Vancouver East is no doubt one of Canada’s most diverse and social justice-oriented ridings, full of rich history and cultural heritage. The richness and beauty of the riding attracts artists, cultural workers, activists, entrepreneurs, and families from all cultures and walks of life who want to make Vancouver East their place to work and call home. Vancouver has one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in Canada, and the community is strong in Vancouver East. Heritage businesses operated by generations of families further enrich the cultural and culinary landscape of Van East. Van East has the highest per capita concentration of non-profit organizations in all of Canada.

Like many cities impacted by the affordability crisis, Vancouver East is also faced with many challenges, including an affordable housing and homelessness crisis, and the opioid overdose crisis. Families and businesses with long connections to the community are being priced out, and home ownership is out of reach for young workers and families. Art and cultural spaces are struggling and disappearing with rising rents and the pressures of gentrification. With less green spaces than other parts of Vancouver, Vancouver East is also vulnerable to the deadly effect of heat waves.

To protect and nurture the heart and soul of Vancouver East, it is paramount that we tackle the housing crisis, the opioid crisis, and the climate crisis with everything that we’ve got. We must also support the heritage businesses, non-profits, art and cultural spaces and workers, and entrepreneurs that give Van East its rich cultural landscape.

Van East is where the pulse of social justice beats the strongest and it is my honour to represent this amazing riding. You have my assurance that I will fight every day for all the things that make Van East incredible.

OPEN LETTER to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities on emergency COVID-19 financial assistance to save the PNE

OPEN LETTER to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities on emergency COVID-19 financial assistance to save the PNE

As such, this meant that all the other Fairs across the country were able to access the CEWS at this difficult time, however, the PNE is the only fair that has been deemed ineligible. If the PNE is unable to a I first corresponded with you about the situation faced by the Pacific National Exhibition (the PNE) on April 21, 2020. PNE President & CEO Shelley Frost advised that at that time, “Since March 15th the PNE had 249 event cancellations totaling over $8.2 M in revenue. The loss of a summer operating season (Playland and PNE Fair) will result in another $42 million in revenue losses by November 2020...The PNE‘s only financial safety net is a $15 million credit line. With COVID shutting down the economy at the start of our spring revenue season, the PNE goes deeper into that credit line daily. We have minimized expenses, shut down services to various buildings on site and conducted maximum level layoffs to maintain as much room as we can within that credit line for the coming months. But once that credit line is maxed out, we have no options.”

OPEN LETTER to federal and provincial health minister, BC housing minister and Vancouver mayor on the supply of PPE to NGO and senior homes

OPEN LETTER to federal and provincial health minister, BC housing minister and Vancouver mayor on the supply of PPE to NGO and senior homes

It is my understanding that many nonprofit housing providers and care homes funded by B.C. Housing and the regional health authorities are part of a coordinated effort to receive PPE procured by the government, and many have received supplies.
I am concerned that senior’s care homes who are not operated and funded by B.C. Housing and the health authorities are still struggling to obtain PPE for their staff. In particular, Vancouver Grace Seniors Home (333 E Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1V1), a care home in my riding, has reached out to me to inform me that they have been unable to obtain PPE for their staff.

OPEN LETTER to Ministers of Innovation, Science and Industry, Social Development & Poverty Reduction, Advance Education, Skills and Training and Vancouver Mayor on the need for expansion of free Wifi access in DTES

OPEN LETTER to Ministers of Innovation, Science and Industry, Social Development & Poverty Reduction, Advance Education, Skills and Training and Vancouver Mayor on the need for expansion of free Wifi access in DTES

One of the challenges that community members have brought to my attention during this pandemic is barriers to accessing internet from home during self-isolation. A constituent who is a senior contacted my office when after 19 days of social distancing, she has run out of internet data on her phone plan. She noted that many places where community members could previously access internet, such as libraries, community centers, and coffeeshops, have all closed due to the pandemic. While there are outdoor locations where free WiFi can be accessed, as an elderly person with a compromised immune system, she does not feel safe in going out, and rightly so.

OPEN LETTER to Federal and BC Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer on information urgently needed on Covid-19 cases in the DTES

OPEN LETTER to Federal and BC Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer on information urgently needed on Covid-19 cases in the DTES

There is growing fear among frontline workers and community members in the Downtown Eastside as they are receiving mixed messages about the presence of the COVID-19 virus in the community. According to recent media reports, Vancouver's Medical Health Officer, Dr. Patricia Daly is not providing a specific number on how many COVID-19 cases are confirmed in the Downtown Eastside. Instead, she suggests that we can assume COVID – 19 is “everywhere” in the Downtown Eastside. If this reporting is correct, given this latest development, this means that everyone in the community, including frontline workers, are at a heightened level of risk of exposure to the virus.
Frontline workers and community members in my riding are anxious and afraid. A frontline worker wrote to me informing me about the enormous strain on her mental health that working in dangerous conditions have caused. She also informed me that she has begun making plans with her family in the event that she dies from Covid-19. She is angry that health authorities will not clarify whether there have been confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Downtown Eastside community.

