One of the NPA’s failed mayoral contenders will run for a council seat in the November election and says he wasn’t disappointed he didn’t get the nod from his party to be its leader.
Ian Robertson, a former park board commissioner, announced his intentions to return to politics Monday alongside Kirk LaPointe, whom the party’s board of directors chose over Robertson as its mayoral candidate.
“I’m thrilled that Kirk’s the guy,” Robertson told the Courier at The Enigma Restaurant at 10th and Trimble on the city’s West Side. “You know, I kind of look at this as being very similar to a sports team. I’ll equate it to football. Not everybody can be the starting quarterback.”
Robertson was a park board commissioner from 2005 to 2011 and was its chairperson in 2007 when he and other members led the restoration of Stanley Park after it was devastated in a windstorm. Robertson decided not to seek re-election in 2011 so he could focus on his career as sales director with Rocky Mountaineer and spend time with his family.
“I never ruled out a return and the timing is right for me to come back,” he said, noting his intention was always to run for council but members of the NPA board convinced him to put his name forward as a mayoral contender.
Though the party has yet to roll out specifics of its platform, Robertson said issues that concern him are beautification of the city and crime and safety. He wouldn’t state his position on Vision Vancouver’s call for an end to whales and dolphins in captivity at The Vancouver Aquarium. Nor would he discuss the debate around Kinder Morgan’s proposal to twin its pipeline from Alberta to Burrard Inlet.
“As the campaign rolls out, you’ll be hearing more from the NPA on what our particular positions will be on these key issues,” said Robertson who will continue as executive director for The Tourism Industry Association of B.C.
But Robertson and LaPointe did weigh in on the occupation of Oppenheimer Park by tenters who say they are homeless and protesting “the housing crisis created by three levels of colonial governments,” according to a news release authored by members of the Musqueam and Haida nations.
The city issued an eviction notice to tenters and Robertson said he supports the move. He said city parks are for the enjoyment of everyone “and we need to make sure that our parks are open, they’re accessible and they’re safe.”
But LaPointe said the NPA’s position on the occupation is not to disregard legitimate issues involving vulnerable people who require attention. LaPointe said better programs are needed for homeless people, although the party is holding back on releasing details until later in the campaign.
“We’ll have very clear principles and priorities on it,” said LaPointe, who criticized Vision Vancouver’s promise to find some form of shelter by 2015 for all people living on the street. “In my view, it’s a callous promise that they can’t keep, and they keep pushing along the notion that they’re going to be the solvers of this.”
City manager Penny Ballem, who was hired by Vision Vancouver, told city council earlier this month that it wasn’t “magical thinking” to believe street homelessness could be eradicated by March 2015.
The last homeless count in March of this year revealed Vancouver had the largest homeless population in its history, with 538 living on the street and 1,260 in some form of shelter for a total of 1,798 people.
Robertson, who is no relation to Mayor Gregor Robertson, joins current NPA park board commissioner Melissa De Genova in campaigning for a council seat. De Genova announced her intentions July 18 along with George Affleck and Elizabeth Ball, who are seeking re-election as councillors.
John Coupar is also seeking re-election for park board and Fraser Ballantyne for school board. More NPA candidates are expected to be rolled out before the end of the month.
The election is Nov. 15.
