Gregor Robertson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Gregor Angus Bethune Robertson (born c. 1965) is a Canadian
politician who has been the 39th Mayor
of Vancouver
, British Columbia
, since 2008. He was elected as part of the Vision Vancouver
party slate. He served as a MLA
for Vancouver-Fairview
, as a member of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
, from 2005 until his resignation in 2008 to run for the mayoral position.
and enrolled at the University of British Columbia
. However, he later transferred to Colorado College
. At Colorado College
, he completed a BA
in English
and Biology
. After graduating, he intended to become a medical doctor, going so far as pursuing a medical fellowship
at Stanford University
. Yet upon application, the University of British Columbia
medical school denied him admission. His rejection both relieved and surprised him. It made him question his purpose, ambitions and goals. After some soul-searching, he cowboyed in the Cariboo
and accompanied by his wife, sailed the Pacific for 18 months. They eventually settled in New Zealand
. It was in New Zealand that he began farming and was immediately attracted to it. However, when he turned 25, he decided to return to Canada, where he purchased acreage in Glen Valley near Fort Langley. He made his living as a farmer. Robertson went on to co-found Happy Planet
, a Vancouver-based company that produces and markets organic fruit beverages. He was named one of Canada's "Top 40 under 40" by The Globe and Mail
.
Gregor Robertson was a Tides Canada director from 2002 until 2004 when he entered politics with the provincial New Democratic Party.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly
in the 2005 election
as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party after defeating trade union leader Judy Darcy
in a high profile battle for the party's nomination. He then defeated Liberal
Virginia Greene in the general election. During his time as the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, Robertson served as the Opposition Critic for Small Business. He also served as the Co-Chair of the Caucus Climate Change Taskforce.
party's nomination as mayoral candidate, defeating Raymond Louie
and Allan De Genova
. Robertson soon announced his resignation from the Legislative Assembly effective July 15, 2008. His main rival was Peter Ladner
of the Non-Partisan Association
.
In November 2008, Robertson came under scrutiny after reporters discovered that he had an unpaid transit infraction fine from the SkyTrain
system. While the public generally appeared willing to accept his explanation that the original infraction was a mistake, he was criticized by some for attempting to spin
his failure to pay into a politically positive statement. Robertson ultimately paid the fine.
He was elected by a solid margin in the 2008 municipal election
. Seven of the ten seats on Vancouver City Council also went to Robertson's Vision Vancouver party. "It was a hard-fought campaign," he told supporters gathered at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, "but there is far more that unites us than divides us."
Robertson's campaign received donations from at least two American supporters. Councilor Ellen Woodsworth
, who ran as part of the coalition led by Robertson in the 2008 election, later called for a ban on foreign campaign donations such as those received by Robertson.
shelters to assist Vancouver
’s homeless citizens during an extremely cold winter, which were filled to capacity. During the next few months, the shelters helped an average of 200 people a night get off the street. Both the Vancouver Police and local BIAs credited the shelters for helping reduce street disorder and aggressive panhandling.
Two of the shelters in a residential neighbourhood near a daycare centre and senior housing facility at the North end of the Granville Street Bridge
were controversial. Community residents cited concerns with lack of public consultation, fights, public urination, defecation, public sex, and open drug use. British Columbia
Housing Minister Rich Coleman
cited the need for laying out rules of operation and the need for better community consultation. He called Gregor Robertson's bargaining on housing homeless people “amateurish” and later apologized for the remark. Robertson reached an agreement with Housing Minister Rich Coleman
and came to a mutual decision to close one shelter and reassess another. The second controversial shelter shut down on August 5, 2009, as alternate housing was found. Later that year, Penny Ballem
, the unelected city manager, notified council about a Federal proposal from the Mental Health Commission of Canada
to address the homeless crisis by turning the 102-room low-budget Bosman's Hotel on Howe Street near Helmcken Street into an experiment designed to see if aggressive health treatment along with housing could help the same target population. Council will decide on the proposal in the Fall of 2009. Council member Kerry Jang
was said to be behind the Vancouver portion of the project. On September 15, 2009, Vancouver city staff issued a report warning Mayor Robertson and the City Council that they should no longer expect the HEAT shelters to be funded after the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
On January 5, 2010, Mayor Robertson announced that the controversial shelter at 1435 Granville Street, in a predominantly residential neighbourhood, would re-open the following day without robust neighbourhood consultations. It is scheduled to close by April 30, 2010. The city is planning an open house approximately 2 weeks after re-opening the shelter.
advocate
position, as previously recommended by Vision Vancouver councilor Heather Deal
. In September 2009, it was announced that there were no plans to do so, and that instead the task would be added to the responsibilities of city staff.
were accused by Vancouver city councilor Suzanne Anton
, a member of the opposition party, of attempting to destroy the independence of the park board by centralizing budget oversight. Aaron Jasper, a Vision Vancouver member of the park board, called on the city council to restore the decentralized budget control.
