COPE Update on Unity Negotiations
2026-02-17
Vancouver, BC - This morning, the OneCity mayoral candidate conducted a “unity” press conference without notifying the other parties in negotiations.
“While we welcome a proposal from OneCity on how to unite progressives behind a mayoral campaign,” said COPE Co-Chair Sam Smart, “We are also a bit confused by the full details and context of what is being proposed, in light of private conversations between parties.”
During inter-party talks since 2024, COPE has tabled around five distinct models for a unity process for Mayor and candidate limiting over time, and was ready and authorized to bring an agreement back to COPE membership as early as last summer.
“COPE is a people-driven party and we have a constitution and by-laws that empower our members to make these decisions,” said COPE Co-Chair Nate Stanley. “The COPE membership has given us a mandate on unity talks, a fair deal to limit and compete that prioritizes the choice of people in the city ahead of the aspirations of one party or another. We don’t know that COPE members would approve this unexpected proposal, but in any case, parties should probably talk to each other about it.”
At the most recent COPE AGM, members endorsed a position on a unity process and directed the inter-party negotiating team at COPE to table a new offer. This deal is ready to go, and already has the mandate of COPE’s membership. It has been accepted by the Green party.
“We’re excited to share COPE candidates, including Mayoral candidates, in the coming weeks, and continue with our current process that will culminate in a COPE nomination conference in May,” said COPE Campaign Director Shawn Vulliez, “We respect that each party may have their own timelines and processes, but the ballots will be counted in October.”
He added, “Let’s give people time to consider which candidate is best for the city, and each put forward the best campaigns we can.”
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CONTACT:
Shawn Vulliez
COPE Campaign Director
cope@copevancouver.ca
BACKGROUND:
OFFER TABLED BY COPE (FEB 12th, 2026)
ON LIMITING
All parties agree to a universal ceiling for each board. We propose each party runs up to five for Council and Mayor combined. Up to four each for School Board. Up to four each for Park Board. Beyond that, each party can decide to run less if they see strategic or ethical advantage in doing so. Voters will decide if we made the right choice.
ON MAYOR
All parties agree in principle to the “progressive primary” concept, and agree to make individual determinations on whether to stay in the race or not, in the context of public scrutiny against vote splitting and a public agreement to a progressive primary. No further meetings required.
ON NEIGHBOURLINESS
In the event of an agreement, parties will focus their attacks on parties they do not want to collaborate with, instead of parties they do. Contrast between parties is explicitly allowed, and there is no expectation of mutual endorsement.
MOTION PASSED BY COPE MEMBERSHIP (FEB 8th, 2026)
Nominating a COPE Mayor in the People’s Primary
“WHEREAS
In 2022, an abundance of candidates on the centre and left cleared space for Ken Sim and ABC to win;
Voters have overwhelmingly and consistently urged opposition parties to find ways to work together;
The COPE executive, starting in 2024, has been engaging with other opposition parties on a path to a unified Mayor and candidate limiting across three boards, however, negotiations have been stalled for some time;
During this period, one of the other parties in negotiations launched a Mayoral primary while indicating to the negotiations teams that they are unable to make commitments on the Mayoral question;
During this period, one of the other parties in negotiations endorsed a candidate for “Mayor or Council,” allowing the candidate to run for either seat they choose;
A recent poll found 2/3rds of Vancouver residents are ready for a ‘Mamdani-style shakeup,’ and following a large-scale by-election victory, it appears COPE is in a strong position to win for mayor;
COPE has issued a statement welcoming Pete Fry to the “People’s Primary” - an informal process proposed by COPE where multiple mayoral candidates are considered, before the race is whittled down to a single progressive standard-bearer;
The “People’s Primary” concept has been agreed to, in principle, by two of the three parties in negotiations at this time, with the third party holding out so far on committing to a scenario where they may not run;
It is important to restrict the total number of progressive Mayors to prevent right wing parties from benefiting from voter confusion and vote splitting, even if that requires some modest sacrifice from each party;
COPE does not want to get stuck behind a Mayor which cannot enthuse the public in the interests of “unity,” but also does not want to contribute to an unnecessarily split field.
THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED THAT
The COPE Inter-Party Working Group is directed to table a good faith offer to the other parties for candidate limiting across boards which does not advantage any party above the other, prioritizes respectful relationships and allows the voters to decide;
The COPE Inter-Party Working Group is directed to table a good faith offer on defining “The People’s Primary” in a way which is in full accordance with all relevant Election laws, and which strives to give voters choice between candidates, while still preventing overloading the ballot;
The Election Planning Committee is directed to accelerate the recruitment efforts for a COPE Mayoral Candidate, and imminently set a date for a Mayoral nomination race for COPE;
The Election Planning Committee is directed to collaborate with the Inter-Party working group on planning for scenarios which have the COPE Mayor step aside for the purposes of letting a stronger candidate take the lead, or vice versa, and prepare any relevant procedures and/or by-law amendments which can enable scenarios which encourage unity between political factions;
The COPE Membership endorses, in principle, the People’s Primary and a fair limiting agreement between parties where no party is treated as better or worse than the others.
CARRIED”