One of the Vancouver's most outspoken critics of the Broadway Plan is hoping to be elected to city council.

Today, consultant and lobbyist Bill Tieleman announced that he's seeking a nomination with TEAM for a Livable Vancouver.

“The soul of Vancouver is literally at stake in this critical election, with the Broadway Plan putting over 1,000 high-rise towers across 500 blocks of our city and demovicting thousands of renters from their affordable low-rise apartments,” Tieleman said in a news release. 

“The choice for Vancouver voters will be clear—four parties that all support the Broadway Plan’s 500 blocks of rental apartment demolition for replacement with two towers of up to 40-storeys per block—or TEAM For A Livable Vancouver – that stands for ensuring neighbourhoods across the city have a voice that will be heard at City Council.”

The new civic party has already nominated Coun. Colleen Hardwick as its mayoral candidate.

According to Tieleman, TEAM is the only party that doesn't want enormous towers all over the city, whether it's from Clark Drive to Vine Street and between 16th Avenue and False Creek or along Commercial Drive near East Broadway or on the Jericho lands.

He added that Hardwick's group "will make affordable housing, public safety and city services and livability the priority".

“Despite city tax increases above inflation, public safety is at risk, with four stranger attacks a day in Vancouver—and our streets are crumbling in disrepair—it’s time for a change at City Hall and Mayor Kennedy Stewart and this council has to go,” Tieleman said.

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver will hold its nominating meeting at 2 p.m. on June 11 at the Fairview Baptist Church hall at 1708 West 16th Avenue.

Prior to launching his own company, West Star Communications, Tieleman was the communications director for the B.C. Federation of Labour and, for a brief period, the B.C. NDP government headed by Glen Clark. 

Tieleman was previously a columnist with the Georgia Straight and 24 hours and has been a frequent commentator in the broadcast media on a wide range of public issues.

According to the B.C. lobbyist registry, Tieleman's clients include the B.C. Pharmacy Association, the B.C. Naturopathic Association, the International Union of Operating Engineers Locals 115 and 963, Teamsters Local 213, Construction and Specialized Workers' Union Local 1611, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada, Ironworkers Union Shop Local 712, Canadian Football League Players Association, National Police Federation, CIRP Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan Inc., and International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 118.

In the past 12 months, he was a lobbyist for the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., All Vision Development ULC, Queen Charlotte Lodge Ltd., West Coast Fishing Club, Northeastern University Vancouver, and Better Transit and Transportation Coalition Society.

Hardwick voted against rezonings

As a member of council, Hardwick was highly critical of the seven-percent property-tax hike in the 2020 budget and the more than $500 million in new spending in that year's capital plan.

Last December, she was the only member of council to vote against the $285.3 million multiyear capital budgets beginning in 2022.

Hardwick has also voted against several high-profile rezoning applications that would increase the number of rental units.

That included a high-rise on the former Denny's Restaurant site on West Broadway, which was opposed by four other members of council. She was the only one to vote against an 81-unit rental project in Shaughnessy that will replace two single-family houses at Granville Street and West 32nd Avenue.

First elected in 2018, Hardwick quit the NPA in 2021 after the party board announced that veteran park commissioner John Coupar would be the mayoral candidate.

In an interview with the Straight in January, local historian Jak King praised Hardwick as a candidate who would keep Vancouver as a "city of villages".