In September 2009 Susan Mundick, the general manager of the board, announced her retirement. Penny Ballem
, the city manager of Vancouver hired by Mayor Robertson, stripped Mundick of all routine transitional duties. Ballem then stated she would help the park board choose Mundick's replacement, a selection process city hall traditionally had not been involved in. In response, Suzanne Anton urged Mayor Robertson and the city council to limit Ballem's control of the park board.
, the unelected city manager of Vancouver, announced that Sadhu Aufochs Johnston
, the former Chief Environmental Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff of Chicago
, would be hired as Deputy City Manager to lead the city's environmental efforts. He is scheduled to begin work on November 2, 2009.
merchants and spoke regularly about hardships from the Canada Line
construction. He called the handling of the rail line construction an "injustice." On March 23, 2009 Robertson testified in a lawsuit brought by a Cambie Street
merchant in the B.C. Supreme Court regarding damage to her business from the construction, a lawsuit for which the merchant was awarded $600,000 by the B.C. Supreme Court due in part to the fact that there was insufficient action to mitigate the effects of Canada Line
construction on Cambie Street
merchants. On the Canada Line
opening day of August 17, 2009 Robertson said Greater Vancouver
needed more rapid transit but the Canada Line
was a "great start" and that he was a "Johnny-come-lately" to the project.
; as well as to all major crossings of the Fraser River
to help fund Translink. British Columbia Minister of Transportation Shirley Bond
dismissed the proposal by stating that the Province has no plans to add a toll to the Sea-to-Sky Highway, and that the Province was not contemplating a change in tolling strategy.
rally, Robertson requested the assistance of Critical Mass
riders to help get him elected. He took part in the April 2008 ride by illegally riding without a helmet to show his support for the protesters. However in July 2009, after he was elected, he expressed that he was "pissed off" at Critical Mass because organizers had not announced the route for the next ride and would not participate.
In July 2009 Robertson's Burrard Bridge bicycle lane trial was initiated to determine whether creating a new protected bike lane is a viable solution to increase the safety and comfort of cyclists and pedestrians while maintaining an effective flow of traffic. This was done over complaints from local merchants that cited lack of consultation and a negative impact on their businesses. According to city statistics, in the weeks following the bike trials start, cyclists increased by 30%. Despite widespread media speculation that the trial would be a failure, the trial turned out to have a relatively smooth start.
Three days into the trial, a local merchant reported a 46% drop in sales. The first three unaudited weeks of pedestrian, cycling and vehicle traffic data from the trial show cycling and pedestrian traffic has remained steady and vehicle traffic has continued to drop compared to pre-trial levels. On August 24, 2009 the Vancouver Police Department
announced a sharp increase in bicycle theft, with the first 3 weeks of August experiencing a 53 percent increase in thefts over 2008, but VPD spokesperson Constable Jana McGuinness has said there was no link between this rise in theft and the lane reallocation trial. Six weeks into the trial another local merchant reported a 25% drop in sales, and a local restaurant reported a 30% drop in sales.
hacks?" Robertson and Councilors Tim Stevenson
and Heather Deal
went on to mock and laugh at the speakers who had called for greater transparency in the selection of a 12-person committee that will advise council on rezoning.
Robertson's tirade became a YouTube
sensation, which led to him making a public apology. Representatives of the speakers felt that the profanity was not the issue, but the disrespect of citizens who were attempting to voice their concerns.
. On April 9, 2009 a member of Robertson's Vision Vancouver caucus, Geoff Meggs
, stated that Robertson regretted the language he used as being "unguarded" and that it was intended to build a relationship with the governing provincial party. However Robertson lost support from former Vision Vancouver executive board member Mike Bruce, who resigned from Vision Vancouver on May 7, 2009 and stated he was encouraging other members to do the same, based on his claim that Robertson had not responded to a message Bruce had sent regarding his concerns about the Campbell remarks. Bruce was concerned that Robertson had not publicly addressed concerns or explained the issue to Vision Vancouver members. Bruce accused Robertson of "tremendous disrespect" and "an incredible lack of leadership and a respect for your colleagues." Robertson stated, "I was over-exuberant in introducing the premier to an international audience...There were almost no voters there. I wasn’t thinking politically...But given that we’re so close to an election, some of my comments were misconstrued by people." On May 19, 2009 Robertson sent a congratulatory letter to Campbell with a handwritten note that started with "Congrats" and continued, "looking forward to a very productive run-up to the Games and a strong partnership for Vancouver’s future!"
