Kerry Jang becomes fifth Vision Vancouver politician to announce he won't seek re-election in 2018 Gregor Robertson won't seek fourth term as mayor of Vancouver NPA issues open call for mayoral candidates in advance of October election Outgoing Vancouver East MP Libby Davies cautions social justice victories cannot be taken for granted NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stops short of support for drug legalization despite more overdose deaths Libby Davies, a former Member of Parliament who represented Vancouver East from 1997 to 2015, and Don Davies (no relation), the current MP for Vancouver Kingsway, both recently told the Globe and Mail’s Frances Bula that a move to civic politics is something they are thinking about. “People are hurting from struggling to live in the city,” Libby told the Globe for an article published yesterday (February 12). “Whoever runs, there's something big out there, and that person has to connect to people who are feeling lost." The civic election is scheduled for October 2018. Libby served as deputy leader of the NDP from 2007 to 2015 and held a seat on Vancouver city council from 1982 to 1993. She’s well respected for her record on issues that affect low-income earners and marginalized groups such as sex workers and people who struggle with addiction issues.

NDP deputy leader Libby Davies says that after 40 years of public service, including 18 years as a member of Parliament for Vancouver East, it's time for her to move on. "I know it's time for me to pass the torch. I will not be seeking re-election in the next federal election," Davies said in a written statement Friday. The long-time NDP MP thanked her constituents for electing her even as she took on difficult policy issues over the years. "I have taken on tough issues, like the need for drug policy reform and I remember being told, 'You'll never get re-elected if you take on issues like this.' "But the people of East Vancouver have stood by me," she said. Davies, who is also the party's health critic, was recently credited for pushing forward with an NDP Opposition motion to help thalidomide survivors, which received unanimous support in the House of Commons earlier this month.

OTTAWA – The government will roll out legislation Thursday which would significantly raise the bar for groups wanting to set up injection sites where illegal drugs can be used with medical oversight, clean equipment and without legal consequence. NDP health critic Libby Davies said Wednesday Insite is an "important program" that "has saved people's' lives." "It's much better for people to be in a medically supervised facility when they're injecting and not dying from needless and preventable overdoses," she said.

This is the second in the series, “Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: Past and Present.” Libby Davies, former Vancouver city councillor and former NDP MP for the riding in which the Downtown Eastside is located, discusses the past and the present of the community. Davies recalls the impact of activist and poet Bud Osborn and reflects upon the struggle to establish Insite, Canada’s first safe injection site. She goes on to discuss the impact of the ’90s austerity budget — and the resulting challenges still to be addressed.