Non-Partisan Association (NPA) mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton Tuesday unveiled her economic plan, which includes a promise to create an Asia Pacific council to maximize Vancouver’s position as a gateway to Asia.
“I will have that council as my advisory council,” Anton told Business in Vancouver in an hour-long interview. “I will turn to them for advice on trade gateway cultural issues.
“I think shipping is a real opportunity for Vancouver. We have shipping companies here such as Teekay [Corp.] [NYSE:TK)]. It’s a sector where we’re a natural landing spot for that business.”
Some of her key fiscal policies are to:
- cap municipal spending;
- end $1 million worth of Vision Vancouver’s so-called “pet projects”; and
- help increase the supply and affordability of housing.
Anton took jabs at mayor Gregor Robertson for not playing what she believes to be a major role in helping Seaspan Marine Corp. secure an $8 billion non-combat contract with the federal government.
Seaspan took out ads in various newspapers thanking the partners who helped it secure the bid. Seaspan, Anton said, thanked Premier Christy Clark, provincial ministers, aboriginal groups and various municipalities but there was no mention of Vancouver.
“A lot of what a mayor does – like what Christy Clark does – a lot is lobbying,” Anton said. “You say '‘This is important to B.C. This is important for Vancouver.'”
Anton said her economic focus as mayor would be on job creating sectors, government collaboration and helping small businesses.
Robertson, who has yet to meet BIV for an in-depth interview in this election campaign, recently released his economic strategy, which involves keeping taxes down, continuing to shift the tax burden from businesses to residents for a final year and creating a tech incubator.
(See “Vision Vancouver promises tax shift, tech incubator” – BIV Business Today, October 26.)
Glen Korstrom
@GlenKorstrom