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Fry and Sim face off in Vancouver, but other mayoral candidates reject spoiler label
Fry and Sim face off in Vancouver mayoral race
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver mayoral candidates Ken Sim and Pete Fry view each other as their main rival in the battle for City Hall.
But while recent polling suggests the mayoral race is indeed a faceoff between incumbent Sim and two-term Green Councillor Fry, there are three other big-name candidates who reject the label of spoiler.
Kareem Allam — Sim's former chief of staff turned litigation adversary — is running with the Vancouver Liberals, which is not affiliated with the federal party.
"The pollsters don't always get it right. Municipal government is also the hardest level to poll. It's got its tricks and nuances, especially in an at-large system," he said in an interview Tuesday.
The Vancouver race culminates Saturday, when municipalities across British Columbia go to the polls.
Interest in the Vancouver race appears high. The City of Vancouver says more than 103,000 people have voted in advance, up 60 per cent from roughly 65,000 voters over five advance days in 2022.
Sim, who is campaigning for a second term as mayor with the right-of-centre ABC Vancouver, said while he would be the first to admit he didn't get everything right during his tenure, he believes he can lead the city in the right direction.
"We've gotten some pretty significant things done, but there's way more work to do," he said in an interview Wednesday.
Other candidates include Rebecca Bligh, a two-term councillor who helped get Sim elected with ABC Vancouver in 2022 and is now running with Vote Vancouver, and TEAM candidate Colleen Hardwick, a former councillor.
Allam, Hardwick and Bligh all rejected the notion their candidacies could split the centre or centre-right vote.
"The question is not left or right. The question is about who we are serving at city hall," Hardwick said Tuesday.
Bligh said she was running to govern for Vancouver's ignored middle class, and polling did not change how she campaigned.
"It's anyone's race," she said in an interview Wednesday.
Fry, son of longtime Liberal MP Hedy Fry, has acknowledged benefiting from the narrowing of the progressive field, after the withdrawals of William Azaroff from OneCity Vancouver and Stephanie Allen for COPE Vancouver.
After ending his candidacy, Azaroff appeared at City Hall with Fry, who praised him for running a serious campaign that "raised real issues" such as housing, small business and affordability.
"I think folks are excited to be able to talk up a viable alternative to Ken Sim as the mayor of Vancouver and really reset," Fry said in an interview Tuesday.
He added that Azaroff's withdrawal was recognition that he was the person best suited to defeat Sim.
Bligh said she's a progressive candidate with a centrist platform. Meanwhile, Allam said he believed he was taking votes from Sim and Fry equally.
The candidates' platforms all emphasize quality-of-life issues, including affordability and public safety. Sim's promises include a zero per cent property tax increase.
The election ballot also includes two plebiscite questions on public safety.
The non-binding questions ask voters if they're in favour of the city "strengthening its laws to forbid open-air hard drug use in public spaces," which is already illegal in B.C. The other asks if the city should ask the province to convert portions of the old St. Paul's hospital into a "secure medical facility" with 100-plus involuntary care beds.
Hardwick called the questions a "populist election tactic," while other critics said they aren't realistic.
Sim said strengthening the city health bylaw — regulating conduct such as smoking in common areas — would allow officers to issue tickets or confiscate drugs without arrests. The involuntary care question, he said, is about asking the province to fulfil its accountability to people who pose a risk to their own safety or others.
Fry said he supports managing drug use in public spaces, but differs from Sim in believing that people should be diverted to supervised consumption sites or shelters.
His platform focuses on housing, transportation and the economy. "Folks should be able to have a good life in this city, he said.
Bligh said Sim's property tax freezes protect wealthy landowners and undercut critical services. She said she would work with the federal government to leverage city-owned land and provide free transit for youth.
Hardwick said the key to livability in Vancouver is effective city planning. She said she wanted to repeal the city's official development plan and re-establish neighbourhood planning offices
Allam said he wants to bring youth back to Vancouver by improving affordability through jobs and housing, and investing in parks and community centres.
