Discussions indicate District of Squamish officials would not back a referendum gauging the community’s support for the proposed liquefied natural gas plant, says Coun. Patricia Heintzman.
Last month, Heintzman queried whether district staff could pose a question regarding the $1.7 billion Woodfibre proposal on ballots in the upcoming November municipal. Municipal staff determined council has until Sept. 30 to submit a single question for no extra cost.
But it doesn’t look like council will back the idea. At Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, Aug. 26, some councillors voiced concerns regarding a LNG referendum. Woodfibre Natural Gas’s environmental assessment (EA) application is scheduled to be submitted in mid-October. This gives the public and district staff very little time to review the proposal before making an informed decision, Coun. Doug Race said. If council members are adamant about putting the issue to referendum, it would be prudent to hold it a few months after the EA process, he noted.
“I am personally not fond of referendums,” Race said.
Emotional issues, such as the Woodfibre proposal, do not always lend themselves to plebiscites, Race said, noting Canada’s justice system is modeled after this train of thought. As a result, some cases are held before juries, while others fall before judges.
“This is the one [issue] that has got the most misinformation out there,” Race added.
A referendum would promote discussion, conversation that’s been lacking in the municipal arena, Heintzman said. More talks are needed whether the project is approved or not, she said. No matter what side of the fence one stands, gathering input would elevate the quality of such a proposal if it’s rubber-stamped, she said.
Some politicians seem uneasy about placing a Woodfibre question on ballots because they’re afraid the issue will dominate municipal elections, Heintzman said, adding that will likely happen whether there’s a referendum or not. Heintzman said she views a referendum as a litmus test.
“It would take the pulse of the community,” she said.
Coun. Ron Sander said he is not in favour of democracy by referendum. There are times when a referendum is helpful — for example when dealing with big purchases, such as the 2004 plebiscite regarding a $20 million project to Squamish’s recreational facilities — but this isn’t one of them, Sander said.
“This particular subject we don’t have much control over,” he added, noting he fears a referendum would lead to expectations. Much policy regarding the fate of Woodfibre resides outside of the district’s jurisdiction.
Those asking for a referendum may be surprised by the outcome, Sander noted. In 2001, Squamish citizens voted 72 per cent in favour of a single-tenant “big box” retail operator — Wal-Mart — opening up in Squamish.
“Ask yourself ‘what good does a question do for the public?’” Sander said.
