This is Vancouver Are things actually getting better in Vancouver?
10 snips
Jan 8, 2026 Justin McElroy, a CBC civic affairs reporter specializing in Vancouver's urban issues, dives into the recent data showing declines in crime, rental costs, and toxic drug deaths. He reveals specific statistics highlighting these trends while addressing the unsung caveats like rising homelessness and persistent affordability challenges. The conversation also explores the political implications of these changes and contrasts the data with the reality many residents experience daily, making for a nuanced look at the city's transformation.
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Acknowledge Positive Data When Warranted
- Share and consider positive facts when data supports improvement instead of defaulting to negativity.
- McElroy suggests nuance matters and the media should reflect accurate, contextual numbers.
Multiple Key Metrics Are Improving
- Data shows multiple positive trends: rents down, assaults down, and overdose deaths falling substantially.
- Justin McElroy argues these concurrent declines across issues are worth noting despite caveats.
Not All Trends Move Together
- Improvements don't apply to every issue: homelessness has risen even as other metrics fall.
- McElroy stresses data sources are the same ones previously used to argue things were getting worse.