He said his platform cuts across ideologies, and distanced himself from Sim, who filed a lawsuit in May 2025 alleging Allam falsely accused him of drinking and driving.
Sim faces his own defamation lawsuit from councillor Sean Orr, filed after falsely accusing Orr of distributing illegal drugs in comments to Chinese-speaking reporters.
Trials in both cases are far off.
For now, the focus is on the ballot box.
"I think people will be surprised at the results," Allam said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.
By Marissa Birnie | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Carney to attend pro-Canada rally in Calgary as Alberta races toward referendum vote
Carney set to attend pro-Canada rally in Calgary
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected in Calgary today to rally support for a united Canada as Alberta gears up for a separation referendum.
Carney is scheduled to join former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk at a rally for his "Forever Canadian" group ahead of Monday's vote.
Premier Danielle Smith has put 10 questions on the ballot, including one on whether Alberta should stay in Canada or if it should hold a second, binding vote on quitting Confederation.
Tonight's rally isn't the first time Carney and Lukaszuk have teamed up to spread a pro-Canada message.
Last month, the prime minister invited Lukaszuk's group to attend a cabinet retreat in Banff, Alta., and Carney signed the Maple Leaf-wrapped motorhome Lukaszuk has been touring the province in.
Carney has said Canada is worth fighting for and that the country works better when it works together.
The prime minister is also scheduled to attend a rally with Lukaszuk in Edmonton on Friday.
Also Friday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Smith are scheduled to deliver speeches at a conference in Calgary.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Supreme Court hears challenge of law clearing path for Ontario Place redevelopment
Top court hears challenge of Ontario Place law
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
The Supreme Court of Canada plans to hear arguments today from a coalition challenging the constitutionality of legislation that smooths the way for major changes at Ontario Place.
The case unfolding in Canada's top court could reverberate far beyond the Toronto waterfront park that opened in 1971.
Over the years, the theme park featured a spherical theatre that showed movies on a huge screen, children's play areas, a revolving concert stage and several pavilions suspended above the water.
The provincial government wants to redevelop Ontario Place to include an elaborate spa operated by a private company, a relocated Ontario Science Centre, revamped play and shoreline areas, a parking facility and a provincial police detachment.
The coalition Ontario Place Protectors challenged the province's Rebuilding Ontario Place Act on the basis that it insulates state action from scrutiny by the courts and therefore violates the Constitution.
The coalition also argued that exemptions from environmental and heritage laws and municipal noise regulations amount to a breach of public trust.
An Ontario judge dismissed the application in 2024 and a challenge of the ruling in the provincial Court of Appeal was also unsuccessful.
Writing on behalf of a unanimous Court of Appeal, Justice Grant Huscroft said there was no doubt that the provincial government's decision to redevelop Ontario Place is strongly opposed by a number of concerned citizens and organizations.
Political opposition to the plan has not swayed the government and the coalition has turned to the court in an effort to stop it, Huscroft said.
"But there is no basis for the court to do so. The court is not an alternative forum for resolving political grievances. The only legitimate question for the court is whether the impugned provisions of ROPA violate the law or the Constitution," he wrote.
"They do not, and the appeal must be dismissed."
In January, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Ontario Place Protectors' case.
The coalition says provincial superior courts have historical and inherent jurisdiction to review laws and government actions protected under section 96 of the Constitution Act, 1867, and to provide effective remedies when governments do not respect the limits on their powers.
The coalition says the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act's scope is unprecedented and appears to violate section 96 by removing the essential core powers of the courts.
It argues the legislation severely limits or entirely eliminates the ability of courts to hold Crown officials accountable through declaratory actions, damage awards and injunctions when they have acted beyond their powers.
The coalition is also seeking to have the doctrine of public trust acknowledged as an unwritten constitutional principle rooted in English common law and inherited by Canada.
It argues the doctrine of public trust maintains that natural and cultural assets are essential to public welfare and must be safeguarded by the state in its role as trustee.
Margie Zeidler, the daughter of Ontario Place architect Eberhard Zeidler, remembers visiting the park as a child.
