Meeting the Moment: FIFA Public Safety and Local Readiness Working Group — Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities, February 25, 2026

Motion 5 Defeated

Summary

Proposed by Councillors Bligh and Orr to establish a FIFA World Cup Public Safety and Local Readiness Working Group to coordinate planning across VPD, Fire Rescue, engineering, health, BIAs, frontline services, and community organizations.
Supporters, including business improvement associations (Hastings Crossing, Gastown), community organizations, and public health advocates, said FIFA planning had been siloed, engagement with frontline groups had been inadequate, and risks such as gender-based violence, drug harm to visitors, and neighbourhood strain needed coordinated responses.
Opponents on council argued that staff confirmed nearly all the work outlined in the motion was already underway, initiated 12–18 months prior, and that with only ~110 days to the first match, staff had no capacity to take on new formal work.
Councillor Montague cited a staff memo saying the motion's proposals were already being executed and creating a new working group would stretch capacity.
Councillor Bligh responded that the issue was coordination and public transparency, not duplication, and that external organizations were seeking guidance from other cities (e.g., Toronto) because Vancouver's coordination wasn't visible to them.
The motion was defeated, with Councillors Klassen, Kirby-Yung, Montague, Mayor Sim, and Councillor Zhou opposed.