VANCOUVER Mayor Kennedy Stewart this week met with key ministers in Victoria as part of his commitment to take action in his first 100 days on key priorities including affordable housing, transit, childcare, and the opioid crisis.

“I pledged to hit the ground running and get started on day one building a Vancouver that works for everyone,” said Stewart. “My meetings with key Ministers here in Victoria have given me great hope that our Provincial Government shares the same urgency that I do when it comes to tackling the challenges people and businesses are facing in Vancouver on affordable housing, transit, childcare, and the opioid crisis.”

Highlights of his meetings included:

· Speaking with Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier Carole James about the need to protect the film industry tax credits that support Vancouver’s world class film and television production sector.

· Speaking with Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson on the importance of maintaining and monitoring the demand side measures in place to fight speculation in Vancouver’s housing market and agreement on the need to see the Government of Canada bring back tax credits for rental housing construction.

· Speaking with Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen about how childcare was a joint priority for all of council, especially councillors Melissa De Genova and Christine Boyle, and how the City of Vancouver can help get a range of childcare investment projects in place as quickly as possible.

· Speaking with Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Judy Darcy about moving forward with his plan for an emergency task force on the opioid crisis, the poison drug supply issue, and how to support people with treatment and recovery options including the key role that secure housing plays.

· Speaking with Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Claire Trevena on moving forward with a regional approach to transit investment in Metro Vancouver and specifically thanking the Provincial Government for providing 40% of the funding for Mayor Council’s 10-year plan.