"It was extraordinary. It was a public place," she said in an interview. "You could have a picnic in the forest. You could watch films at Cinesphere. You could watch any musical performance at the forum."
Zeidler, a member of the Ontario Place Protectors coalition, says the provincial government's actions have made the fight about more than just the historic theme park. "It became more, not about Ontario Place, but about, wait a minute, what democracy are we living in here?" she said. "I didn't know governments could do that."
In their written submission to the Supreme Court, the Crown and the Ontario attorney general say the case should be dismissed.
The immunity provided by the provincial legislation does not go as far as the coalition alleges, the submission says: "(The act) does not make Ontario Place a lawless zone."
Rather, it immunizes the Crown, its servants and agents from civil causes of action arising from specific circumstances, the submission says.
The Crown and attorney general also urge the court to reject the claim that the legislation is invalid because of the doctrine of public trust.
"The novel doctrine articulated by the Appellant is not an unwritten constitutional principle, and even if such a doctrine existed in law, which is denied, there is no evidence in the record that could warrant applying this far-reaching new doctrine to Ontario Place," the submission says.
The case has attracted submissions from interveners, including several provinces, First Nations, civil liberties groups and environmental organizations.
The Supreme Court often reserves its decisions until a later date, meaning a ruling in the case might not come until next year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.
By Jim Bronskill | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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8 hacks pour pas que ton déménagement au Québec te ruine complètement
Avec ça, il va te rester de l'argent pour ta déco! 🤑
Le 1er juillet de chaque année, la population québécoise a l'habitude de déménager en profitant du jour férié de la fête du Canada. Étant donné que cette échéance approche rapidement et que l'inflation affecte sérieusement ton budget alloué à la vie quotidienne, tu cherches peut-être un moyen de limiter les dépenses lors de ton prochain changement de logement.
Que ce soit pour avoir des boites gratuites, payer moins cher ton transport ou encore bien choisir la compagnie de déménagement, voici huit conseils qui devraient t'être utiles pour préparer comme il se doit cette journée qui s'annonce chargée, mais à moindres frais.
Utiliser des sacs à ordures au lieu des boîtes pour les vêtements
Pour les vêtements c'est très utile d'utiliser des sacs à ordures, car cela prend beaucoup moins de place qu'une boîte dans un camion et tu peux aisément les empiler ou les tasser pour faire de la place pour tes meubles. En plus, il sera plus simple pour une personne passagère à l'avant d'un véhicule d'en empiler à ses pieds que de mettre des boîtes sur ses genoux. Avec ce truc, tu peux même garder tes vêtements sur les cintres et les déplacer d'une garde-robe à l'autre sans tracas.
Sachant qu'une boite coûte entre 1,25 $ et 4 $ au Dollarama et qu'un ensemble de boîtes pour un appartement coûte 153,57 $ chez U-Haul... Tu vas vite faire des économies!
Demander des boîtes gratuites
Il existe aussi un autre moyen d'obtenir des boîtes, tu peux en demander gratuitement dans des épiceries, dans les magasins de jouets, à la SAQ et dans différents commerces. Certes, tu ne seras pas en mesure de contrôler la taille de ce que tu reçois, mais au moins ce sera sans frais.
Un autre hack intéressant pour ne pas payer de boîtes, c'est de récupérer celles de tes commandes sur Amazon ou autres à l'avance. Une fois le moment venu d'emballer tes affaires, tu n'as plus qu'à les renforcer avec du tape.
Notons que tu peux également demander à tes proches, s'ils ont fait des commandes sur Internet récemment, de t'en garder de côté.
Privilégier les serviettes plutôt que le papier bulle
Non seulement c'est plus écologique, mais en plus ça va faire baisser ta facture de déménagement. Plutôt que d'acheter du papier bulle pour protéger tes objets fragiles comme la vaisselle, les objets électroniques ou autres, tu peux utiliser des serviettes, des guenilles, des draps, des vêtements ou encore des circulaires qui envahissent ta boîte aux lettres.
