OneCity mayoral candidate William Azaroff pledged Monday to make it “easier, faster and cheaper” for entrepreneurs to start and scale a business in Vancouver if he is elected in the Oct. 17 municipal election.

Azaroff outlined his party’s five-point plan from a storefront space near 10th Avenue and Main Street that will serve as OneCity’s campaign office. The space was once occupied by a bike shop.

“But when the campaign leaves, will the storefront be empty again?” he told reporters. “Or will it be filled with a new business, ready to hire and serve our community? I want it to be filled.”

To do that, the party wants to establish an entrepreneur liaison office to assist entrepreneurs, and small- and medium-business operators looking to start, relocate or expand in Vancouver.

In addition, OneCity wants to create a “tiered micro-grant system” that will help start, scale and secure “built-in-Vancouver” businesses, administered by a non-partisan committee of business, labour and community representatives.

“There are so many Vancouverites with dreams, drive and ambition,” Azaroff said. “They just don’t have the seed capital to get started, and we’re going to close that gap.”

Other planks in the party’s plan include:

• Bring back the Vancouver Economic Commission in the form of a $3 million business and investment office.
• Launch a three-year procurement pilot called “Buy Vancouver” to ensure that the city’s tax dollars prioritize buying goods and services in Vancouver, and supporting businesses and jobs across B.C. and Canada.
• Create “a good jobs procurement standard” that will reward fair wages, responsible contractors, apprenticeships, safety and local and inclusive hiring.

Home businesses

OneCity announced the first phase of its economic plan Aug. 12, which included commitments to use legal pathways for residents to run low-impact businesses from home.

The party said such a move would support caregivers, newcomers, residents with disabilities, artists and freelancers who can’t afford expensive commercial rent.

OneCity also wants more corner stores and neighbourhood shops, a simpler approval system to allow small cultural and community venues such as rehearsal rooms and artist studios.

Permitting for pop-ups and temporary uses in vacant storefronts, plazas and libraries should be streamlined, the party said, which also wants underused civic space to be opened up for markets, food vendors and local business testing.

Poll results

Research Co. president Mario Canseco released polling results Aug. 4 that showed Mayor Ken Sim leads the mayoral race with 30 per cent of the vote. Kareem Allam of the Vancouver Liberals and Pete Fry of the Green Party tied at 19 per cent.

Colleen Hardwick of TEAM for a Livable Vancouver was at 14 per cent while Rebecca Bligh of Vote Vancouver was at seven per cent and Azaroff at five per cent. Stephanie Allen of COPE was at four per cent.

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