, an unelected official, was given special powers that were referred to by Coalition of Progressive Electors
councilor Ellen Woodsworth
as "wide open carte blanche." Robertson defended council's position, explaining the bylaw changes were necessary given what Vancouver is expected to achieve in February 2010. According to Robertson, "It is our ultimate obligation to ensure the safety and security of people who are in our city and this, I think, addresses a lot of the concerns proactively on that level while respecting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is a temporary set of changes we're putting it in place for a special event."
to allow the city to borrow $458 million to fund the completion of the 2010 Olympic Village
in False Creek
without seeking approval from taxpayers in an election-day plebiscite. Robertson said this was due to extraordinary circumstances. The amendment was passed on January 18, 2009 in an emergency session of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
.
occurred after a Vancouver Canucks
loss in game 7 of the Stanley Cup
final. Robertson attributed the situation to "a small group of troublemakers". Bob Whitelaw, author of a report into the 1994 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot, indicated that authorities had made several mistakes in the planning for the crowd—among them allowing parked cars near the screens and leaving newspaper boxes nearby which could be used as projectiles. It was later claimed by Police Chief Jim Chu that Bob Whitelaw was not a contributor to the final report, and that all recommendations of the final report had been followed. Robertson admitted to not having read the 1994 report. The riots were dubbed the "Robertson's Riots" Robertson later accepted some of the responsibility for allowing the riot to occur.
neighbourhood of Vancouver with a single tenant and a cat. He is also a tuba
player; he and his former MLA colleague Nicholas Simons
performed on country-punk musician Slim Milkie's 2010 album Silverado.
He is a distant relative of Norman Bethune
, his grandmother was a first cousin of the Canadian doctor, a hero of the Chinese Revolution.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician who has been the 39th Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, since 2008. He was elected as part of the Vision Vancouver
Vision Vancouver
Vision Vancouver is one of three parties represented on Vancouver City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vision was formed in the months leading up to the 2005 municipal election.-Formation:...
party slate. He served as a MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
for Vancouver-Fairview
Vancouver-Fairview
Vancouver-Fairview is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.- Demographics :-MLAs:#Gary Farrell-Collins, Liberal #Gregor Robertson, NDP #Jenn McGinn, NDP...
, as a member of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
, from 2005 until his resignation in 2008 to run for the mayoral position.
Background
In 1982 he graduated from Carson Graham Secondary SchoolCarson Graham Secondary School
Carson Graham Secondary is a public high school in North Vancouver, British Columbia part of School District 44 North Vancouver.In 2009 Balmoral Junior Secondary School closed and the building on Mahon became the second campus to Carson Graham, to hold the grade 8, 9 and 10 classes while Carson...
and enrolled at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. However, he later transferred to Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
. At Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
, he completed a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
and Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. After graduating, he intended to become a medical doctor, going so far as pursuing a medical fellowship
Fellowship (medicine)
A fellowship is the period of medical training in the United States and Canada that a physician may undertake after completing a specialty training program . During this time , the physician is known as a fellow...
at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Yet upon application, the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
medical school denied him admission. His rejection both relieved and surprised him. It made him question his purpose, ambitions and goals. After some soul-searching, he cowboyed in the Cariboo
Cariboo
The Cariboo is an intermontane region of British Columbia along a plateau stretching from the Fraser Canyon to the Cariboo Mountains. The name is a reference to the woodland caribou that were once abundant in the region...
and accompanied by his wife, sailed the Pacific for 18 months. They eventually settled in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It was in New Zealand that he began farming and was immediately attracted to it. However, when he turned 25, he decided to return to Canada, where he purchased acreage in Glen Valley near Fort Langley. He made his living as a farmer. Robertson went on to co-found Happy Planet
Happy Planet
Happy Planet is a private company in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, known for making organic juices and smoothies. The company was started in 1994 by Randal Ius and Gregor Robertson. They originally started out with one farm producing carrot juice. At first the company supplied primarily...
, a Vancouver-based company that produces and markets organic fruit beverages. He was named one of Canada's "Top 40 under 40" by The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
.
