How City Hall Works
A short guide to who decides what in Vancouver, how the election works, and how to be heard.
Who Decides What
The City looks after local roads, parks, garbage and building permits. The Province looks after hospitals, schools and the rules for renting a home. Canada looks after immigration, criminal law and the biggest budgets.
The same three lists, side by side, with a few more examples on each one.
The same lists, in words, Who Is Responsible for What
| Level of government | What it is responsible for |
|---|---|
| VancouverThe Municipal Government |
|
| British ColumbiaThe Provincial Government |
|
| CanadaThe Federal Government |
|
Each list belongs to a different government, and each one is elected separately.
City Council
Vancouver elects a mayor and ten councillors together, every four years, and they vote on the City budget, the by-laws, and zoning and building. The mayor has one vote like everyone else, chairs the meetings and speaks for the City.
You vote, you elect a council, the council decides, and city staff do the work.
The same four steps, in words, What Happens After You Vote
- You vote. Every four years. Next: Saturday, October 17, 2026.
- You elect. 1 mayor and 10 councillors for the whole city, plus 7 Park Board and 9 School Board members.
- Council decides. The budget, the by-laws, and zoning and building.
- City staff deliver. Local roads, water, garbage, permits, parks, and funding for police and fire.
A councillor is 1 of 11 votes: 1 mayor plus 10 councillors. Council meetings are open to the public, and anyone can sign up to speak on an item or at a public hearing.
The Park Board and the School Board
Vancouver elects a Park Board and a School Board as well, on the same ballot and on the same day. The Park Board runs the parks, the pools, the rinks and the community centres. The School Board runs the public schools.
How the Election Works
Voting day is Saturday, October 17, 2026, and you can vote at any voting place in Vancouver. You can also vote early on October 3, 7, 10, and 13 or by mail, and you bring two pieces of ID.
Dates, voting places and the ballot are on the City of Vancouver election page (opens in a new tab).
One ballot, four offices, and a different number of votes for each one. John is on the councillor part of it, at number 104.
The same ballot, in words, Your Ballot on October 17
| What you are voting for | Votes you have | Names on the ballot |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | 1 vote | 8 candidates |
| City CouncillorJohn Jones is number 104 | up to 10 votes | 56 candidates |
| Park Board Commissioner | up to 7 votes | 35 candidates |
| School Trustee | up to 9 votes | 32 candidates |
The names are listed in random order, not in alphabetical order, with a number beside each one.
Source: 2026 councillor candidates (opens in a new tab), City of Vancouver, read September 19, 2026.
Source: Candidate list final; ballot order available for the 2026 Vancouver Election (opens in a new tab), City of Vancouver news release, September 18, 2026.
Council Meetings, and How to Speak
Council meetings are open to the public, and the agendas are posted online. Anyone can sign up to speak on an item, or at a public hearing. If you are not sure how, call 3-1-1 and ask.
Metro Vancouver and TransLink
Some things are run across the whole region. Metro Vancouver looks after the drinking water, the sewers and the garbage for all the cities together, and TransLink looks after the buses and the SkyTrain. Vancouver has seats at both tables, but it is not the only vote.
The Rules, and Who Checks the City
The Vancouver Charter
The Vancouver Charter is the provincial law that sets out what the City is allowed to do. If the City needs a power it does not have, it asks the Province for it.
The Integrity Commissioner
The Integrity Commissioner handles complaints that a member of Council has broken the City's code of conduct. The Commissioner can investigate and recommend a penalty, but cannot impose one. Only Council decides whether to act, and only from the short list the Vancouver Charter allows. A fine, a pay cut or removal from office is not on that list, and only the Province can change it.
The Auditor General
The Auditor General is an independent office that checks how the City spends its money and how well it runs things. The reports are published, so anyone can read them.
