October 9, 2025
RED FM News Desk
The Province of British Columbia has tabled legislation that responds to the City of Vancouver’s request to dissolve the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. The move ensures that Vancouver residents will have the ultimate authority over the board’s future.
The proposed amendments to the Vancouver Charter will grant the Vancouver City Council the power to dissolve the Park Board by a bylaw, but only if a majority of the city’s eligible voters approve the dissolution through an assent vote (referendum).
The legislation makes the decision to hold the assent vote the responsibility of the Vancouver City Council.
If the assent vote is held and is successful—meaning it receives a majority of 50% plus one of the valid votes cast—the City Council can then adopt the bylaw to dissolve the Park Board. At that point, jurisdiction over all areas currently designated as parks in Vancouver would officially transfer from the independent board to the City Council.
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation was originally established in 1889 as an independent statutory body. The current process began in December 2023, when Vancouver City Council passed a resolution asking the Province to dissolve the board and transfer all its powers, assets, and obligations to the Council.
The new legislation includes strengthened protections for permanent parks should the Council take over governance. To remove a permanent park designation, the Council would need: A unanimous vote from all of Vancouver Council and a separate assent vote from the public.
An exception was made, at the city’s request, for permanent parkland being transferred to First Nations, which would be exempt from the public assent vote requirement.
If passed by the legislative assembly, the proposed changes to the Vancouver Charter will come into effect once the legislation receives Royal Assent.
Loading ...