Gregor Robertson was a Tides Canada director from 2002 until 2004 when he entered politics with the provincial New Democratic Party.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
in the 2005 election
British Columbia general election, 2005
The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party after defeating trade union leader Judy Darcy
Judy Darcy
Judy Darcy is a Canadian trade unionist. She was president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees from 1991 until 2003.-Early life:Darcy was born in Denmark and came to Canada with her parents when she was 18 months old...
in a high profile battle for the party's nomination. He then defeated Liberal
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
Virginia Greene in the general election. During his time as the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, Robertson served as the Opposition Critic for Small Business. He also served as the Co-Chair of the Caucus Climate Change Taskforce.
2008 Mayoral campaign
In February 2008, Robertson announced that he would run for Mayor of Vancouver. In June 2008, Robertson secured the Vision VancouverVision Vancouver
Vision Vancouver is one of three parties represented on Vancouver City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vision was formed in the months leading up to the 2005 municipal election.-Formation:...
party's nomination as mayoral candidate, defeating Raymond Louie
Raymond Louie
Raymond Louie is a three term Vancouver City Councillor and a former school Trustee. Formerly a member of Coalition of Progressive Electors civic party, Louie broke away and was re-elected in 2005, and again in 2008, as a member of Vision Vancouver.-Background:Born and raised in East Vancouver,...
and Allan De Genova
Allan De Genova
Allan "Al" De Genova was a five-term Park Board Commissioner for the City of Vancouver, British Columbia. He was first elected in 1993, and subsequently re-elected in 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2005. He was a candidate for the Vision Vancouver Mayoral Nomination in 2008 and was defeated by Gregor...
. Robertson soon announced his resignation from the Legislative Assembly effective July 15, 2008. His main rival was Peter Ladner
Peter Ladner
Peter Ladner is a former Vancouver city councillor, first elected as a member of the Non-Partisan Association in 2002 and re-elected in 2005...
of the Non-Partisan Association
Non-Partisan Association
The Non-Partisan Association is a civic-level electoral organization in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There are, and have also been in the past, Non-Partisan Association political parties in the nearby municipalities of Burnaby, Richmond and Surrey.The NPA was established in 1937 to...
.
In November 2008, Robertson came under scrutiny after reporters discovered that he had an unpaid transit infraction fine from the SkyTrain
SkyTrain (Vancouver)
SkyTrain is a light rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. SkyTrain has of track and uses fully automated trains on grade-separated tracks, running mostly on elevated guideways, which helps SkyTrain to hold consistently high on-time reliability...
system. While the public generally appeared willing to accept his explanation that the original infraction was a mistake, he was criticized by some for attempting to spin
Spin (public relations)
In public relations, spin is a form of propaganda, achieved through providing an interpretation of an event or campaign to persuade public opinion in favor or against a certain organization or public figure...
his failure to pay into a politically positive statement. Robertson ultimately paid the fine.
He was elected by a solid margin in the 2008 municipal election
Vancouver municipal election, 2008
The 2008 Vancouver municipal election was held on November 15, 2008, filling seats on the Vancouver School Board, the Parks Board, the Vancouver City Council, and the position of Mayor of Vancouver. It was held at the same time as municipal elections throughout the province...
. Seven of the ten seats on Vancouver City Council also went to Robertson's Vision Vancouver party. "It was a hard-fought campaign," he told supporters gathered at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, "but there is far more that unites us than divides us."
Robertson's campaign received donations from at least two American supporters. Councilor Ellen Woodsworth
Ellen Woodsworth
thumb|right|175px|Ellen Woodsworth speaking at a press conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada.Ellen Woodsworth is a former Vancouver City Councillor...
, who ran as part of the coalition led by Robertson in the 2008 election, later called for a ban on foreign campaign donations such as those received by Robertson.
Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT)
On December 9, 2008 he announced low-barrier HEATHomeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters
The low-barrier Homeless Emergency Action Team shelters were announced on December 9, 2008 by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson to assist Vancouver’s homeless citizens during an extremely cold winter. The province of British Columbia, City of Vancouver and Streetohome Foundation each provided...
shelters to assist Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
’s homeless citizens during an extremely cold winter, which were filled to capacity. During the next few months, the shelters helped an average of 200 people a night get off the street. Both the Vancouver Police and local BIAs credited the shelters for helping reduce street disorder and aggressive panhandling.