OPEN LETTER to BC Minister of Health on personal protective equipment for DTES front-line workers

OPEN LETTER to BC Minister of Health on personal protective equipment for DTES front-line workers

As organizations are not not able to get the PPE that they need, some folks in the Downtown Eastside have been sewing homemade fabric masks for community members and staff. While I applaud the spirit of community support, I am also worry that these homemade fabric masks may not meet medical standards and simple serve to provide a false sense of safety.
According to media reports, Dr. Patricia Daly is not providing a specific number on how many Covid 19 cases are confirmed in the Downtown Eastside and that we can assume COVID – 19 is “everywhere” in the Downtown Eastside. If this reporting is correct, everyone in the community including frontline workers are at a heightened level of risk of exposure to the virus. The stress and anxiety for the vulnerable community members and frontline workers is at an all-time high, and organizations are desperate to obtain protective equipment for their workers. Could you please advise if this is at all possible for these organizations? If yes, could you please also advise how and who the organizations should be in touch with to obtain the much needed resource?

OPEN LETTER to Deputy Prime Minister - Resources and support needed for Van East NGO

OPEN LETTER to Deputy Prime Minister - Resources and support needed for Van East NGO

I am writing with regards to an urgent need for direction and resources for non-profit organizations in my riding, some of whom have reached out to my office directly expressing dire needs. As you may know, Vancouver East is home to one of the highest number of non-profit organizations per capita of any ridings in Canada. Many of these non-profits provide essential services that have enormous health impacts for the community. Some of these services include, but are not limited to, housing provision, food security, home support services, overdose prevention, mental health support, urban Indigenous programs and services, seniors’ and youth services, support for victims of domestic violence and abuse, and others.
Because of the importance of these services to the community members who count on them, many of these organizations are continuing to deliver these essential services despite the pandemic and the risks and challenges involved. In fact, many are trying to step up services, such as offering grocery deliveries for seniors isolated at home, to meet the emerging needs of the community. In order to do so, many of these organizations need urgent support and resources from the government, and it is vital that we step up to meet their efforts.

OPEN LETTER to Federal, BC Health Minister and Vancouver DTES COVID-19 Task Force - Urgent COVID-19 response and resources needed for the DTES

OPEN LETTER to Federal, BC Health Minister and Vancouver DTES COVID-19 Task Force - Urgent COVID-19 response and resources needed for the DTES

The Downtown Eastside is home to some of the most vulnerable people in Canada, including people who are homeless, inadequately housed, struggling with mental health challenges and managing addictions. The living conditions of the population mean that many actions that could help prevent the spread of the virus, such as self-isolation and aggressive hygiene practices, are not available to the community members. As such, once the virus touches down on the community, we know that the effect will be severe and devasting. It is therefore absolutely vital that we take steps now to prevent an outbreak in the community as well as to be prepared for what is to come.
There are concerns raised about the lack of direction for keeping residents and staff safe in Single Occupancy Hotels (SROs) and other non-profit and affordable housing. Visitors are being let in and out, and many of the buildings are in poor condition, including having holes in walls and unsanitary shared bathrooms. As such, staff and outreach workers working in these places are “scared” and need a plan now about how they should be protecting themselves and clients from the virus. Resources for building maintenance and sanitization efforts are also desperately needed. Service agencies and shelters are also awaiting instructions on where to direct clients with flu- like symptoms who are seeking service.
OPEN LETTER to the Deputy Prime Minister - COVID-19 Pandemic measures for vulnerable populations

OPEN LETTER to the Deputy Prime Minister - COVID-19 Pandemic measures for vulnerable populations

We are hearing very urgent concerns from constituents about taking immediate action to protect vulnerable people in our communities. We are especially concerned, now that we have confirmed that community transmission is occurring, about those in East Vancouver who would fall into high-risk categories for serious impact as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in terms of health as well as in terms of the social indicators of health.

Front-line workers in health care, housing, outreach and harm reduction are sounding alarms because many of the public health advisements regarding “flattening the curve” of COVID-19 outbreaks, including social distancing, self-isolation, and aggressive hygiene practices are simply not available choices to the hundreds if not thousands of people in our constituencies who are homeless, who are staying in shelters, who are “couch-surfing”, and constituents who live in very inadequate housing. For these constituents, advice about social distancing and maintaining a distance of at least two meters from other people is simply impractical. Likewise, the advice to conduct frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water is not practical, especially if you are homeless and do not have predictable access to a washroom or clean running water.

OPEN LETTER to Deputy Prime Minister on pandemic measures for vulnerable populations

OPEN LETTER to Deputy Prime Minister on pandemic measures for vulnerable populations

We are hearing very urgent concerns from constituents about taking immediate action to protect vulnerable people in our communities. We are especially concerned, now that we have confirmed that community transmission is occurring, about those in East Vancouver who would fall into high-risk categories for serious impact as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in terms of health as well as in terms of the social indicators of health.
Front-line workers in health care, housing, outreach and harm reduction are sounding alarms because many of the public health advisements regarding “flattening the curve” of COVID-19 outbreaks, including social distancing, self-isolation, and aggressive hygiene practices are simply not available choices to the hundreds if not thousands of people in our constituencies who are homeless, who are staying in shelters, who are “couch-surfing”, and constituents who live in very inadequate housing. For these constituents, advice about social distancing and maintaining a distance of at least two meters from other people is simply impractical. Likewise, the advice to conduct frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water is not practical, especially if you are homeless and do not have predictable access to a washroom or clean running water.

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