April 04, 2005 VANCOUVER -- The governments of Canada, British Columbia and Vancouver today announced that the Vancouver Agreement, an innovative urban development initiative, will be renewed for a second five-year term lasting until March 2010. The Vancouver Agreement represents a new way for governments to work together and with business and community groups in order to promote and support economic and social investments in the community. The Agreement's first focus is the revitalization of the city's Downtown Eastside, particularly encouraging local business attraction and retention, secure and safe housing, and support for residents with addiction and mental health issues. "In its first five years, the Vancouver Agreement has made a significant contribution to social and economic initiatives that are helping to revitalize the city's Downtown Eastside and improve the lives of residents," said the Honourable Stephen Owen, federal Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport). "The Government of Canada is proud of this partnership with the provincial and city governments and is committed to continuing to support locally-driven solutions that make Vancouver a thriving, safe and healthy city." A key commitment and legacy of the Vancouver Agreement is the unprecedented Inner City Inclusiveness Commitment that was part of Vancouver's successful bid for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to promote social and economic sustainability by fully integrating the Downtown Eastside into this major international event. "The provincial government made a commitment to create a legacy for the Downtown Eastside as part of our 2010 Olympic bid," said Murray Coell, provincial Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. "Not only have we realized this commitment but in January we were all thrilled to witness Bell Canada become the first major Olympic sponsor to contribute to this legacy with a donation of $2 million towards Downtown Eastside economic revitalization. This generous contribution is an example of the Vancouver Agreement in action and demonstrates the business, community and government partnership and commitment to the Downtown Eastside and the city of Vancouver." The Vancouver Agreement is also contributing to major initiatives like the redevelopment of Woodward's, a seawall-to-seawall pedestrian and cyclist link from False Creek through Chinatown and Gastown with the Carrall Street Greenway, the operation of North America's first supervised injection site, and improved social housing. "The Vancouver Agreement is a national model for urban development," said Mayor Larry Campbell. "Working closely with community and non-profit groups and the business community, the federal, provincial and city governments are showing that with will and commitment, we can respond to community challenges by changing how governments work together and with business and the community. Renewal of the Vancouver Agreement not only strengthens the Downtown Eastside and the city as a whole, but is a positive and exciting development for the province and the country." In September 2004, the Institute for Public Administration of Canada awarded its highest annual prize for innovative public service management to the Vancouver Agreement for innovation and creativity in governance, particularly for moving to a horizontal model from traditional 'silo-based' governance. - 30 - For additional information, contact: Susan Schooley Manager, Communications Western Economic Diversification Canada Vancouver, BC Tel: (604) 666-1318 E-mail: susan.schooley@wd.gc.ca Provincial Government: Marisa Adair City of Vancouver: Jennifer Young Vancouver Agreement: Jean Kavanagh 603-802-5729 WD Toll-Free Number 1-888-338-WEST (9378) World Wide Web Site: English: http://www.wd.gc.ca French: http://www.deo.gc.ca Backgrounder Vancouver Agreement Renewed for Second Five-Year Term Signed on March 9, 2000, the Vancouver Agreement is an urban development initiative of the governments of Canada, British Columbia and Vancouver. The first focus is the city's Downtown Eastside because of the serious economic, social and public safety challenges found in the community, which is one of Canada's poorest neighbourhood. The goals of the Vancouver Agreeement are: To increase economic development in the Downtown Eastside. To improve the health of area residents. To increase public safety. Four strategies, each with an array of projects and inititiatives, were developed to achieve these goals. Economic development and job creation. Dismantle the area's open drug scene. Turn problem hotels, particularly those that offer single-room-occupancy housing into safe, clean places to live. Make the community safer for the most vulnerable, particularly women, youth and children. The Vancouver Agreement represents a new way for governments to work together and with community and business groups. Since March 2000, the Agreement has created innovative partnerships between government agencies and with community groups and business in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Initially, the Agreement did not have designated funding. Government partners collaborated to contribute and leverage funding for projects that addressed the community's economic, social and public safety challenges. In order to best support community projects and economic development initiatives to improve living conditions in the Downtown Eastside, departments and ministries from the three levels of government worked together to avoid duplicating government services and funding and support for community projects. As work continued through 2001-2002, a strategic plan was developed and a small secretariat established to coordinate the increasing number of Vancouver Agreement initiatives and task teams. In April 2003, in order to implement the strategic plan, the federal and provincial governments announced they would each contribute $10 million to the Vancouver Agreement. This funding was in addition to staffing resources, and coordination and financial support for projects in the spirit of the Vancouver Agreement from many ministries and departments. The City of Vancouver contributes heritage preservation incentives and increased program funding from its Downtown Eastside capital fund, as well as in-kind goods and services and dedicated staff resources. Vancouver Agreement funds complement other available funding sources for projects that address one or more of the Agreement's goals. Generally, projects include community and/or business partners.