Two of the shelters in a residential neighbourhood near a daycare centre and senior housing facility at the North end of the Granville Street Bridge
Granville Street Bridge
The Granville Street Bridge is an eight lane bridge in Vancouver, British Columbia. It spans False Creek and is 27.4 metres above Granville Island. It is part of Highway 99.-History:...
were controversial. Community residents cited concerns with lack of public consultation, fights, public urination, defecation, public sex, and open drug use. British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
Housing Minister Rich Coleman
Rich Coleman
Rich Coleman is British Columbia's Minister of Energy and Mines, minister responsible for Housing and MLA for the riding of Fort Langley-Aldergrove...
cited the need for laying out rules of operation and the need for better community consultation. He called Gregor Robertson's bargaining on housing homeless people “amateurish” and later apologized for the remark. Robertson reached an agreement with Housing Minister Rich Coleman
Rich Coleman
Rich Coleman is British Columbia's Minister of Energy and Mines, minister responsible for Housing and MLA for the riding of Fort Langley-Aldergrove...
and came to a mutual decision to close one shelter and reassess another. The second controversial shelter shut down on August 5, 2009, as alternate housing was found. Later that year, Penny Ballem
Penny Ballem
Dr. Penny Janet Drury Ballem, MSc, MD, FRCP is the city manager for the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and served as a member of the VANOC board of directors, corporate director for Bentall Capital G.P. Ltd., as well as a senior adviser to RPO Management Consultants...
, the unelected city manager, notified council about a Federal proposal from the Mental Health Commission of Canada
Mental Health Commission of Canada
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a national non-profit organization created by the Canadian government in 2007 to govern issues relating to mental health and mental illness....
to address the homeless crisis by turning the 102-room low-budget Bosman's Hotel on Howe Street near Helmcken Street into an experiment designed to see if aggressive health treatment along with housing could help the same target population. Council will decide on the proposal in the Fall of 2009. Council member Kerry Jang
Kerry Jang
Kerry Jang is a Canadian politician, currently serving on Vancouver, British Columbia's City Council. He currently serves as a Director of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Board. He was first elected in the 2008 municipal election...
was said to be behind the Vancouver portion of the project. On September 15, 2009, Vancouver city staff issued a report warning Mayor Robertson and the City Council that they should no longer expect the HEAT shelters to be funded after the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
On January 5, 2010, Mayor Robertson announced that the controversial shelter at 1435 Granville Street, in a predominantly residential neighbourhood, would re-open the following day without robust neighbourhood consultations. It is scheduled to close by April 30, 2010. The city is planning an open house approximately 2 weeks after re-opening the shelter.
Mental health advocate position
During the 2008 campaign Robertson promised he would establish a mental healthMental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
position, as previously recommended by Vision Vancouver councilor Heather Deal
Heather Deal
Heather Deal is a professional biologist and Vancouver city councillor who was elected as a member of the Vision Vancouver party in 2005 and 2008. She served as a Vancouver parks board trustee for the 2002 to 2005 term as a member of Coalition of Progressive Electors.Heather was born in England and...
. In September 2009, it was announced that there were no plans to do so, and that instead the task would be added to the responsibilities of city staff.
Greenest City Action Team
On February 25, 2009, Mayor Gregor Robertson announced the members of the Greenest City Action Team in support of his campaign promise to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world. In April 2009, Robertson and the Greenest City Action Team released a report outlining quick-start recommendations to move aggressively on its green plan. The report focused on three key areas: jobs and the economy, greener communities and protecting human health.China democracy controversy
In September 2010 on a trip to China, Robertson was questioned about working with an authoritarian regime by the CBC to which he responded, "You can question how worthwhile democracy is in a lot of countries right now." Upon returning to Canada he later admitted he was guilty of a "poor choice of words."Park board independence
In June 2009, Robertson and city councilor Raymond LouieRaymond Louie
Raymond Louie is a three term Vancouver City Councillor and a former school Trustee. Formerly a member of Coalition of Progressive Electors civic party, Louie broke away and was re-elected in 2005, and again in 2008, as a member of Vision Vancouver.-Background:Born and raised in East Vancouver,...
were accused by Vancouver city councilor Suzanne Anton
Suzanne Anton
Suzanne Anton is a city councillor for Vancouver, British Columbia. She is currently an incumbent city councillor, elected as a member of the Non-Partisan Association in 2005 and in 2008. From the 2008 civic election, she is the only elected NPA representative on the city council...
, a member of the opposition party, of attempting to destroy the independence of the park board by centralizing budget oversight. Aaron Jasper, a Vision Vancouver member of the park board, called on the city council to restore the decentralized budget control.
