Campaign to Block Ken Sim’s Service Cut Budget and to Protect Pools, Parks, and Community Centres
Ken Sim’s cuts will make life less affordable
October 29, 2025
VANCOUVER – The Coalition of Progressive Electors has launched a letter-writing campaign to stop over $15 million of cuts to Parks and Recreation services in Vancouver expected in the City’s forthcoming Budget to pay for Mayor Ken Sim’s 0% property tax gimmick.
“These reckless cuts will mean higher user fees that make life less affordable, as well as unsafe and dirty public facilities in our parks,” said City Councillor Sean Orr. “These cuts are going to harm quality of life; it could mean cuts to low-income leisure passes, more closures of our pools, reduced hours and programs at community centres, less tree canopy maintenance, and fewer partnerships with non-profits for childcare.”
The wide potential scope of the cuts to Parks and Recreation services was made public last week by the Park Board who blew the whistle on ABC’s budget plans.
After failing to abolish the Park Board, Ken Sim is directing Parks to find $15 million in cuts, and almost $9 million in new revenues.
In response, COPE is calling on residents to write to Mayor and Council to stop these brutal cuts.
Ken Sim’s cuts to the Parks and Recreation budget could mean:
Higher fees for everybody
Unsafe and dirty parks and bathrooms
Less tree canopy and forestry maintenance
Less childcare partnerships with non-profits
Worse pools, gyms, playgrounds, and rinks
Cuts to the Leisure Access Pass for low-income residents
More corporate encroachment on parks with more advertising, and selling off naming rights.
“The cuts will hurt regular folks in Vancouver, but it won’t hurt ABC’s rich donors. Disgraced billionaire Chip Wilson has two personal pools at his $84 million mansion,” said COPE Co-Chair Shawn Vulliez today. “At the elite Arbutus Club the initial membership fee is more than $60,000 and members get access to an Olympic-sized pool and an NHL-sized rink.”
“It’s no surprise that Ken Sim and his billionaire-backed ABC Party are trying to force cuts on our parks and community centres that will only impact people who don't have private pools or access to swanky elite clubs like their rich friends,” said COPE Co-Chair Tanya Webking. “They don’t care about our public services.”
“We’re not going to let Ken Sim and ABC get away with this,” added Orr. “We’re building a movement to stop these cuts and we encourage everyone in Vancouver to add their voice to protect our parks.”
COPE is always on the side of better public services, parks, pools, and recreation.