WATCH: Mayor Sim unveils ABC policy platform, vows to 'do better' if re-elected

VANCOUVER — Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC team have unveiled their policy platform ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.

He vowed to "do better" if given a second term in office.

"Four years ago, Vancouver gave us an opportunity to change the direction of our city, and we knew it would not happen overnight," Sim said during a press conference on the west side of Vancouver on Monday. "We also knew that we wouldn't get everything right. We have made some mistakes, but we’ve also learned a lot, and here’s the thing — we’re getting better, and we’re gonna do better."

He described his majority government's record as one of "steady progress and responsible leadership," citing investments in public safety and infrastructure, a 0% property tax increase, and efforts to reduce red tape.

Sim said the party's "Moving Vancouver Forward" platform will build on that, and announced that its two key pillars, "Renewing Vancouver" and "Raising Vancouver" will be revealed in greater detail on Monday September 28.

Candidates for city council, park board, and school board were in attendance, and provided brief overviews of some of the party's top promises.

City council hopeful Arezo Zarrabian said $400 million would be spent on community centres, and $104 million on roads and sidewalks. She added that the party would like to revitalize Granville Street, ensure festivals such as the Celebration of Light go ahead, and make city a destination for tech companies.

School Board candidate Rob Nijjar said his party would work to bring swimming lessons to schools, ensure teachers have more support in classrooms, and keep Vancouver school tax revenue in the city.

On the Park Board front, candidate Christian Kyle vowed to "permanently" fix the Stanley Park Train and make parking free at a number of beaches and community centres across the city, including Jericho and Spanish Banks.

"Taking your kids to the beach, to the park, or to swimming lessons shouldn’t come with another bill," he said.

Attached to the regular ballot will be two plebiscite questions:

1. Are you in favour of the City of Vancouver strengthening its laws to forbid open-air hard (heroin, meth, fentanyl, and crack) drug use in public spaces?
2. Should the City of Vancouver formally ask the Province of British Columbia to convert portions of the former St. Paul's Hospital into a secure medical facility that provides acute voluntary care for individuals posing a severe risk to themselves or others due to substance use and mental health disorders?

While critics have branded the plebiscite a "glorified opinion poll," Sim has repeatedly defended it.

"This is about re-establishing social norms or social expectations in public spaces," he said. "You’re not allowed to smoke within 6m of a doorway. That makes sense — so it doesn’t make a lot of sense if you can smoke crystal meth 2ft away from a child at a playground."

If the plebiscite receives a "yes" from voters and Sim retains his seat as mayor, he said he would "strengthen municipal bylaws where authority exists," and "advocate for additional legislative authority from the Province where required."