NDP MPs past and present mull bids for Vancouver mayoral election

Two prominent NDP politicians say they are seriously considering a run for mayor of Vancouver in order to unite progressive parties against the centre-right Non-Partisan Association and tackle the city's extraordinary housing crisis. With the announcement last month that Mayor Gregor Robertson will not run again in October after 10 years in power with his Vision Vancouver party, the field has been thrown wide open, with all parties scrambling to devise strategy and field candidates. Over the weekend, former NDP MP Libby Davies and current NDP MP Don Davies – not related – both said they are talking to a wide range of people about how best to unite the centre-left and left-wing vote among Vision Vancouver, the Green Party, the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) and OneCity. Both say they're considering running because Vancouver is in serious trouble, with out-of-control housing costs and a sense that the city is failing residents. "It feels like the city is in shock," said Ms. Davies, who will be 64 at the end of the month. "People are hurting from struggling to live in the city. Whoever runs, there's something big out there, and that person has to connect to people who are feeling lost."