Planning, arts and culture, staff positions: What’s being cut in Vancouver’s ‘Zero Means Zero’ budget

A draft budget with a zero per cent property tax increase is light on details, but hundreds of jobs are evidently on the chopping block

Vancouver taxpayers are getting a first look at the 2026 draft budget, as the city manager takes an axe to spending in an effort to deliver a zero percent property tax increase.

The draft budget includes a 10 per cent boost to the Vancouver Police Department, with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services seeing a 6 per cent increase.

Departments such as planning, urban design and sustainability are seeing a reduction in spending of 14 per cent.

‘Absolutely not’

Arts and culture is facing a 12 per cent decrease, while “other corporate support” faces a 15 per cent decrease.

Sources at the city tell CTV News that cuts to positions that review development permits, bylaws and rezoning applications could impact project timelines and the availability of more housing.

When asked about this, Mayor Ken Sim was adamant it won’t happen.

“When you look at it holistically, absolutely not,” he said.

“We are totally committed to speeding up the permitting process and approvals, and so we’ve looked at the challenge differently.”

Sim added, the city already has processes in place to bypass regulatory red tape for those seeking a permit.

“We do not have all the backend operations that are required for that anymore,” he said.

“So, we’ve been committed to making this process a lot easier and more efficient. And this is just the next iteration of that.”

One City Coun. Lucy Maloney said she believes cuts to departments that oversee these initiatives will result in delays.

“We’re going to see the infrastructure, the permitting processes, the services move slower and arrive slower for the people of Vancouver,” she said.

‘His prerogative’

Staff have only had one month to prepare the draft budget following Sim’s Zero Means Zero motion that passed in October.

Asked for more clarity on what departments fall under, “Other Corporate Support,” which is facing a 15 per cent decrease, the City of Vancouver said, human resources, legal services the city clerk’s office, the city manager’s office, external relations, office of the chief safety officer, and non-market housing development.

CTV News asked Sim whether he does not want any legal oversight, or if he wants to hire an outside service.

Sim replied, it’s up City Manager Donny van Dyk.

“If he chooses to have a different allocation between in-house legal counsel and external legal counsel, that’s his prerogative,” he said. “And I can tell you, having run two organizations myself and having worked in banking, I’ve seen a mix of both.”

Sim added, these are normal operations.

“I think the bigger question is making sure do we have great legal representation at an effective price? And that’s absolutely what we’re committed to.”

In July, the Delta Optimist reported that city was no longer using in-house lawyers.

At the time van Dyk was working as the manager for the City of Delta and was tasked with finding cost-saving measures.

On Wednesday, city council will debate the $2.39 billion budget as city departments make their case for funding.

‘Hidden impacts’

The city is already seeing cuts targeting staffing.

On Thursday, the City of Vancouver confirmed 400 full-time equivalent positions will be cut, and two third of those are union positions.

Maloney said she’s worried about this sudden direction, especially following years of hiring.

According to the 2026 Draft Budget, “between 2022 and 2025, staffing at the city increased by 748 full-time equivalent positions, including public safety.”

“It doesn’t seem fair to our staff,” she said.

“And I’m extremely worried about what these cuts mean in terms of hidden impacts.”