In September 2009 Susan Mundick, the general manager of the board, announced her retirement. Penny Ballem
Penny Ballem
Dr. Penny Janet Drury Ballem, MSc, MD, FRCP is the city manager for the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and served as a member of the VANOC board of directors, corporate director for Bentall Capital G.P. Ltd., as well as a senior adviser to RPO Management Consultants...
, the city manager of Vancouver hired by Mayor Robertson, stripped Mundick of all routine transitional duties. Ballem then stated she would help the park board choose Mundick's replacement, a selection process city hall traditionally had not been involved in. In response, Suzanne Anton urged Mayor Robertson and the city council to limit Ballem's control of the park board.
Staff hiring
On September 1, 2009 Penny BallemPenny Ballem
Dr. Penny Janet Drury Ballem, MSc, MD, FRCP is the city manager for the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and served as a member of the VANOC board of directors, corporate director for Bentall Capital G.P. Ltd., as well as a senior adviser to RPO Management Consultants...
, the unelected city manager of Vancouver, announced that Sadhu Aufochs Johnston
Sadhu Aufochs Johnston
Sadhu Aufochs Johnston was the Chief Environmental Officer of Chicago and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley, until he was appointed Deputy City Manager of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 2009...
, the former Chief Environmental Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, would be hired as Deputy City Manager to lead the city's environmental efforts. He is scheduled to begin work on November 2, 2009.
Canada Line
Robertson was a strong supporter of Cambie StreetCambie Street
Cambie Street is a street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is named for Henry John Cambie, chief surveyor of the Canadian Pacific Railway's western division ....
merchants and spoke regularly about hardships from the Canada Line
Canada Line
Canada Line is a rapid transit line in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Opened in August 2009, it is the third line in TransLink's SkyTrain metro network, servicing Vancouver, Richmond, and the Vancouver International Airport...
construction. He called the handling of the rail line construction an "injustice." On March 23, 2009 Robertson testified in a lawsuit brought by a Cambie Street
Cambie Street
Cambie Street is a street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is named for Henry John Cambie, chief surveyor of the Canadian Pacific Railway's western division ....
merchant in the B.C. Supreme Court regarding damage to her business from the construction, a lawsuit for which the merchant was awarded $600,000 by the B.C. Supreme Court due in part to the fact that there was insufficient action to mitigate the effects of Canada Line
Canada Line
Canada Line is a rapid transit line in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Opened in August 2009, it is the third line in TransLink's SkyTrain metro network, servicing Vancouver, Richmond, and the Vancouver International Airport...
construction on Cambie Street
Cambie Street
Cambie Street is a street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is named for Henry John Cambie, chief surveyor of the Canadian Pacific Railway's western division ....
merchants. On the Canada Line
Canada Line
Canada Line is a rapid transit line in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Opened in August 2009, it is the third line in TransLink's SkyTrain metro network, servicing Vancouver, Richmond, and the Vancouver International Airport...
opening day of August 17, 2009 Robertson said Greater Vancouver
Greater Vancouver
Greater Vancouver is the metropolitan area centred on the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, roughly coterminous with the Greater Vancouver Regional District, which is governed by a body known as Metro Vancouver...
needed more rapid transit but the Canada Line
Canada Line
Canada Line is a rapid transit line in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Opened in August 2009, it is the third line in TransLink's SkyTrain metro network, servicing Vancouver, Richmond, and the Vancouver International Airport...
was a "great start" and that he was a "Johnny-come-lately" to the project.
Toll proposal
On September 17, 2009 Mayor Robertson called for adding a toll to the Sea-to-Sky Highway, the primary driving route between Vancouver and Whistler, British ColumbiaWhistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
; as well as to all major crossings of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
to help fund Translink. British Columbia Minister of Transportation Shirley Bond
Shirley Bond
Shirley Bond is currently serving as the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and interim Attorney General of British Columbia, previously as Minister of Transportation and Minister of Education and Minister responsible for Early Learning and Literacy in the Executive Council of British...
dismissed the proposal by stating that the Province has no plans to add a toll to the Sea-to-Sky Highway, and that the Province was not contemplating a change in tolling strategy.
