Conversations That Matter: Kareem Allam of Vancouver Liberals

Kareem Allam, mayoral candidate for the Vancouver Liberals. Photo by Stuart McNish /Special to the Sun

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According to the Economist Intelligence Unit global livability index, Vancouver ranks 9th in North America. It’s a significant drop from the No. 1 spot it held from 2004 through 2010.

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What happened?

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While there is much to celebrate, it’s clear the city has challenges and they’re increasing.

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Livability and affordability are substantial issues, Vancouver today is widely recognized as the least affordable major city to live in Canada.

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Economic growth was rooted in the belief that people would keep coming here and staying. Not anymore. Immigration policy has reduced the number of immigrants and out flow migration means Vancouver’s population shrank by more than 8,000 people.

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And then there is an expanding workforce on the city’s payroll, up by roughly 25 per cent, over the past 10 years, a pace that soared past population growth and the city’s operating budget expanded from $1.2 billion to nearly $2.4 billion.

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And traffic is snarling Vancouver. Just try to get anywhere, according to the TomTom Traffic index, Vancouver ranks as the most congested city countrywide and the 4th most congested in North America.

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These and others are the issues Vancouver’s next mayor will need to contend with.

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Over the next few weeks, Conversations That Matter sits down with the five public opinion poll leaders, according to Research Co., who want the mayor’s job to discuss how they will address these issues and what the city will look like after their term in office.

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This week: Kareem Allam of the Vancouver Liberals.

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