Rappelons qu'un lot de deux rouleaux peut coûter un peu moins de 30 $ sur Amazon, tandis que cette technique est 100 % gratuite. Tu peux aussi, encore une fois, demander à tes proches s'ils ou elles en ont à te prêter, au cas où tu en manquerais.
Déménager léger
Le calcule est simple : plus tu as de choses à déménager, plus tu as de boîtes, plus tu as besoin d'un gros camion, plus cela coûte cher. Pour faire des économies, cela peut valoir le coup de faire un tri dans tes affaires afin de déménager plus léger.
En plus de sauver des sous, tu peux en gagner en vendant ce qui ne te sert plus sur des sites comme Kijiji ou Facebook Marketplace, ce qui pourrait t'aider à augmenter ton budget pour faire la décoration de ton nouveau chez-toi.
Bien choisir les déménageurs
L'Office de la protection du consommateur du Québec a donné une série de conseils sur son site Internet pour bien choisir les spécialistes du déménagement avec qui tu feras affaire. Il est préconisé de comparer les prix et de communiquer avec au moins trois entreprises différentes avant de faire un choix.
Tu devrais ensuite vérifier si la firme possède une assurance de base pour le matériel déplacé, ce qui te permettra de te faire dédommager si des meubles sont brisés. Les compagnies de déménagement devraient également avoir une assurance responsabilité civile d'au moins un million de dollars.
Il est aussi recommandé de vérifier si l'entreprise est inscrite au Registre des propriétaires et des exploitants de véhicules lourds de la Commission des transports du Québec.
Sache que tu peux obtenir de l'information en utilisant l'outil « Se renseigner sur un commerçant » pour savoir si des mises en demeure ont déjà été émises, ce qui devrait t'aider à prendre une décision éclairée et éviter les pièges.
Se faire rembourser des frais par le gouvernement
Il est possible de se faire rembourser des frais de déménagement par le gouvernement fédéral s'il permet de se rapprocher d’au moins 40 km d'un lieu d'étude ou d'emploi. C'est le cas pour certaines personnes exerçant un emploi en indépendant ou pour celles et ceux qui étudient à temps plein.
Tu pourrais te faire rembourser des frais de transport et d'entreposage, de déplacement, tes repas et le logement lors du trajet, ou encore des coûts de résiliation de bail.
Pour demander cette aide, il faut remplir le formulaire et l'envoyer à l'Agence du revenu du Canada (ARC).
Comparer les prix de location de véhicules en fonction de tes besoins
Quand on parle de louer un camion, on pense souvent à faire appel à des entreprises de déménagement. En fonction du kilométrage besoin, de la taille et de la sorte du véhicule ainsi que de la durée de location, tu devras débourser une centaine de dollars, voire plus, à Montréal.
Selon le nombre de choses que tu as à déménager, ça peut valoir le coup de jeter un coup d'oeil aux prix sur l'application ou le site Internet de location de véhicules entre particuliers, Turo. Au moment d'écrire ces lignes, pour la journée complète le 1er juillet, tu devrais par exemple payer entre 75 $ et 213 $ pour une minifourgonette, un camion ou une fourgonnette.
Tu peux aussi solliciter l'aide de proches ou rejoindre des groupes d'entraide sur Facebook pour demander à des personnes de te rendre service en échange d'un repas ou du remboursement des frais d'essence, à condition qu'ils ou elles disposent d'un véhicule et que tu n'aies pas de gros meubles. Cette astuce te permettra de réaliser d'importantes économies, car le coût du transport est souvent la dépense la plus élevée lors d'un déménagement.
Prévenir d'un changement d'adresse
Oublier de faire ton changement d'adresse peut te mettre dans le pétrin et te coûter plus cher que prévu. Pour éviter de payer le service de réacheminement du courrier résidentiel de Postes Canada, pense bien à prévenir Hydro-Québec, ton service Internet et Services Canada avant de quitter ton logement. Ça t'évitera des frais, car pour quatre mois, tu devras débourser 60,50 $ si tu restes au Québec et 75,25 $ si tu pars vivre dans une autre province si tu fais appel à ce service payant, alors que si tu le fais par toi-même à temps, c'est gratuit.