OPINION: Civic engagement was key factor in council's reversal of GRO

On Monday afternoon, Burnaby City Council voted to cancel its proposal to build the $182-million Green Recycling Organics (GRO) facility at Fraser Foreshore Park.

Several councillors noted that residents had played a part in bringing the issue back to the table.

“We heard from the public loud and clear,” said Coun. Daniel Tetrault.

“Today is about Fraser Foreshore Park and everyone who came together to save it. … Your voice matters, your passion matters here. Thank you for taking the time to stand up, to speak out, for bringing your voices together to sound an alarm, that we heard—that I heard— loud and clear,” stated Coun. Maita Santiago.

Coun. Joe Keithley thanked residents who “stood up to the project.”

“You woke up council, made us see the light on this,” he said.

Just a few weeks ago, council was singing a different song about GRO and its proposed location as they unanimously voted to approve the alternative approval process (AAP), in order to gain the public’s approval to undesignate 21-acres of Fraser Foreshore parkland in order to proceed with the project.

The AAP required anyone opposed to the project to send in a signed electoral response form by mail or in person—those in support didn’t need to take any action, and no vote was counted as being in favour.

But in council chambers on Monday, there was a definite shift in opinion as each councillor participated in a revote, and voted to oppose the motion to continue with the AAP, meaning council would scrap the proposal to build GRO at the Foreshore site.

The AAP wasn’t the most accessible or engaging process for the public to participate in.

It provided limited ways for residents to access the elector response forms (online to print out, or picking one up at one of the four local libraries or city all, and then having to mail in or hand-deliver them back to city hall).

Yet, Burnaby residents took it upon themselves to mobilize and spread awareness about the project and the voting process, whether it was through online efforts, writing emails to council, handing out forms in person at Fraser Foreshore Park, attending council meetings in person, or organizing and attending a rally at the park to bring attention to the matter.

The type of engagement in regards to GRO may come as a surprise because Burnaby isn’t known for its overwhelming civic engagement.

In fact, less than one in 10 Burnaby residents cast their ballots in last October’s municipal election.

But when it came to GRO, residents weren’t complacent or silent. They made noise, and that noise was heard loud and clear by council and Mayor Mike Hurley who eventually acknowledged that Fraser Foreshore
“was not the right location” for the facility.

The results of Monday’s emergency meeting are a testament to the importance of civic engagement and being an active participant in the democratic process.

And while not everyone may not always pay attention to the ins and outs of municipal politics, these are also the decisions that impact our day-to-day lives the most, whether it be about property taxes, watermains, sidewalks, rec centres, or local parkland.

So let the reversal of the GRO decision serve as a reminder that the public’s collective voice is powerful enough to turn the tides, even at city hall.