What Is An Independent Candidate?

Vancouver has numerous registered municipal political parties. Many candidates run under a party banner, while others, like myself, run as independents. But what does that actually mean, and why does it matter?

When we vote in a municipal election, we’re electing people to represent us at City Hall, not political parties. Yet it’s easy to vote based on a party name without knowing much about the individual candidates or where they stand on important issues.

During elections, parties have advantages. They can share resources, coordinate campaigns, and promote an entire team of candidates. Independents generally have to organize their own campaigns. But the bigger differences can come after the election.

Consider what happens when a mayor and several councillors belong to the same party. They often share political priorities, making it easier to pass motions and approve projects. That cooperation can be useful, but it can also mean decisions pass without enough independent scrutiny or debate.

Councillors aren’t required to vote with their party, but there’s a difference between being free to disagree and being willing to do so. When residents oppose something their party supports, will their councillor speak up for them, or put party loyalty first?

This matters when Council decides how our tax dollars are spent, which projects get approved, and whose concerns are heard. Having a majority on Council shouldn’t mean decisions go unquestioned.

Independent councillors don’t have a party to answer to. They can support the mayor on one issue, disagree on another, and work with anyone at City Hall. Being independent doesn’t guarantee better decisions, but it allows councillors to judge each proposal without having to maintain party unity.

There’s also the issue of local representation. Vancouver elects all ten councillors citywide, meaning no councillor is directly elected to represent your neighbourhood. It’s one of the reasons I support a ward system, where residents would have someone directly accountable to their community.

I’m running as an independent because I want to make decisions based on what’s right for Vancouver residents, not what’s best for a political party. Good ideas can come from anyone, and every proposal deserves to be judged on its merits.

Ultimately, what matters isn’t the party name beside a candidate. It’s whether that person is willing to ask difficult questions, stand up for residents, and be accountable to the people who elected them.