Bicycling issues
In an April 2008 speech to a Critical MassCritical Mass
Critical Mass is a cycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. The ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco. The purpose of Critical Mass is not usually formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and...
rally, Robertson requested the assistance of Critical Mass
Critical Mass
Critical Mass is a cycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. The ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco. The purpose of Critical Mass is not usually formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and...
riders to help get him elected. He took part in the April 2008 ride by illegally riding without a helmet to show his support for the protesters. However in July 2009, after he was elected, he expressed that he was "pissed off" at Critical Mass because organizers had not announced the route for the next ride and would not participate.
In July 2009 Robertson's Burrard Bridge bicycle lane trial was initiated to determine whether creating a new protected bike lane is a viable solution to increase the safety and comfort of cyclists and pedestrians while maintaining an effective flow of traffic. This was done over complaints from local merchants that cited lack of consultation and a negative impact on their businesses. According to city statistics, in the weeks following the bike trials start, cyclists increased by 30%. Despite widespread media speculation that the trial would be a failure, the trial turned out to have a relatively smooth start.
Three days into the trial, a local merchant reported a 46% drop in sales. The first three unaudited weeks of pedestrian, cycling and vehicle traffic data from the trial show cycling and pedestrian traffic has remained steady and vehicle traffic has continued to drop compared to pre-trial levels. On August 24, 2009 the Vancouver Police Department
Vancouver Police Department
The Vancouver Police Department is the police force for the City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several police departments within the Metro Vancouver Area and is the second largest police force in the province after RCMP "E" Division.VPD was the first Canadian police force...
announced a sharp increase in bicycle theft, with the first 3 weeks of August experiencing a 53 percent increase in thefts over 2008, but VPD spokesperson Constable Jana McGuinness has said there was no link between this rise in theft and the lane reallocation trial. Six weeks into the trial another local merchant reported a 25% drop in sales, and a local restaurant reported a 30% drop in sales.
Open microphone controversy
In July 2010, Robertson was caught on an open microphone referring to speakers from the public at a council session as, "Who are all these fucking...who are these hacks, man? Are they...they NPANon-Partisan Association
The Non-Partisan Association is a civic-level electoral organization in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There are, and have also been in the past, Non-Partisan Association political parties in the nearby municipalities of Burnaby, Richmond and Surrey.The NPA was established in 1937 to...
hacks?" Robertson and Councilors Tim Stevenson
Tim Stevenson
Tim Stevenson is a Canadian politician and United Church clergyman. He is currently an elected member of the Vancouver City Council as a member of Vision Vancouver. He is one of two openly gay city councilors in Vancouver, along with Ellen Woodsworth.-Background:He received a B.A...
and Heather Deal
Heather Deal
Heather Deal is a professional biologist and Vancouver city councillor who was elected as a member of the Vision Vancouver party in 2005 and 2008. She served as a Vancouver parks board trustee for the 2002 to 2005 term as a member of Coalition of Progressive Electors.Heather was born in England and...
went on to mock and laugh at the speakers who had called for greater transparency in the selection of a 12-person committee that will advise council on rezoning.
Robertson's tirade became a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
sensation, which led to him making a public apology. Representatives of the speakers felt that the profanity was not the issue, but the disrespect of citizens who were attempting to voice their concerns.
Gordon Campbell comments controversy
On March 30, 2009 Robertson gave a glowing introduction for Premier Gordon Campbell, the leader of the British Columbia Liberal PartyBritish Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
. On April 9, 2009 a member of Robertson's Vision Vancouver caucus, Geoff Meggs
Geoff Meggs
Geoff Meggs is a Canadian politician, currently serving on Vancouver, British Columbia's City Council. He was elected in the 2008 municipal election. He is also President of Tideline Communications, a strategic communications firm.-Background:...
, stated that Robertson regretted the language he used as being "unguarded" and that it was intended to build a relationship with the governing provincial party. However Robertson lost support from former Vision Vancouver executive board member Mike Bruce, who resigned from Vision Vancouver on May 7, 2009 and stated he was encouraging other members to do the same, based on his claim that Robertson had not responded to a message Bruce had sent regarding his concerns about the Campbell remarks. Bruce was concerned that Robertson had not publicly addressed concerns or explained the issue to Vision Vancouver members. Bruce accused Robertson of "tremendous disrespect" and "an incredible lack of leadership and a respect for your colleagues." Robertson stated, "I was over-exuberant in introducing the premier to an international audience...There were almost no voters there. I wasn’t thinking politically...But given that we’re so close to an election, some of my comments were misconstrued by people." On May 19, 2009 Robertson sent a congratulatory letter to Campbell with a handwritten note that started with "Congrats" and continued, "looking forward to a very productive run-up to the Games and a strong partnership for Vancouver’s future!"
