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Kennedy Stewart, a federal NDP MP for Burnaby South, announced on Thursday that he will run as an independent for Vancouver mayor.

Stewart, who will step down as MP, said he was “totally stoked” to kick-off his campaign to be the next city’s mayor.

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Stewart will run as an independent candidate instead of seeking the nomination of any municipal party, he said Thursday, because he believes it will give him the best chance to “bring all the progressive forces together.”

Like every other major candidate to so far announce their intention to run for Vancouver’s top job, Stewart highlighted housing affordability as the top issue.

“Everybody in the whole world knows that Vancouver’s in a housing crisis,” Stewart told reporters at a news conference Thursday. “But you know, it doesn’t have to be like this. When I moved here in 1989, I was able to work as a printing-press operator, I used to drive a craft-beer truck and I was still able to rent a place in the West End, or in Kitsilano, or in East Vancouver. But now, that’s impossible. Not only is home ownership out of the reach of many, but just living here is a fading dream.”