Bob Mackin
For the second time in just over a month, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC majority on city council voted down a FIFA World Cup accountability measure.
At the April 1 meeting, Councillors Pete Fry (Green) and Lucy Maloney (OneCity) tabled the Strengthening Vancouver’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Human Rights Action Plan with Measurable Standards, Reporting and Monitoring motion.
With support from the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and B.C. Poverty Reduction Coalition, Fry and Maloney wanted the Host City Committee to revise its Feb. 19-released Host City Human Rights Action Plan to protect the homeless from displacement.
They also proposed low-barrier day and night shelters be expanded. The third prong of the proposal called for civic safety and security authorities be required to conduct real-time tracking and reporting of interactions with the homeless and any human rights infractions.
Chantelle Spicer of the B.C. Poverty Reduction Coalition said the draft action plan “falls short of introducing any real human rights protection at all.”
Deputy City Manager Sandra Singh said the city relies on the provincial government for services to help the homeless and the World Cup is much smaller than the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
Sim’s ABC majority voted down the proposal, 6-4, with Deputy Mayor Sarah Kirby-Yung (ABC) absent.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS BELOW
On Feb. 25, Coun. Rebecca Bligh (Vote Vancouver) and COPE Coun. Sean Orr unsuccessfully proposed the FIFA Public Safety and Local Readiness Working Group.
Bligh said she wanted to get all security and safety management partners together with business improvement associations, hospitality organizations and community stakeholders to ensure the event succeeds.
The motion was rejected 6-3, with Bligh, Orr and Maloney in the minority. Fry and Lisa Dominato (ABC) were absent.
Vancouver hosts the FIFA Congress on April 30, seven matches at B.C. Place Stadium from June 13-July 7, and the FIFA Fan Festival at the PNE grounds on 26 of the 39 tournament days.
Subscribe to theBreaker.news on Substack. Find out how: Click here.