Bylaw changes
In July 2009 Robertson led the Vancouver City Council to pass several bylaw changes—including security checkpoints, closed-circuit cameras, prohibition of "disturbance or nuisance interfering with the enjoyment of entertainment on city land by other persons", and prohibition of commercial flyers at celebration sites—which were controversial for some civil liberties advocates who argued that they "make it more difficult to exercise [the] fundamental constitutional rights to free speech, peaceful assembly and free expression." As part of the changes city manager Penny BallemPenny Ballem
Dr. Penny Janet Drury Ballem, MSc, MD, FRCP is the city manager for the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and served as a member of the VANOC board of directors, corporate director for Bentall Capital G.P. Ltd., as well as a senior adviser to RPO Management Consultants...
, an unelected official, was given special powers that were referred to by Coalition of Progressive Electors
Coalition of Progressive Electors
The Coalition of Progressive Electors is a municipal political party in the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia.-Origins:...
councilor Ellen Woodsworth
Ellen Woodsworth
thumb|right|175px|Ellen Woodsworth speaking at a press conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada.Ellen Woodsworth is a former Vancouver City Councillor...
as "wide open carte blanche." Robertson defended council's position, explaining the bylaw changes were necessary given what Vancouver is expected to achieve in February 2010. According to Robertson, "It is our ultimate obligation to ensure the safety and security of people who are in our city and this, I think, addresses a lot of the concerns proactively on that level while respecting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This is a temporary set of changes we're putting it in place for a special event."
Vancouver charter amendment
On January 12, 2009 Robertson requested an amendment to the Vancouver CharterVancouver Charter
The Vancouver Charter is a unique provincial statute that serves to incorporate the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The legislation, passed in 1953, superseded the Vancouver Incorporation Act and granted the city more and different powers than other communities possess under British...
to allow the city to borrow $458 million to fund the completion of the 2010 Olympic Village
2010 Olympic Village
For the location of the Olympic Village in Singapore, see Nanyang Technological University or 2010 Summer Youth Olympics#Youth Olympic Village...
in False Creek
False Creek
False Creek is a short inlet in the heart of Vancouver. It separates downtown from the rest of the city. It was named by George Henry Richards during his Hydrographic survey of 1856-63. Science World is located at its eastern end and the Burrard Street Bridge crosses its western end. False Creek is...
without seeking approval from taxpayers in an election-day plebiscite. Robertson said this was due to extraordinary circumstances. The amendment was passed on January 18, 2009 in an emergency session of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
.
Vancouver Stanley Cup riot
On June 15, 2011 the 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot
The 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot was a public disturbance that broke out in the downtown core of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. The riots happened immediately after the conclusion of the Boston Bruins' win over the Vancouver Canucks in game seven of the Stanley...
occurred after a Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
loss in game 7 of the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
final. Robertson attributed the situation to "a small group of troublemakers". Bob Whitelaw, author of a report into the 1994 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot, indicated that authorities had made several mistakes in the planning for the crowd—among them allowing parked cars near the screens and leaving newspaper boxes nearby which could be used as projectiles. It was later claimed by Police Chief Jim Chu that Bob Whitelaw was not a contributor to the final report, and that all recommendations of the final report had been followed. Robertson admitted to not having read the 1994 report. The riots were dubbed the "Robertson's Riots" Robertson later accepted some of the responsibility for allowing the riot to occur.
2011 Vancouver civic election
In the final days of the 2011 civic election it was alleged that Gregor Robertson received substantial financial donations from Canadian charities and foundations controlled by American charities and corporations. Robertson went on to win re-election.Family
Robertson, his wife Amy, and their four children Hanna, Jinagh, Satchel and Terra live in a 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) home in the South CambieSouth Cambie
South Cambie is a neighbourhood in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, that is generally considered one of the smallest neighbourhoods in the city, both in size and in population. It is wedged between one of the city's largest parks and the upscale neighbourhood of Shaughnessy, and is...
neighbourhood of Vancouver with a single tenant and a cat. He is also a tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
player; he and his former MLA colleague Nicholas Simons
Nicholas Simons
Nicholas Simons is a Canadian politician. He is a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and member of the New Democratic Party. He represents the riding of Powell River-Sunshine Coast.-Politics:...
performed on country-punk musician Slim Milkie's 2010 album Silverado.
He is a distant relative of Norman Bethune
Norman Bethune
Henry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, his grandmother was a first cousin of the Canadian doctor, a hero of the Chinese Revolution.