Last September, a company proposing a large, mixed-use development donated $100,000 to a facility that, if the project goes ahead, would be its neighbour. The firm didn’t have full approval for its project. Still, no one complained that Taicheng Development Corp. was trying to “buy” the community’s support for what was then a 3,000-home, mixed-use development proposal by donating a fair sum to the Britannia Mine Museum.
Without question, by donating the money, Taicheng hoped to show goodwill toward its neighbours and the broader community — the same thing that the backers of the proposed Woodfibre liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility have been doing in recent months, donating cash to a mountain biking group, minor hockey, rugby and a youth triathlon. It’s the same thing virtually all corporations do when they sponsor non-profit initiatives and events — building goodwill. Being “good corporate citizens.” To our way of thinking, the practice falls short — far short — of trying to “buy” anyone’s support.
Why, then, the hostile response from some over the Woodfibre contributions? If the LNG plant gets the go-ahead, it’s going to be part of the Squamish community for some time to come; if not, no harm done. Now more than ever — what with Squamish council having trimmed its Community Enhancement Grant program to less than a third of the sum it was a few years ago — local groups and events need all the support they can get. Would it make a difference to those voicing their unease if the LNG folks instead announced that they were putting a couple hundred thousand bucks into a kitty, to be distributed to community groups only IF and AFTER the plant is approved? What message would that send? “You’ll get your money when we start getting ours”?
This writer is all for people — kids, adults, pets — expressing their point of view in whatever forum they choose. But put yourself in the shoes of volunteer event organizers: Someone is offering money to support your event, or local trails, or your hockey tournament, and all they ask is that their corporate logo go up on a website, a T-shirt and a few posters. No other strings attached. Are you going to turn the money down?
— David Burke
