Vancouver has a long tradition as a city of NIMBYism (the not in my backyard syndrome), where developments, light rail proposals and homeless shelters have all at one time felt the wrath of a select group of Vancouver residents who truly believe in the superior pedigree of their respective neighbourhoods.

In fact, some Vancouver residents have elevated this type of attitude to the next level, coining a new term – NIABY (Not In Anyone’s Backyard) – and putting up an entire website devoted to showing opposition to “supportive housing initiatives and community treatments in mental health and addiction.”

Could packs of self-interested Vancouver residents cripple progress in the city with the introduction of wards?

So, in spite of my past support for the introduction of a wards electoral system in Vancouver, a conversation with a friend in town from Toronto yesterday has given me a different perspective, and filled my head with questions of whether this city in particular would benefit from such a change. Read the rest of this entry »