John Jones
Council · Vancouver
About
John Jones grew up in Toronto and has lived in Vancouver, on and off, for four decades, working in tenancy, disability, and human rights advocacy. He moved back to Vancouver for good in 2019, and is running as an independent.
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
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Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
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Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
Supportive
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Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings.
Supportive
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Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events.
Supportive
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
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Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters.
Supportive
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Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
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Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
Supportive
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Prioritize native tree planting in all areas, especially those with low tree cover, higher population densities, and more vulnerable residents.
Supportive
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Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
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Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit.
Supportive
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Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
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Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
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Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
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Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
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Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
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Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
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Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
Although I fully support environmental initiatives, I personally do not have direct experience in these matters, though I would like to learn about and support movements regarding environmental issues in the future, as this is a progressively worsening problem that will require cooperative action as a response.
Questions for Vancouver
What is your position on gas hookups for new buildings?
I am fully opposed to gas hookups for new buildings, as they are not environmentally sustainable, create excessive pollution, and require expensive unnecessary city infrastructure at a time where we need to maintain the rest of the existing infrastructure.
Will you vote to restore full funding for the Sustainability Office? In your view, what is the role of the Sustainability Office?
I fully support restoring full funding for a meaningful Sustainability Office, with experts versed in evaluating developments, urban planning, and environmental impact on current and future city projects, maintenance, and ongoing initiatives.
What is your view on a moratorium on AI data centres, given the natural resources they require?
Before AI data centres can be considered, a full environmental impact study, a proper assessment of resource requirements and what capacity we have to supply them, and an evaluation of noise and light pollution must be made. During evaluation, I support adhering to Vancouver's UNDRIP Action Plan by involving the Host Nations (Musqueam, Squamish, & Tsleil-Waututh) in reviewing this development application, and by doing so create a precedent of involving the Host Nations in major development applications that have unusual or intensive resource or environmental impact.
Given the “controversy” of the Villages Plan, how do you envision accommodating the population growth of the City while dealing with the impacts of climate change?
We need more thought-out and publicly consulted planning, that includes environmental impact evaluation alongside the needs of existing neighbourhoods. Proper planning along with accommodating for growth towards complete neighbourhoods while ensuring that infrastructure and climate resilience grow alongside the population, rather than treating housing targets, environmental policy and community planning as separate issues.
What is your plan to create climate safeguards for all of Vancouver’s inhabitants, including the unhoused population?
Ensuring safety for Vancouver residents can start by making sure cooling centres are open and available within walking distance in residential areas and have their hours adjusted to suit the hours of extreme heat (during a heat wave). During wildfire smoke, these same safe areas (such as community centres) can also act as safe air quality centres during these times. Flooding would involve some significant planning with engineers in regard to upgrading the storm drains to accommodate heavier rainfall or flooding. Unhoused people also need safe spaces to access during climate episodes where they can have their safety and basic needs met, likely at community service facilities in areas with high unhoused populations.
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