Corporate sponsorship on the agenda at Vancouver council [Video]

A plan to allow corporations and other “commercial entities” to pay to sponsor civic assets, projects and programs is coming to Vancouver council next week.

City staff have recommended introducing a new policy in order to “maximize the opportunity to generate non-tax revenue to address the city’s growing infrastructure deficit and other council priorities, thereby reducing pressure on property taxes and user fees,” according to a report that will be considered Tuesday.

The report defines sponsorship as payment for the “right to be associated” with a project or program.

This is distinct from naming rights, defined as “a specific type of relationship in which a commercial entity pays a fee to the city to have their name associated with a specific city venue, building, event, or public space.”

Policies on sponsorship and naming rights already exist, but the report says no significant sponsorship opportunities have been advanced since 2019.

The new policy, according to …